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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences

The Older Population: 2020
Offers overview of the older population from the 2020 Census with comparisons to the 2000 and 2010 Censuses. Data analyzed by demographic factors, state, rurality, and more.
Author(s): Zoe Caplan, Megan Rabe
Date: 05/2023
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Emergency Department Preparedness to Care for Sexual Assault Survivors: A Nationwide Study
Surveys 315 sexual assault (SA) advocates to determine emergency department staff preparedness and available resources for SA survivors. Discusses rural and urban access to sexual assault nurse examiners and implications for quality of care.
Author(s): Kristen Chalmers, Meredith Hollender, Liam Spurr, et al.
Citation: Western Journal of Emergency Medicine: Integrating Emergency Care with Population Health, 24(3)
Date: 05/2023
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Pain in the Nation: The Epidemics of Alcohol, Drug, and Suicide Deaths - Special Feature: Youth Mental Health and Well-Being
Presents the rates of drug, alcohol, and suicide deaths in the U.S. in 2021 and from 1999 to 2021. Discusses the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on deaths of despair and the state of the ongoing opioid crisis. Includes a special feature focusing on youth mental health and well-being. Highlights data on rural and urban communities.
Date: 05/2023
Sponsoring organization: Trust for America's Health
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Children's Participation in Child Care and Early Education in 2012 and 2019: Counts and Characteristics
A chartbook that provides nationally representative data on participation in child care and early education (CCEE) utilizing the 2012 and 2019 National Survey of Early Care and Education (NSECE). Includes rural versus urban data on type of care and number/percentage of children in CCEE for children under 3 and for children aged 3-5.
Author(s): A.R. Datta, Z. Gebhardt, K. Piazza, C. Zapata-Gietl
Date: 05/2023
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Children and Families
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Chartbook: Geographic Distribution of Children and Child Care and Early Education Providers in 2012 and 2019
Examines supply of child care and early education services compared to demand in rural and urban areas. Includes information on children's participation in center-based care and several types of home-based care.
Date: 05/2023
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Children and Families
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2023 National Survey on MIH-CP Programs
Results of a February 2023 survey of approximately 400 emergency medical services (EMS) agencies nationwide that have launched mobile integrated healthcare and community paramedicine (MIH-CP) programs. Features statistics on nontraditional services offered, and programs by demographic region served, with breakdowns by 3 levels of population density.
Date: 05/2023
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians
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Finding 2020 Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics Data for Urban and Rural Geographic Components
Brief video providing a step-by-step demonstration of how to find the urban and rural data available in the 2020 Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics File.
Date: 05/2023
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Ambulance Deserts: Geographic Disparities in the Provision of Ambulance Services
Chartbook presenting data on ambulance deserts from 41 states in 2021-2022, and identifying places and people that are more than 25 minutes from an ambulance station. Include maps of ambulance desert locations and healthcare facility locations for every state with available data, and documents coverage gaps in the provision of ambulance services across geographic areas across the United States.
Author(s): Yvonne Jonk, Carly Milkowski, Zachariah Croll, Karen Pearson
Date: 05/2023
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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Child Nutrition Program Operations During the COVID-19 Pandemic, March through September 2020: School Meals Operations Study, Year 1 Report (Final)
Describes trends in Child Nutrition (CN) Program participation during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, from March through September 2020. Presents data on the number of meals served, operational and financial challenges state agencies and local program operators experienced during the pandemic, and the use of COVID-19 Child Nutrition nationwide waivers. Includes information on challenges rural program operators faced.
Additional links: Report Summary
Author(s): Veronica Severn, Liana Washburn, Rachel Frisk, Kevin Conway
Date: 05/2023
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Cancer Patients in Western Pennsylvania: Rural–Urban Disparities
Examines the impact of COVID-19 and related concerns on cancer patients in rural and urban areas of Pennsylvania. Analyzes a sample of 1,980 patient surveys from August-December 2020 and March 2021 by patient perception of pandemic-related distress, cancer care, COVID-19 impact on personal health, and more. Includes rural versus urban data on COVID-19 concerns related to cancer care as well as demographic breakdowns.
Author(s): Kathryn Demanelis, Margaret Rosenzweig, Linda B. Robertson, et al.
Citation: Cancer Causes Control, 34(7), 595-609
Date: 05/2023
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