Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Tribal communities
Prenatal Vitamin D Levels and Postpartum Hemorrhage in a Rural Alaska Cohort
Examines the relationship between vitamin D levels during pregnancy and postpartum bleeding in a rural, Alaska Native/American Indian (AN/AI) population living in southwestern Alaska. Utilizes 2017-2019 data from 1,343 pregnancies to analyze levels of blood loss according to labor and delivery factors, obstetrics history, and pregnancy characteristics. Discusses strategies such as vitamin D supplementation and universal screening to address population health needs.
Author(s): Reinou S. Groen, Julie A. Beans, Gretchen Day, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 173(1), 403-410
Date: 04/2026
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Examines the relationship between vitamin D levels during pregnancy and postpartum bleeding in a rural, Alaska Native/American Indian (AN/AI) population living in southwestern Alaska. Utilizes 2017-2019 data from 1,343 pregnancies to analyze levels of blood loss according to labor and delivery factors, obstetrics history, and pregnancy characteristics. Discusses strategies such as vitamin D supplementation and universal screening to address population health needs.
Author(s): Reinou S. Groen, Julie A. Beans, Gretchen Day, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 173(1), 403-410
Date: 04/2026
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Dental Therapy in the United States as a Public Health Imperative: Perspectives from the Front Lines
Presents a study aiming to describe the role dental therapists play in expanding oral healthcare and provide evidence highlighting the safety and effectiveness of dental therapy for communities lacking access to traditional dental care. Details how dental therapists have been used in tribal and rural communities.
Author(s): Kari Ann Kuntzelman, Andrea Jordan, Elizabeth Branca, et al.
Citation: Journal of Public Health Dentistry, 86(S1), 72-75
Date: 03/2026
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Presents a study aiming to describe the role dental therapists play in expanding oral healthcare and provide evidence highlighting the safety and effectiveness of dental therapy for communities lacking access to traditional dental care. Details how dental therapists have been used in tribal and rural communities.
Author(s): Kari Ann Kuntzelman, Andrea Jordan, Elizabeth Branca, et al.
Citation: Journal of Public Health Dentistry, 86(S1), 72-75
Date: 03/2026
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Home Visiting Partnerships Serving Native Families: An Extension of the Multi-Site Implementation Study of Tribal Home Visiting (MUSE)
Discusses the Multi-Site Study of State-Tribal Collaboration (MUSE-STC) that examines collaboration between State Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program awardees and organizations within tribal communities that provide home visiting services. Analyzes facilitators and barriers of collaborative partnerships and how they impact tribal home visiting services, including those in rural areas.
Author(s): Melina Salvador, William Voinot-Baron, Erin Geary, Nancy Whitesell, Kate Lyon
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Children and Families
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Discusses the Multi-Site Study of State-Tribal Collaboration (MUSE-STC) that examines collaboration between State Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program awardees and organizations within tribal communities that provide home visiting services. Analyzes facilitators and barriers of collaborative partnerships and how they impact tribal home visiting services, including those in rural areas.
Author(s): Melina Salvador, William Voinot-Baron, Erin Geary, Nancy Whitesell, Kate Lyon
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Children and Families
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Digital Health Assessment of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
Examines the progress of digitally-enabled public health services and operations capacity across 38 local public health departments (LPHDs) and nine tribal health department teams in Michigan. Covers four key domains of digital health ecosystems: interoperability, governance and workforce capacity, predictive analytics, and person-enabled health. Offers recommendations for advancing digital health ecosystems across the state. Includes rural data and considerations throughout.
Author(s): Anne Snowdon, Alexandra Wright, Abdul Hussein, Tim Story
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
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Examines the progress of digitally-enabled public health services and operations capacity across 38 local public health departments (LPHDs) and nine tribal health department teams in Michigan. Covers four key domains of digital health ecosystems: interoperability, governance and workforce capacity, predictive analytics, and person-enabled health. Offers recommendations for advancing digital health ecosystems across the state. Includes rural data and considerations throughout.
