Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Statistics and data
County-Level Vulnerability Is Associated With Mental Health and Substance Use Treatment Among Rural Suicide Decedents: A National Multi-Year Cross-Sectional Study
Presents a study on the relationship between individual- and county-level factors that correlate with rural suicide decedents who receive mental health and substance use dependence treatment. Breaks down data by county-level factors, such as number of mental health providers, number of primary care providers, and rate of social associations, among others, as well as individual characteristics, such as age, sex, education, and marital status, among others.
Author(s): J. Priyanka Vakkalanka, Victor A. Soupene, Jennifer Van Tiem, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(4), e70094
Date: 11/2025
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Presents a study on the relationship between individual- and county-level factors that correlate with rural suicide decedents who receive mental health and substance use dependence treatment. Breaks down data by county-level factors, such as number of mental health providers, number of primary care providers, and rate of social associations, among others, as well as individual characteristics, such as age, sex, education, and marital status, among others.
Author(s): J. Priyanka Vakkalanka, Victor A. Soupene, Jennifer Van Tiem, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(4), e70094
Date: 11/2025
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Poor Mental Health Days and Depression by Farming Occupation and Sociodemographic Factors: BRFSS 2019 Data from 13 States
Analyzes 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey sociodemographic data from 13 states to compare poor mental health days and depression diagnosis between farmers and non-farmers. Discusses study findings in light of disproportionate suicide rates for people in farming occupations.
Author(s): Jeanne M. Ward, John R. Blosnich
Citation: Journal of Agromedicine, 2025
Date: 11/2025
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Analyzes 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey sociodemographic data from 13 states to compare poor mental health days and depression diagnosis between farmers and non-farmers. Discusses study findings in light of disproportionate suicide rates for people in farming occupations.
Author(s): Jeanne M. Ward, John R. Blosnich
Citation: Journal of Agromedicine, 2025
Date: 11/2025
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State Awards From Most of the Rural Health Funds Could Vary Only Modestly Despite Large Differences in Rural Needs
Describes the estimated Rural Health Transformation Program funding distribution among the 50 states. Includes information on the potential allocation criteria for funding distributed based on state need. Notes plans for distributing funding in years 2 through 5 of the award.
Author(s): Zachary Levinson, Scott Hulver, Tricia Neuman
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Describes the estimated Rural Health Transformation Program funding distribution among the 50 states. Includes information on the potential allocation criteria for funding distributed based on state need. Notes plans for distributing funding in years 2 through 5 of the award.
Author(s): Zachary Levinson, Scott Hulver, Tricia Neuman
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Rural-Urban Differences in Post-9/11 Women Veterans' Firearm Ownership and Characteristics
Compares rural and urban firearm ownership, firearm characteristics, firearm safety practices, and other related characteristics among 525 women veterans with at least one post-9/11 deployment. Discusses assessment of firearm ownership and access as a component of suicide prevention for veterans.
Author(s): Ashley M. Griffith, Christin Miller, Nicole M. Caulfield, et al.
Citation: Injury Epidemiology, 12, 73
Date: 11/2025
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Compares rural and urban firearm ownership, firearm characteristics, firearm safety practices, and other related characteristics among 525 women veterans with at least one post-9/11 deployment. Discusses assessment of firearm ownership and access as a component of suicide prevention for veterans.
Author(s): Ashley M. Griffith, Christin Miller, Nicole M. Caulfield, et al.
Citation: Injury Epidemiology, 12, 73
Date: 11/2025
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Staying Strong on the Job: Physical and Psychosocial Benefits of Exercise for Agricultural Workers
Evaluates the impact of an exercise program among 25 agricultural workers. The program aimed to improve strength to reduce workplace injuries. Discusses both measured and perceived changes in functional capacity.
Author(s): Nicholas Spokely, Diego Diaz-Vega, Lindsey Phillips Abernathy, et al.
Citation: Journal of Agromedicine, 2025
Date: 11/2025
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Evaluates the impact of an exercise program among 25 agricultural workers. The program aimed to improve strength to reduce workplace injuries. Discusses both measured and perceived changes in functional capacity.
Author(s): Nicholas Spokely, Diego Diaz-Vega, Lindsey Phillips Abernathy, et al.
