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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: The South

Contextualizing Physical Activity in Rural Adults: Do Relationships Between Income Inequality, Neighborhood Environments, and Physical Activity Exist?
Examines a selection of rural southern counties to see how social determinants of health (SDOH) are related to physical activity. Utilizes data from an August 2020-March 2021 telephone survey to analyze physical activity in 334 respondents by sex, race, income, obesity status, marriage status, as well as rates of income inequality, social cohesion, and walkability of community.
Author(s): Samuel L. K. Baxter, Giselle Corbie, Sarah F. Griffin
Citation: Health Services Research, 58(S2), 238-247
Date: 08/2023
Type: Document
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Advancing Economic Development in Persistent-Poverty Communities
Examines census tracts to identify areas of "persistent poverty," defined as an area with at least a 20% poverty rate for at least 30 years. Discusses the distribution of the persistently poor population between rural and urban areas and highlights specific regions such as the Southeast, Tribal areas, and Appalachia. Outlines contributors to persistent poverty including workforce development, lack of infrastructure, race and ethnicity, economic conditions, and more. Presents 4 case studies, including 2 rural studies, to highlight overall themes and make recommendations for improving conditions in persistently poor locations. Interactive map provides information and data on persistent poverty counties.
Additional links: Executive Summary, Interactive Map
Author(s): August Benzow, Kenan Fikri, Joanne Kim, Daniel Newman
Date: 06/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Economic Innovation Group
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Ambulance Deserts: Geographic Disparities in the Provision of Ambulance Services
Webinar recording presenting key findings from a chartbook that analyzes 41 states in 2021-2022 and identifies places and people in ambulance deserts, defined as locations that are more than 25 minutes from an ambulance station.
Additional links: Presentation Slides, Transcript
Author(s): Yvonne Jonk
Date: 06/2023
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organizations: Maine Rural Health Research Center, Rural Health Research Gateway
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'A Safe Place': Rural HIV Patients and Providers Fight Stigma, Isolation Through Connection
Reports on a variety of programs underway in rural areas for HIV prevention and treatment. Discusses the challenges and barriers, as well as strategies to address HIV in rural communities.
Author(s): Gretel Kauffman
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 06/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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How a Black Community Brought Affordable Health Care and Clean Water to Rural South Carolina in the 1970s
Reports on a predominately Black rural community in South Carolina that worked together to provide indoor plumbing, build a health center, and improve health outcomes of their citizens in the 1970s.
Author(s): Olivia Lewis
Date: 06/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Community Health Centers
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Ambulance Deserts: Geographic Disparities in the Provision of Ambulance Services
Chartbook presenting data on ambulance deserts from 41 states in 2021-2022, and identifying places and people that are more than 25 minutes from an ambulance station. Include maps of ambulance desert locations and health care facility locations for every state with available data, and documents coverage gaps in the provision of ambulance services across geographic areas across the United States.
Author(s): Yvonne Jonk, Carly Milkowski, Zachariah Croll, Karen Pearson
Date: 05/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Maine Rural Health Research Center
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The Association Between Social Functioning and Health Literacy Among Rural Southeastern African Americans with Hypertension
Analyzes how the relationship between social support and health literacy may mitigate health outcomes in African American populations in rural Southeastern USA. Utilizes data from the Southeastern Collaboration to Improve Blood Pressure Control trial to examine social isolation and health literacy in 1,221 individuals, with data further broken down by age, sex, education, income, cognition impairments, marriage status, and study site.
Author(s): Iliana Gutierrez, Joanna Bryan, Elizabeth Baquero, Monika M. Safford
Citation: Health Promotion International, 38
Date: 05/2023
Type: Document
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COVID-19 Booster Vaccination in Rural Community Pharmacies
Examines perceptions surrounding COVID-19 booster vaccinations in rural southeastern community pharmacies. Utilizes February-March 2022 survey data from 112 pharmacists part of the the Rural Research Alliance of Community Pharmacies (RURAL-CP) and analyzes number of pharmacies offering COVID-19 booster vaccinations, reasons for choosing versus not choosing vaccination, barriers to COVID-19 booster vaccinations, and more.
Author(s): Abigail Gamble, Tessa J. Hastings, Salisa C. Westrick, et al.
Citation: Vaccine, 41(5), 999-1002
Date: 01/2023
Type: Document
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A Granular Look at Internet Speeds and Demographic Groups: Implications for Digital Equity
Research brief on geographic variation in internet speed, utilizing 2020 Census block-level data. Provides statistics on national, Southern, and state-by-state rural-urban broadband speed disparities, with breakdowns by race and ethnicity and presence of children. Discusses barriers to access, broadband, and digital equity.
Author(s): Roberto Gallardo, Brian Whitacre
Date: 09/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Southern Rural Development Center
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Preserving Independence among Under-Resourced Older Adults in the Southeastern United States: Existing Barriers and Potential Strategies for Research
Literature review examining barriers to independent aging in the Southeast, including physical, mental, and social challenges related to chronic conditions, health disparities, and access to care. Includes a section on barriers for older adults in rural areas of the Southeast.
Author(s): Ene M. Enogela, Taylor Buchanan, Christy S. Carter, et al.
Citation: International Journal for Equity in Health, 21, 119
Date: 08/2022
Type: Document
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