Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Social determinants of health
Economic Hardship and Health Within Sociodemographic and Occupational Groups — Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, United States, 2022–2023
Reports on economic hardship measures and self-rated health among employed and recently unemployed adults. Hardship measures included lack of health insurance, cost of medical care, employment instability, food insecurity, housing insecurity, utility insecurity, lack of reliable transportation, and receipt of food benefits. Provides data by occupation, including for people employed in farming, fishing, and forestry.
Author(s): Sharon R. Silver, Jia Li, Taylor M. Shockey
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 74(19), 326-333
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Reports on economic hardship measures and self-rated health among employed and recently unemployed adults. Hardship measures included lack of health insurance, cost of medical care, employment instability, food insecurity, housing insecurity, utility insecurity, lack of reliable transportation, and receipt of food benefits. Provides data by occupation, including for people employed in farming, fishing, and forestry.
Author(s): Sharon R. Silver, Jia Li, Taylor M. Shockey
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 74(19), 326-333
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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The Protective Role of Community Cohesion Across Rural and Urban Contexts: Implications for Youth Mental Health
Examines the impact of community cohesion on youth resilience during adverse experiences and socioeconomic issues. Utilizes longitudinal data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study and compares rural and urban youth across categories such as neighborhood characteristics, negative life events, community cohesion, and internalizing and externalizing mental health symptoms.
Author(s): Alexis Brieant, Keith B. Burt
Citation: Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 30(2), 140-148
Date: 05/2025
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Examines the impact of community cohesion on youth resilience during adverse experiences and socioeconomic issues. Utilizes longitudinal data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study and compares rural and urban youth across categories such as neighborhood characteristics, negative life events, community cohesion, and internalizing and externalizing mental health symptoms.
Author(s): Alexis Brieant, Keith B. Burt
Citation: Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 30(2), 140-148
Date: 05/2025
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Rebuilding Maternal Health Access in Western North Carolina: Addressing Critical Gaps Amplified by Hurricane Helene
Discusses the impact of Hurricane Helene on maternal health in rural North Carolina. Focuses on maternal healthcare workforce shortages, access issues in isolated areas, maternal morbidity and mortality, rural health disparities, and more. Offers suggestions to improve rural maternal health in North Carolina, including enhancing data collection, strengthening infrastructure and access, and addressing the social determinants of health.
Author(s): Jennifer Runkle, Maggie Sugg
Citation: North Carolina Medical Journal, 86(1)
Date: 04/2025
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Discusses the impact of Hurricane Helene on maternal health in rural North Carolina. Focuses on maternal healthcare workforce shortages, access issues in isolated areas, maternal morbidity and mortality, rural health disparities, and more. Offers suggestions to improve rural maternal health in North Carolina, including enhancing data collection, strengthening infrastructure and access, and addressing the social determinants of health.
Author(s): Jennifer Runkle, Maggie Sugg
Citation: North Carolina Medical Journal, 86(1)
Date: 04/2025
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The Future of Rural Health: Report on a Special Convening Held November 19-20, 2024
Summarizes discussions held during a November 2024 summit of rural health services delivery and finance experts that aimed to identify the needs of the rural health communities, build on existing strengths, and develop a cohesive approach to improving the health of rural residents. Describes the themes and policy options that emerged throughout the summit. Covers financing rural health services, payment policies, workforce considerations, the use of technology and data, and more.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organizations: National Rural Health Association, Rural Policy Research Institute, The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, West Health Institute
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Summarizes discussions held during a November 2024 summit of rural health services delivery and finance experts that aimed to identify the needs of the rural health communities, build on existing strengths, and develop a cohesive approach to improving the health of rural residents. Describes the themes and policy options that emerged throughout the summit. Covers financing rural health services, payment policies, workforce considerations, the use of technology and data, and more.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organizations: National Rural Health Association, Rural Policy Research Institute, The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, West Health Institute
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Better Health for Mothers and Babies Issue Brief: Reducing Maternal Mortality and Morbidity
Discusses maternal morbidity and mortality in the U.S. and the underlying causes. Focuses on access to care, medically at-risk patients, social factors, and maternal health challenges in rural areas. Includes suggestions to improve maternal health outcomes with examples from various healthcare facilities.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Discusses maternal morbidity and mortality in the U.S. and the underlying causes. Focuses on access to care, medically at-risk patients, social factors, and maternal health challenges in rural areas. Includes suggestions to improve maternal health outcomes with examples from various healthcare facilities.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Social Determinants of Health and Variability in Treatment for Patients with Early-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Examines census tract-level social determinants of health (SDOH) and their impact on lung cancer treatment. Utilizes 2017-2022 Syapse Learning Health Network data to analyze patient social and demographic variables, housing burden, broadband internet access, primary care shortage areas, and rurality, as correlated with radiation therapy and/or surgery.
