Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences
Access to Health Care by Rurality and Disability Status
Report explores barriers to access to care by rurality and disability status. Highlights the compounding barriers to access for rural people with disabilities. Discusses barriers due to financial reasons, lack of transportation, and workforce shortages, among other factors.
Author(s): Alexis Swendener, Ingrid Jacobson, Andrew Abram, et al.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Report explores barriers to access to care by rurality and disability status. Highlights the compounding barriers to access for rural people with disabilities. Discusses barriers due to financial reasons, lack of transportation, and workforce shortages, among other factors.
Author(s): Alexis Swendener, Ingrid Jacobson, Andrew Abram, et al.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Prevalence of Meeting Youth Physical Activity Guidelines Across Income, Sex, Urbanicity, and Sport Participation: 2022–2023 National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH)
Examines the prevalence of youth meeting physical activity guidelines by income, sex, rurality, and sports participation. Draws data from the National Survey of Children's Health from 2022-2023.
Author(s): Ashleigh Johnson
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70105
Date: 01/2026
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Examines the prevalence of youth meeting physical activity guidelines by income, sex, rurality, and sports participation. Draws data from the National Survey of Children's Health from 2022-2023.
Author(s): Ashleigh Johnson
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70105
Date: 01/2026
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America's Health Rankings Annual Report 2025
Provides a national and state-by-state overview of population health by analyzing 99 measures drawn from 31 data sources to describe and rank health outcomes in the U.S. Analyzes and presents data on disparities by geography and demographic characteristics throughout. See the section titled, "Spotlight: Rural Communities," for information on trends in colorectal and breast cancer screening rates and physical inactivity of adults in rural areas between 2022 and 2024.
Additional links: Executive Brief
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: United Health Foundation
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Provides a national and state-by-state overview of population health by analyzing 99 measures drawn from 31 data sources to describe and rank health outcomes in the U.S. Analyzes and presents data on disparities by geography and demographic characteristics throughout. See the section titled, "Spotlight: Rural Communities," for information on trends in colorectal and breast cancer screening rates and physical inactivity of adults in rural areas between 2022 and 2024.
Additional links: Executive Brief
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: United Health Foundation
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Rural-Urban Differences in Homebound Status by Health and Functional Limitations
Results of a study describing how rates of being homebound differ between rural and urban older adults by specific health indicators. Features statistics with breakdowns by chronic condition and rural or urban residence.
Author(s): Carrie Henning-Smith, Dionne Bailey, Megan Lahr, Katie Rydberg
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Results of a study describing how rates of being homebound differ between rural and urban older adults by specific health indicators. Features statistics with breakdowns by chronic condition and rural or urban residence.
Author(s): Carrie Henning-Smith, Dionne Bailey, Megan Lahr, Katie Rydberg
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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South Dakota Rural Obstetrical Workforce
Offers maps and tables of the obstetricians and advanced practice midwives workforce distribution in South Dakota in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Offers maps and tables of the obstetricians and advanced practice midwives workforce distribution in South Dakota in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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South Dakota Rural Behavioral Health Workforce
Offers maps and tables of the supply and distribution of behavioral health clinicians in South Dakota in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Offers maps and tables of the supply and distribution of behavioral health clinicians in South Dakota in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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South Dakota Rural Primary Care Workforce
Offers maps and tables of the primary care workforce distribution in South Dakota in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Offers maps and tables of the primary care workforce distribution in South Dakota in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Outcomes Among Patients With Colon Cancer Living in Neighborhoods With Persistent Poverty
Results of a study comparing clinical outcomes for colon cancer patients based on the number of census tracts per ZIP code that were in persistent poverty at the time of diagnosis. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Leon Naar, Alexa L. Pohl, Arden M. Morris, Aaron J. Dawes,
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(1), e2551212.
Date: 01/2026
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Results of a study comparing clinical outcomes for colon cancer patients based on the number of census tracts per ZIP code that were in persistent poverty at the time of diagnosis. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Leon Naar, Alexa L. Pohl, Arden M. Morris, Aaron J. Dawes,
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(1), e2551212.
Date: 01/2026
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Diagnosed Allergic Conditions in Adults: United States, 2024
Offers bar charts indicating the prevalence of allergic conditions in adults in 2024 including seasonal allergies, eczema, and food allergies. Includes a break down by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan status in addition to other demographic factors.
Author(s): Lauren Bottoms-McClain, Abhigya Giri, Amanda E. Ng
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Offers bar charts indicating the prevalence of allergic conditions in adults in 2024 including seasonal allergies, eczema, and food allergies. Includes a break down by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan status in addition to other demographic factors.
Author(s): Lauren Bottoms-McClain, Abhigya Giri, Amanda E. Ng
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Diagnosed Allergic Conditions in Children Ages 0−17: United States, 2024
Offers bar charts indicating the prevalence of allergic conditions in children in 2024 including seasonal allergies, eczema, and food allergies. Includes a break down by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan status, sex, and age.
Author(s): Amanda E. Ng, Abhigya Giri, Lauren Bottoms-McClain
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Offers bar charts indicating the prevalence of allergic conditions in children in 2024 including seasonal allergies, eczema, and food allergies. Includes a break down by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan status, sex, and age.
Author(s): Amanda E. Ng, Abhigya Giri, Lauren Bottoms-McClain
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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