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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Public health

CAH Partnerships During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Presents findings from a survey of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) in eight states on how they partnered with communities and public health agencies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses the type of support CAHs received from their State Flex Program (SFP).
Author(s): Madeleine Pick, Megan Lahr, Keelia Silvis, Ira Moscovice
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Traffic Safety in Appalachia: Final Report
Defines the traffic safety culture in Appalachia and discusses causes of common safety problems in the region, including drug- and alcohol-impaired driving. Explores environmental concerns of Appalachian drivers, such as expansive rural regions, mountainous and curved terrain, and dense forests exposed to extreme weather elements. Includes analysis of Appalachian traffic fatalities, fatal crash data statistics, and an evaluation of the Appalachian Development Highway System as a possible intervention measure for treating traffic safety problems. Also includes a case study of severe crashes in Appalachian North Carolina, featuring statistics with breakdowns by rural and urban areas.
Additional links: Research Brief
Author(s): Wesley Kumfer, Katherine Harmon, Bo Lan, et al.
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Appalachian Regional Commission
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Society of Behavioral Medicine Statement on COVID-19 and Rural Health
Highlights the position of the Society of Behavioral Medicine on rural health disparities as they relate to the COVID-19 pandemic. Addresses shortages in rural health research, healthcare infrastructure, and other systemic disparities. Makes both short- and long-term recommendations to policymakers.
Author(s): Pamela Behrman, Marian L Fitzgibbon, Akilah Dulin, et al.
Citation: Translational Behavioral Medicine, 11(2), 625-630
Date: 02/2021
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Projected Estimates of Opioid Mortality After Community-Level Interventions
Presents a study on the effectiveness of different evidence-based practices to prevent opioid overdose mortality in simulated rural and urban communities. Highlights data by evidence-based practice and by projected rural and urban population group, which is broken down by age, sex, and opioid injection versus non-injection.
Author(s): Benjamin P. Linas, Alexandra Savinkina, R. W. M. A. Madushani, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 4(2), e2037259
Date: 02/2021
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Rural Health Preparedness Policy Brief
Policy brief providing an overview of challenges rural communities experience preparing for and mitigating the effects of disasters and public health emergencies. Offers guidelines and recommendations to improve rural preparedness.
Author(s): Stacie Pace, Jordan Tenenbaum, Michael Meit
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout in Rural Communities: Challenges, Innovations, and Unmet Needs
Provides insights from rural, frontier, and tribal organizations about the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. Discusses challenges in rural communities, including access barriers and vaccine hesitancy, and shares innovative strategies being used to address these challenges. Identifies unmet needs and potential strategies as the vaccination process continues.
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Georgia Health Policy Center
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Rural HIV Prevalence and Service Availability in the United States: A Chartbook
Examines state- and county-level human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence in 2016 as well as availability of HIV-related prevention, testing, and treatment services in 2019. Includes data breakdowns by rural/urban status.
Author(s): Katherine Ahrens, Amanda Burgess, Louisa Munk, Erika Ziller
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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Capacity of Rural Counties to Address an HIV or Hepatitis C Outbreak
Examines data from 20 states potentially at risk of a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) outbreak to determine which services local health departments (LHDs) provide to help identify or address HIV or HCV. Examples of relevant services include HIV testing, substance use services, and infectious disease surveillance, among others. Includes rural/urban differences in LHD services and staff, LHD partnerships and collaboration, and demographic characteristics of at-risk counties.
Author(s): Jennifer Lenardson, Jaclyn Janis, Amanda Burgess, Karen Pearson, Martha Elbaum
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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Oversight Hearing "A Call to Action: Native Communities' Priorities in Focus for the 117th Congress."
Recording of an oversight hearing of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on the current needs of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities related to COVID-19, healthcare, housing, and infrastructure, among other issues. Features testimonies by representatives of the National Congress of American Indians, the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and the Alaska Federation of Natives.
Additional links: Carmen "Hulu" Lindsey Testimony, Fawn Sharp Testimony, Julie Kitka Testimony, Leonard Forsman Testimony
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
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Increase Healthy Beverage Consumption and Reduce Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSBs): A Community Roadmap
Interactive resource provides guidance for tribal communities to reduce the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and promote healthy beverage options. Provides resources and information to support healthy beverage programs, such as how to conduct a needs assessment, identify stakeholders, and choose an appropriate strategy.
Date: 02/2021
Sponsoring organization: Notah Begay III Foundation
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