Citation: Journal of Agromedicine, 2025
Date: 11/2025
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Missed Opportunities for Tobacco Dependence Treatment among U.S. Veterans Referred for Lung Cancer Screening: An Observational Cohort Study
Analyzes rates at which tobacco dependence treatment (TDT) is provided to veterans who use tobacco and were referred for lung cancer screening (LCS) at Veterans Affairs Medical Centers and associated clinics in the upper Midwest between September 2022 and September 2023. Breaks down clinical and demographic factors associated with TDT use, including rurality.
Author(s): Anne C. Melzer, Adam Kaplan, Megan Campbell, et al.
Citation: Preventive Medicine Reports, 59, 103263
Date: 11/2025
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Analyzes rates at which tobacco dependence treatment (TDT) is provided to veterans who use tobacco and were referred for lung cancer screening (LCS) at Veterans Affairs Medical Centers and associated clinics in the upper Midwest between September 2022 and September 2023. Breaks down clinical and demographic factors associated with TDT use, including rurality.
Author(s): Anne C. Melzer, Adam Kaplan, Megan Campbell, et al.
Citation: Preventive Medicine Reports, 59, 103263
Date: 11/2025
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Chronic Pain Prevalence and Trends in Urban, Suburban, and Rural Areas among American Adults Aged 55+, 1998–2022
Compares the prevalence of chronic pain and associated trends in rural, suburban, and urban areas among adults aged 55 and older, utilizing 1998-2022 Health and Retirement Study data.
Author(s): Yulin Yang, Feinuo Sun, Zachary Zimmer, et al.
Citation: Social Science & Medicine, 385, 118625
Date: 11/2025
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Compares the prevalence of chronic pain and associated trends in rural, suburban, and urban areas among adults aged 55 and older, utilizing 1998-2022 Health and Retirement Study data.
Author(s): Yulin Yang, Feinuo Sun, Zachary Zimmer, et al.
Citation: Social Science & Medicine, 385, 118625
Date: 11/2025
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Association of Injury-Related Mortality with Unique Domains of Social Determinants of Health Across the Urban-Rural Continuum
Examines whether social determinants of health associated with injury-related mortality vary by geography, utilizing 2000-2017 Pennsylvania Trauma Study Outcomes data. Compares rural and urban populations, with further data breakdowns by race, place of birth, income, and other demographic factors.
Author(s): Tamara Byrd, Nicholas Kass, Liling Lu, et al.
Citation: Surgery, 187, 109607
Date: 11/2025
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Examines whether social determinants of health associated with injury-related mortality vary by geography, utilizing 2000-2017 Pennsylvania Trauma Study Outcomes data. Compares rural and urban populations, with further data breakdowns by race, place of birth, income, and other demographic factors.
Author(s): Tamara Byrd, Nicholas Kass, Liling Lu, et al.
Citation: Surgery, 187, 109607
Date: 11/2025
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New Mexico Health Care Workforce Committee: 2025 Annual Report
Reports on New Mexico's healthcare workforce, including county-level data and comparisons to national benchmarks. Discusses rural and frontier area shortages, health workforce migration trends, potential solutions for workforce issues, and updates on previous recommendations. See Appendix C for healthcare professions gap analyses by county.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of New Mexico - Health Sciences Center
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Reports on New Mexico's healthcare workforce, including county-level data and comparisons to national benchmarks. Discusses rural and frontier area shortages, health workforce migration trends, potential solutions for workforce issues, and updates on previous recommendations. See Appendix C for healthcare professions gap analyses by county.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of New Mexico - Health Sciences Center
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Benzodiazepines and Opioid Co-Use Among Rural People Who Use Drugs: Findings From the Rural Opioid Initiative
Explores the patterns of co-usage of benzodiazepines and opioids in rural areas. Highlights data related to health outcomes, demographic characteristics, interactions with law enforcement, and the co-use of other drugs, among other measures.
Author(s): L. Sarah Mixson, Arvind Venkataraman, Lydia N. Drumright, et al.
Citation: Substance Use & Addiction Journal, 46(4), 847-858
Date: 10/2025
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Explores the patterns of co-usage of benzodiazepines and opioids in rural areas. Highlights data related to health outcomes, demographic characteristics, interactions with law enforcement, and the co-use of other drugs, among other measures.
Author(s): L. Sarah Mixson, Arvind Venkataraman, Lydia N. Drumright, et al.
Citation: Substance Use & Addiction Journal, 46(4), 847-858
Date: 10/2025
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