Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Social determinants of health
Wisconsin State Health Assessment 2025
Provides an overview of population health in Wisconsin, focusing on demographics, social determinants of health, health behaviors, health outcomes, and community health infrastructure. Includes rural versus urban and county-level data points and discusses key health issues in Wisconsin.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Wisconsin Department of Health Services
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Provides an overview of population health in Wisconsin, focusing on demographics, social determinants of health, health behaviors, health outcomes, and community health infrastructure. Includes rural versus urban and county-level data points and discusses key health issues in Wisconsin.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: Wisconsin Department of Health Services
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The 2025 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress
Presents a point-in-time estimate of the number of people experiencing sheltered and unsheltered homelessness in January 2025. Explores national estimates on homeless individuals, families, unaccompanied youth, veterans, and chronically homeless individuals. Provides data on homelessness trends over time, demographics of homeless individuals, sheltered individuals, and differences by geography.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
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Presents a point-in-time estimate of the number of people experiencing sheltered and unsheltered homelessness in January 2025. Explores national estimates on homeless individuals, families, unaccompanied youth, veterans, and chronically homeless individuals. Provides data on homelessness trends over time, demographics of homeless individuals, sheltered individuals, and differences by geography.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
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Economic Stability of Children, a Key Social Determinant of Health, in the United States: Differences by Rurality
Presents a study exploring economic security as a social determinant of health for rural children. Compares rates of economic security for rural and urban children by three different measures: housing instability, food insecurity, and income inadequacy.
Author(s): Elizabeth Crouch, Emma Boswell, Cassie Odahowski, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70164
Date: 05/2026
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Presents a study exploring economic security as a social determinant of health for rural children. Compares rates of economic security for rural and urban children by three different measures: housing instability, food insecurity, and income inadequacy.
Author(s): Elizabeth Crouch, Emma Boswell, Cassie Odahowski, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70164
Date: 05/2026
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One Nation, Two Rural Health Crises: Georgia and Texas Show Why Local Data-Informed Solutions Matter
Discusses how local conditions, including socioeconomic pressures, chronic disease prevalence, and limited access to care, differently influence rural health needs and solutions in Georgia and Texas. Includes discussion of maternal health disparities and chronic disease prevalence as key topics requiring different solutions in different states.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: PCCI
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Discusses how local conditions, including socioeconomic pressures, chronic disease prevalence, and limited access to care, differently influence rural health needs and solutions in Georgia and Texas. Includes discussion of maternal health disparities and chronic disease prevalence as key topics requiring different solutions in different states.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: PCCI
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Patient-Centered Burdens and Economic Outcomes among Patients Who Are Veterans, People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, and People Living in Rural Areas and Their Caregivers: A Scoping Review
Provides a literature review on patient-centered burdens and economic outcomes (PCBEOs) for military veterans, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), and people living in rural areas. Includes 126 studies from 2015-2025 and examines for PCBEOs such as direct medical and non-medical monetary costs, indirect impacts such as unpaid caregiving and time off work, and intangible burdens such as delayed career advancement. Discusses emotional and psychological strain of PCBEOs among these groups.
Author(s): Naomi Buell, Ella Shenkar, Sydney Kirsch, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 14
Date: 04/2026
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Provides a literature review on patient-centered burdens and economic outcomes (PCBEOs) for military veterans, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), and people living in rural areas. Includes 126 studies from 2015-2025 and examines for PCBEOs such as direct medical and non-medical monetary costs, indirect impacts such as unpaid caregiving and time off work, and intangible burdens such as delayed career advancement. Discusses emotional and psychological strain of PCBEOs among these groups.
Author(s): Naomi Buell, Ella Shenkar, Sydney Kirsch, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 14
Date: 04/2026
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County-Level Social Determinants of Health and Suicide Mortality Trends Among Formerly Incarcerated Persons in North Carolina, 2010–2018
Assesses how county-level factors including educational attainment, unemployment, poverty, aging, racial composition, and rurality are associated with suicide mortality among formerly incarcerated people in North Carolina. Features statistics including mortality rate per 100,000 with breakdowns by year from 2010-2018 and rural or urban county.