Author(s): Anne Snowdon, Alexandra Wright, Abdul Hussein, Tim Story
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
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Understanding Risk Factors for Otitis Media in Rural Alaska Native Children: A Cohort Study
Presents a study on the relationship between otitis media, a middle ear disease associated with childhood hearing loss, and environmental, genetic, and dietary risk factors among children aged 1-4 in Alaska Native communities in the rural Bering Strait region of Alaska. Explores the presence of genetic factors that increase the likelihood of respiratory infections in newborns, rates of breastfeeding, and environmental factors, such as smoke exposure and availability of running water, among others.
Author(s): Rolvix H Patterson, Susan D Emmett, Kelli L Scheinman, et al.
Citation: Ear & Hearing, 47(2), 417-428
Date: 03/2026
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Presents a study on the relationship between otitis media, a middle ear disease associated with childhood hearing loss, and environmental, genetic, and dietary risk factors among children aged 1-4 in Alaska Native communities in the rural Bering Strait region of Alaska. Explores the presence of genetic factors that increase the likelihood of respiratory infections in newborns, rates of breastfeeding, and environmental factors, such as smoke exposure and availability of running water, among others.
Author(s): Rolvix H Patterson, Susan D Emmett, Kelli L Scheinman, et al.
Citation: Ear & Hearing, 47(2), 417-428
Date: 03/2026
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Assessing Environmental, Nutritional, and Genetic Factors for Otitis Media-Related Hearing Loss in Rural Alaska Native Children
Highlights a study on the relationship between otitis media, a middle ear disease associated with childhood hearing loss, and environmental, genetic, and dietary risk factors among children aged 1-4 in Alaska Native communities in the rural Norton Sound region of Alaska. Explores the presence of genetic factors that increase the likelihood of respiratory infections in newborns, rates of breastfeeding, and environmental factors, such as smoke exposure and availability of running water, among others.
Author(s): Samantha Kleindienst Robler, Alyssa Platt, Rolvix H Patterson, et al.
Citation: Ear & Hearing, 47(2), 404-416
Date: 03/2026
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Highlights a study on the relationship between otitis media, a middle ear disease associated with childhood hearing loss, and environmental, genetic, and dietary risk factors among children aged 1-4 in Alaska Native communities in the rural Norton Sound region of Alaska. Explores the presence of genetic factors that increase the likelihood of respiratory infections in newborns, rates of breastfeeding, and environmental factors, such as smoke exposure and availability of running water, among others.
Author(s): Samantha Kleindienst Robler, Alyssa Platt, Rolvix H Patterson, et al.
Citation: Ear & Hearing, 47(2), 404-416
Date: 03/2026
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WIC Participant and Local Agency Staff Perspectives on Increased Cash-Value Benefits for Fruits and Vegetables Within an American Indian Tribal Organization
Explores the perceived impacts of increased cash-value benefits for fruits and vegetables through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program of Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) in tribal communities associated with the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona. Bases findings on a survey of participants and staff on their perceptions about the increase and its effect on their ability to access a more nutritious diet.
Author(s): Emily M Melnick, Francesco Acciai, Nicole Vaudrin O'Reilly, et al.
Citation: Maternal & Child Nutrition, 22(1), e70148
Date: 03/2026
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Explores the perceived impacts of increased cash-value benefits for fruits and vegetables through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program of Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) in tribal communities associated with the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona. Bases findings on a survey of participants and staff on their perceptions about the increase and its effect on their ability to access a more nutritious diet.
Author(s): Emily M Melnick, Francesco Acciai, Nicole Vaudrin O'Reilly, et al.
Citation: Maternal & Child Nutrition, 22(1), e70148
Date: 03/2026
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Alaska Missed Opportunities to Protect American Indian and Alaska Native Children Missing from Foster Care
Examines the extent to which extent to which the Alaska Office of Children's Services (OCS) agency took required steps to protect American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) children before, during, and after children went missing or ran away from foster care. Discusses the experiences of OCS and the children's Tribes in collaborating when children are missing from foster care. Offers recommendations for how the Administration and Children and Families can support Alaska improving compliance and addressing gaps presented in this report.
Additional links: Report Highlights
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Examines the extent to which extent to which the Alaska Office of Children's Services (OCS) agency took required steps to protect American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) children before, during, and after children went missing or ran away from foster care. