Skip to main content
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Statistics and data

Statewide Examination of Rural–Urban Differences in Assisted Living Facilities
Compares characteristics among rural and urban assisted living facilities (ALF) in Texas, using Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) facility survey data of 517 ALFs. Includes rural-urban comparisons between Type A and Type B facilities, provided services, certifications, antipsychotic drug use and dose reduction programs, and more.
Author(s): Katie Trainum, Alexa Stuifbergen, Heather Becker, Stephanie Morgan
Citation: Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 27(4), 106121
Date: 02/2026
view details
Sociodemographic Drivers of Recruitment and Attrition in Digital Neurological Research: Longitudinal Cohort Study
Examines demographic differences in participation in a remote speech capture study with digital recruitment via the Mayo Clinic patient portal system. Includes data on enrollment and completion times by rural or urban area, among other factors.
Author(s): Peyman Nejat, Ashley D. Bachman, Vicki M. Stubbs, et al.
Citation: Journal of Medical Internet Research, 28, e83432
Date: 02/2026
view details
The Changing Landscape of School-Based Health Centers and Other School-Based Clinics in California, 2011–2023
Examines access to school-based health centers (SBHCs) and other school-based clinics (OSBCs) in California and their role in providing medical care to under-resourced communities. Analyzes availability of SBHCs and OSBCs between 2011 and 2023, services provided, and the school's characteristics, including location in large city, small/medium city, suburb, or town/rural.
Author(s): Katherine M. Rancaño, Ashley M. Kranz, Jessica Richard, et al.
Citation: Journal of School Health, 96(4), e70126
Date: 02/2026
view details
Analyzing Demographics Within Rural Populations: Considerations for Rural Public Health Research
A tip sheet from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention discussing best practices for using demographic data in rural public health research. Discusses when to disaggregate data, common demographic variables for discovering meaningful variation, practical considerations, and limitations.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: CDC Office of Rural Health
view details
Empowering Rural Communities: Overcoming Barriers to Substance Use Treatment
Webinar recording discusses the ways rural communities can overcome barriers to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and uptake. Explores substance use data for rural communities and outlines common barriers, such as travel times and distance to care, provider shortages, and concerns about stigma and patient confidentiality. Highlights strategies for rural communities to leverage their community bonds and faith communities to address SUD, and details models for expanding treatment and patient support in rural areas.
Additional links: Webinar Slides
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network
view details
Exploring Maternal Mental Health Conditions and Urban-Rural Disparities in Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy in South Carolina: A Fairlie Decomposition Approach
Examines the impact of maternal mental health on hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) in rural and urban areas of South Carolina. Utilizes data from 270,000 mothers with HDP to analyze maternal mental health conditions according to rural versus urban location, demographic variables, quality of prenatal care, mother's health condition, and more.
Author(s): Manan Roy, Maggie Sugg, Jennifer Runkle
Citation: Maternal and Child Health Journal
Date: 02/2026
view details
Using Rural-Urban Variables: Considerations for Rural Public Health Research
A tip sheet from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention discussing best practices for using rural and urban variables in public health studies. Discusses rural definitions, differences in rural communities, including rural communities in interpretation, and more.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: CDC Office of Rural Health
view details
Migration in Rural Minnesota: A Nuanced Story
Discusses rural versus urban net migration patterns in different regions of Minnesota during the 2000s, the 2010s, and the COVID-19 pandemic era to 2025. Provides county-level maps and charts representing migration data according to Minnesota counties comprised of rural, town/rural, urban/town/rural mix, and entirely urban populations.
Author(s): Kelly Asche
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Policy and Development
view details
Reporting and Performance of Maternity-Related Quality Measures in Critical Access Hospitals
Describes the characteristics of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) with and without labor and delivery services. Examines CAH quality reporting and performance on five key measures related to maternity care and birth outcomes. Explores relationships between maternity care quality performance and CAH characteristics such as system affiliation, volume, and location. Identifies quality measures related to maternity and birth outcomes that are most feasible and relevant for CAHs and rural hospitals.
Author(s): Madeleine Pick, Megan Lahr, Mikayla Reinke, Hamdi Abas
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
view details
Association Between Social Determinants of Health and Cardiovascular Risk in Pregnant Women, United States
Examines the relationship between cardiovascular health (CVH) in pregnant women and the social determinants of health (SDOH). Utilizes 2016-2020 Pregnancy Risk Assessment and Monitoring System (PRAMS) survey data and analyzes CVH risk according to patient demographics, health behaviors, social determinants, rural residence, and more.
Author(s): Shazia Shaukat, Jennifer Horney, Xiaopeng Ji, Christine Hoch, Lauren Covington
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 23
Date: 02/2026
view details