Author(s): Molly Scannell Bryan, Xiaohan Hu, Monika A. Izano, et al.
Citation: JNCI Cancer Spectrum, 9(2)
Date: 04/2025
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Examines census tract-level social determinants of health (SDOH) and their impact on lung cancer treatment. Utilizes 2017-2022 Syapse Learning Health Network data to analyze patient social and demographic variables, housing burden, broadband internet access, primary care shortage areas, and rurality, as correlated with radiation therapy and/or surgery.
Author(s): Molly Scannell Bryan, Xiaohan Hu, Monika A. Izano, et al.
Citation: JNCI Cancer Spectrum, 9(2)
Date: 04/2025
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Promoting the Health of Migrant Seasonal Agricultural Workers in Rural Minnesota Using a Whole-Person Health Approach: A Pilot Project
Discusses the efficacy of a whole-health assessment of migrant and seasonal agricultural workers (MSAWs) at identifying community strengths and challenges pertaining to physical, emotional, social, and economic health. Highlights the University of Minnesota comprehensive whole-health assessment criteria and details the implementation, uptake, and results.
Author(s): Shahidali Jaffer, Robin Austin, Jonathan D. Kirsch
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 13, 1518686
Date: 04/2025
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Discusses the efficacy of a whole-health assessment of migrant and seasonal agricultural workers (MSAWs) at identifying community strengths and challenges pertaining to physical, emotional, social, and economic health. Highlights the University of Minnesota comprehensive whole-health assessment criteria and details the implementation, uptake, and results.
Author(s): Shahidali Jaffer, Robin Austin, Jonathan D. Kirsch
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 13, 1518686
Date: 04/2025
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The 10-20-30 Provision: Defining Persistent Poverty Counties
Defines persistent poverty counties. Discusses how differences in definitions and data can affect which counties are considered persistently poor and includes a map highlighting the impact of different rounding methods. Briefly addresses legislation targeting persistent poverty counties using the "10-20-30 provision," including rural development funding. Table 3 lists persistent poverty counties based on data from the 1993 Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE), Census 2000, and the 2023 SAIPE.
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Defines persistent poverty counties. Discusses how differences in definitions and data can affect which counties are considered persistently poor and includes a map highlighting the impact of different rounding methods. Briefly addresses legislation targeting persistent poverty counties using the "10-20-30 provision," including rural development funding. Table 3 lists persistent poverty counties based on data from the 1993 Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE), Census 2000, and the 2023 SAIPE.
Date: 03/2025
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Factors Associated with Multiple-Death Suicides among Rural US Decedents
Examines themes related to multiple suicides, or suicide confirmed in 2 or more descendants, in rural areas. Utilizes 2013-2021 data from the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) to analyze suicide deaths in rural areas based on meticulous planning, mutual dependency, unbearable health conditions, and other social factors.
Author(s): Victor A. Soupene, Timothy Hays, Jonathan Davis, J. Priyanka Vakkalanka
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(1)
Date: 02/2025
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Examines themes related to multiple suicides, or suicide confirmed in 2 or more descendants, in rural areas. Utilizes 2013-2021 data from the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) to analyze suicide deaths in rural areas based on meticulous planning, mutual dependency, unbearable health conditions, and other social factors.
Author(s): Victor A. Soupene, Timothy Hays, Jonathan Davis, J. Priyanka Vakkalanka
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(1)
Date: 02/2025
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Instability Continues to Threaten Rural Health Safety Net: Reduced Reimbursements, Dwindling Access to Care and Deteriorating Population Health Status
Examines factors contributing to the instability of the rural healthcare safety net, including policy-related reimbursement cuts and changes to payer mixes. Presents data on rural hospitals that have stopped offering obstetrics and chemotherapy services. Explores aspects of rural population health and social drivers of health as they relate to rural healthcare delivery challenges.
Date: 02/2025
Sponsoring organization: Chartis Center for Rural Health
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Examines factors contributing to the instability of the rural healthcare safety net, including policy-related reimbursement cuts and changes to payer mixes. Presents data on rural hospitals that have stopped offering obstetrics and chemotherapy services. Explores aspects of rural population health and social drivers of health as they relate to rural healthcare delivery challenges.
Date: 02/2025
Sponsoring organization: Chartis Center for Rural Health
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