Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Statistics and data
Rural Hospital Closures and Mortality From Time-Sensitive Conditions in Texas
Examines the relationship between mortality and rural hospital closures in Texas. Analyzes time-sensitive deaths per 100,000 residents across 175 counties between 2006 and 2019 and observes changes in mortality rates in a county where a rural hospital closed or in a nearby affected area. Includes county-level map showing location of hospital closures.
Author(s): Mark A. Poisler, Kritee Gujral
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(9), e2636325
Date: 09/2026
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Examines the relationship between mortality and rural hospital closures in Texas. Analyzes time-sensitive deaths per 100,000 residents across 175 counties between 2006 and 2019 and observes changes in mortality rates in a county where a rural hospital closed or in a nearby affected area. Includes county-level map showing location of hospital closures.
Author(s): Mark A. Poisler, Kritee Gujral
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(9), e2636325
Date: 09/2026
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Geographic and Environmental Differences in Associations Between Food Insecurity and Nutritional and Inflammatory Biomarkers Among Pregnant Participants in the All of Us Research Program
Examines the relationship among food insecurity (FI), geography, and health outcomes in pregnant women living in the Southeastern United States. Utilizes 2018-2022 All of Us Research Program data from 12,192 participants and analyzes cardiometabolic biomarkers, nutritional biomarkers, and environmental factors across rural versus urban, as well as FI versus non-FI populations.
Author(s): Alaijah Bashi, Viviane Schuch, Amber Dawning, et al.
Citation: Nutrients, 18(18), 2965
Date: 09/2026
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Examines the relationship among food insecurity (FI), geography, and health outcomes in pregnant women living in the Southeastern United States. Utilizes 2018-2022 All of Us Research Program data from 12,192 participants and analyzes cardiometabolic biomarkers, nutritional biomarkers, and environmental factors across rural versus urban, as well as FI versus non-FI populations.
Author(s): Alaijah Bashi, Viviane Schuch, Amber Dawning, et al.
Citation: Nutrients, 18(18), 2965
Date: 09/2026
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Place-Based Risk: Examining Relationships Between Adolescent Perceptions of Community Risk Factors and Adolescent Substance Use Across Geographic Contexts
Examines adolescent perceptions of structural and social factors that influence their substance use in rural and urban communities. Utilizes 2019 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey data from 9,819 adolescents to analyze alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and illicit drug use according to sociodemographics, cultural norms, law enforcement response to substance use, availability of drugs, and urban, suburban, town, or rural location.
Author(s): Melissa Pearman Fenton, Sarah D. Lynne, Josie L. Bryan, Catherine Woodstock Striley, Larry F. Forthun
Citation: American Journal of Community Psychology, 78(1-2), 245-262
Date: 09/2026
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Examines adolescent perceptions of structural and social factors that influence their substance use in rural and urban communities. Utilizes 2019 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey data from 9,819 adolescents to analyze alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and illicit drug use according to sociodemographics, cultural norms, law enforcement response to substance use, availability of drugs, and urban, suburban, town, or rural location.
Author(s): Melissa Pearman Fenton, Sarah D. Lynne, Josie L. Bryan, Catherine Woodstock Striley, Larry F. Forthun
Citation: American Journal of Community Psychology, 78(1-2), 245-262
Date: 09/2026
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Examining the Rural College Labor Market
Examines the rural college labor market, enrollment and degree completion, location decisions of students, and shifts in degree types to meet the needs of changing rural industries. Utilizes American Community Survey data to analyze the nonmetro workforce, college labor trends, demographic characteristics, and industry changes, including trends related to healthcare profession degree completion and subsequent employment.
Author(s): Brandon Genetin, James C. Davis
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Examines the rural college labor market, enrollment and degree completion, location decisions of students, and shifts in degree types to meet the needs of changing rural industries. Utilizes American Community Survey data to analyze the nonmetro workforce, college labor trends, demographic characteristics, and industry changes, including trends related to healthcare profession degree completion and subsequent employment.
Author(s): Brandon Genetin, James C. Davis
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Association Between Various Metrics of the Rural Food Environment and Diabetes and Obesity
Examines the food environment and resident demographic characteristics and health status in rural Sullivan County, New York. Utilizes survey data from 1,311 residents as well as a catalog of local restaurants and retail food stores to identify food environment associations with diabetes and obesity. Compares how various geographic measures of the food environment perform in a rural setting and discusses the need to validate measures before use in rural health research.
Author(s): Jessica Gjonaj, Haeseung Yi, Tammy A. Flores, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23
Date: 09/2026
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Examines the food environment and resident demographic characteristics and health status in rural Sullivan County, New York. Utilizes survey data from 1,311 residents as well as a catalog of local restaurants and retail food stores to identify food environment associations with diabetes and obesity. Compares how various geographic measures of the food environment perform in a rural setting and discusses the need to validate measures before use in rural health research.