Author(s): Monica E. Swilley-Martinez, Brian W. Pence, Kate Vinita Fitch, et al.
Citation: Heath & Justice, 14, 20
Date: 04/2026
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Assesses how county-level factors including educational attainment, unemployment, poverty, aging, racial composition, and rurality are associated with suicide mortality among formerly incarcerated people in North Carolina. Features statistics including mortality rate per 100,000 with breakdowns by year from 2010-2018 and rural or urban county.
Author(s): Monica E. Swilley-Martinez, Brian W. Pence, Kate Vinita Fitch, et al.
Citation: Heath & Justice, 14, 20
Date: 04/2026
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Evaluating the Feasibility and Preliminary Effectiveness of a Tailored Diabetes Education Program for Rural Residents
Uses data collected from 18 Appalachian Kentucky residents enrolled in a 6-week diabetes intervention. Assesses clinical outcomes, knowledge, self-care, attitudes, and social support post intervention.
Author(s): Brittany L. Smalls, Oluwatosin Leshi, Suraksha Khanal, Grejika E. Abram-Erby
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 8(1), 69-84.
Date: 04/2026
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Uses data collected from 18 Appalachian Kentucky residents enrolled in a 6-week diabetes intervention. Assesses clinical outcomes, knowledge, self-care, attitudes, and social support post intervention.
Author(s): Brittany L. Smalls, Oluwatosin Leshi, Suraksha Khanal, Grejika E. Abram-Erby
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 8(1), 69-84.
Date: 04/2026
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Review of Current Research Describing the Influence of Non-Health Care Drivers of Health in Rural and Urban Populations
Summarizes recent research in social determinants of health and associated health conditions in rural and urban populations. Identifies gaps in the literature relevant to rural health, and highlights findings relevant to rural and urban economic stability, education access and quality, neighborhood and built environment, and other social and community contexts.
Author(s): Katie Youngen, Julia Cecil, Tyrone F. Borders
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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Summarizes recent research in social determinants of health and associated health conditions in rural and urban populations. Identifies gaps in the literature relevant to rural health, and highlights findings relevant to rural and urban economic stability, education access and quality, neighborhood and built environment, and other social and community contexts.
Author(s): Katie Youngen, Julia Cecil, Tyrone F. Borders
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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Identification and Characteristics of Under-Resourced and High-Need Rural Counties
Describes how county-level data on healthcare workforce, chronic disease prevalence, and socioeconomic environment of rural communities can help policymakers identify the highest need counties for targeted policy initiatives and public health intervention. Features county-level U.S. maps showing geographic distribution of chronic disease burden, socioeconomic status, physician density, and overall resource need, with shadings showing level of need or nonrural status.
Author(s): Gabriel A. Benavidez, Emma Boswell, Peiyin Hung, Eyram Owusu-Sekyere, Elizabeth Crouch
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
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Describes how county-level data on healthcare workforce, chronic disease prevalence, and socioeconomic environment of rural communities can help policymakers identify the highest need counties for targeted policy initiatives and public health intervention. Features county-level U.S. maps showing geographic distribution of chronic disease burden, socioeconomic status, physician density, and overall resource need, with shadings showing level of need or nonrural status.
Author(s): Gabriel A. Benavidez, Emma Boswell, Peiyin Hung, Eyram Owusu-Sekyere, Elizabeth Crouch
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
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Virginia's Plan for Well-Being: 2025-2029
Offers a data and community-driven roadmap to improve health outcomes and ensure that all Virginians live in conditions that allow them to thrive. Includes statistics on social determinants of health, infant mortality, firearm-related deaths and injury, obesity, mental health, substance use disorder, and housing. Features a county-level map showing rates of drug overdose deaths as of 2021. Mentions rural throughout.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Virginia Department of Health
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Offers a data and community-driven roadmap to improve health outcomes and ensure that all Virginians live in conditions that allow them to thrive. Includes statistics on social determinants of health, infant mortality, firearm-related deaths and injury, obesity, mental health, substance use disorder, and housing. Features a county-level map showing rates of drug overdose deaths as of 2021. Mentions rural throughout.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Virginia Department of Health
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