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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Statistics and data

Disparities in Maternal Health Visits Between Rural and Urban Communities in the United States, 2016–2018
Analyzes data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment and Monitoring System between 2016 and 2018 to compare rural and urban differences in prepregnancy, prenatal, and postpartum healthcare access and quality for 103,425 patients in 40 states, New York City, and Puerto Rico. Includes a rural and urban break down of patient demographics, insurance status, and chronic conditions. Discusses the role telehealth may play in closing gaps in care.
Author(s): Burcu Bozkurt, Arrianna Marie Planey, Monisa Aijaz, et al.
Citation: The Permanente Journal, 2024
Date: 04/2024
Type: Document
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Non-Urgent Use of Emergency Departments by Rural and Urban Adults
Examines differences in non-urgent use of emergency departments (EDs) in rural versus urban adults as well as factors associated with non-urgent ED use. Utilizes 2014-2017 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data to show percentage of adults who utilized ED services, with data broken down by age, mental and physical health status, income, health insurance and primary care access status, and rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Erika Ziller, Carly Milkowski, Zachariah Croll, Yvonne Jonk
Date: 04/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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Access to Capital and Credit for Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses in Appalachia
Reports on small business, entrepreneurship, and capital supply and demand in Appalachia. Describes regional and national trends, and identifies contributing factors. Includes data comparisons by level of rurality, and discusses characteristics and challenges of rural areas throughout.
Date: 04/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Appalachian Regional Commission
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With Current Staffing Levels, About 1 in 5 Nursing Facilities Would Meet Fully-Implemented Minimum Staffing Standards in the Final Rule
Describes a proposed federal standard for nursing home nurse staffing levels and analyzes current nursing home staffing levels, noting the percentage of facilities that will meet the proposed staffing level requirements when fully implemented.
Author(s): Priya Chidambaram, Alice Burns, Tricia Neuman, Robin Rudowitz
Date: 04/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Evaluation of Respondent-Driven Sampling in Seven Studies of People Who Use Drugs from Rural Populations: Findings from the Rural Opioid Initiative
Examines the efficacy of respondent-driven sampling (RDS) to recruit people who use drugs (PWUD) in rural populations. Analyzes 7 Rural Opioid Initiative studies that occurred between 2018-2020 and performs statistical analyses to observe RDS-generated validity in population-level prevalence estimates.
Author(s): Abby E. Rudolph, Robin M. Nance, Georgiy Bobashev, et al.
Citation: BMC Medical Research Methodology, 24, 94
Date: 04/2024
Type: Document
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Evaluating a Web-Based Training Curriculum for Disseminating Best Practices for the Care of Newborns with Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome in a Rural Hospital, the NOWS-NM Program
Evaluates the NOWS-NM program, a web-based training program for care of newborns with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) in rural New Mexico hospitals. Describes results of interviews with 16 providers on their experiences with NOWS and attitudes toward local NOWS treatment. Discusses stigma reduction and knowledge of non-pharmacologic NOWS treatment.
Author(s): Heather Pratt-Chavez, Heidi Rishel Brakey, Sarah G. Sanders, et al.
Citation: BMC Pediatrics, 24, 258
Date: 04/2024
Type: Document
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U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Indian Health Service Memorandum of Understanding - Annual Report, Fiscal Year 2023
Annual report details the accomplishments of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Indian Health Service (IHS) via their memorandum of understanding. Highlights the ways the VA and IHS have worked together to deliver healthcare to American Indian and Alaska Native veterans and discusses future collaborations.
Date: 04/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Indian Health Service, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
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Effectiveness of Implementing Evidence-Based Approaches to Promote Physical Activity in a Midwestern Micropolitan Area Using a Quasi-Experimental Hybrid Type I Study Design
Evaluates the effectiveness of a physical activity intervention implemented in a micropolitan Iowa community over 24 months in 142 residents. Describes the community-based participatory research intervention design. Includes discussion of implementing urban-tested approaches in rural settings.
Author(s): Barbara Baquero, Nicole Novak, Daniel K. Sewell, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 24, 1082
Date: 04/2024
Type: Document
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Geographic Disparities in Telemedicine Mental Health Use by Applying Three Way ANOVA on Medicaid Claims Population Data
Examines geographic differences in telemedicine use for mental healthcare visits in Texas. Analyzes 2012 to 2018 Medicaid claims data by urban, suburban, and rural geography, as well as additional sociodemographic variables.
Author(s): Benjamin Ukert, Mark Lawley, Hye-Chung Kum
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 24, 494
Date: 04/2024
Type: Document
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Demographic Disparities in the Limited Awareness of Alcohol Use as a Breast Cancer Risk Factor: Empirical Findings from a Cross-Sectional Study of U.S. Women
Examines the general awareness of breast cancer risk with alcohol use according to sociodemographic variables. Surveys adult women regarding cancer risk awareness, with data broken down by age, income, education, health status, alcohol use, information sources, U.S. region, and rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Monica H. Swahn, Priscilla Martinez, Adelaide Balenger, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 24, 1076
Date: 04/2024
Type: Document
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