Author(s): Jessica Gjonaj, Haeseung Yi, Tammy A. Flores, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23
Date: 09/2026
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Associations of County-Level Urbanicity With Overall Survival Across 19 Solid Tumor Groups, 2004–2023: A SEER Cohort Study of 5.5 Million Patients
Analyzes how cancer survival varies by rurality at diagnosis across 19 tumor groups, including prostate, lung, kidney, and other cancers, using 2004-2023 SEER data.
Author(s): Lihui Liang, Jiancheng Huang, Qingbai Jiang
Citation: Cancer Control, 33
Date: 09/2026
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Analyzes how cancer survival varies by rurality at diagnosis across 19 tumor groups, including prostate, lung, kidney, and other cancers, using 2004-2023 SEER data.
Author(s): Lihui Liang, Jiancheng Huang, Qingbai Jiang
Citation: Cancer Control, 33
Date: 09/2026
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Community Relationships and Physician Retention in Clinician Shortage Areas
Results of a study examining the connections of community needs fulfillment and community integration with anticipated retention of physicians in rural Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and urban HPSAs. Features demographics and statistics with breakdowns by type of practice, including Federally Qualified Health Centers and Look-Alike Health Centers, Rural Health Clinics, and hospital-based sites.
Author(s): Donald E. Pathman, David F. Schmitz, Thomas R. Konrad, Thomas E. Rauner, Mike Shimmens
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(9), e2635692
Date: 09/2026
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Results of a study examining the connections of community needs fulfillment and community integration with anticipated retention of physicians in rural Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and urban HPSAs. Features demographics and statistics with breakdowns by type of practice, including Federally Qualified Health Centers and Look-Alike Health Centers, Rural Health Clinics, and hospital-based sites.
Author(s): Donald E. Pathman, David F. Schmitz, Thomas R. Konrad, Thomas E. Rauner, Mike Shimmens
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(9), e2635692
Date: 09/2026
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Veterans Health Care: Information on Eligibility for and Use of Dental Benefits
Provides an overview of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) dental benefits and eligibility. Describes the number and percentage of VHA-enrolled veterans who were eligible for VA dental benefits between 2020 and 2025. Presents data by demographic characteristics, including age and rural residence. Explores the potential effect of expanding eligibility for VA dental benefits to all veterans with a heart disease diagnosis. Appendix I discusses VHA's use of teledentistry between 2020 and 2025, including the number and percentage of VHA facilities, by facility type and rurality, that provided at least one dental visit by teledentistry.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Provides an overview of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) dental benefits and eligibility. Describes the number and percentage of VHA-enrolled veterans who were eligible for VA dental benefits between 2020 and 2025. Presents data by demographic characteristics, including age and rural residence. Explores the potential effect of expanding eligibility for VA dental benefits to all veterans with a heart disease diagnosis. Appendix I discusses VHA's use of teledentistry between 2020 and 2025, including the number and percentage of VHA facilities, by facility type and rurality, that provided at least one dental visit by teledentistry.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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The Integrated Vulnerability Measure a Novel Financial Distress Index for US Hospitals
Tests the effectiveness of the integrated vulnerability measure (IVM) in identifying hospitals at risk of experiencing financial distress within 2 years. Discusses using IVM in decision-making and compares IVM to other distress indicators.
Author(s): Julianna Bernadi, Paul Ursino, Kevin Gormley, et al.
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 4(9)
Date: 09/2026
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Tests the effectiveness of the integrated vulnerability measure (IVM) in identifying hospitals at risk of experiencing financial distress within 2 years. Discusses using IVM in decision-making and compares IVM to other distress indicators.
Author(s): Julianna Bernadi, Paul Ursino, Kevin Gormley, et al.
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 4(9)
Date: 09/2026
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Tribal Water Infrastructure: Opportunities Exist to Improve Federal Assistance
Provides an overview of federal roles in tribal water infrastructure projects. Examines the extent to which the Indian Health Service (IHS) can fund water infrastructure for homes and buildings in a tribal community. Explores opportunities to streamline application processes and administrative requirements when IHS collaborates with other federal agencies. Describes the limited financial capacity some tribes have to operate and maintain their water infrastructure, and the potential effects of IHS providing financial assistance for these purposes. Presents recommendations for Congress and federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Provides an overview of federal roles in tribal water infrastructure projects. Examines the extent to which the Indian Health Service (IHS) can fund water infrastructure for homes and buildings in a tribal community. Explores opportunities to streamline application processes and administrative requirements when IHS collaborates with other federal agencies. Describes the limited financial capacity some tribes have to operate and maintain their water infrastructure, and the potential effects of IHS providing financial assistance for these purposes. Presents recommendations for Congress and federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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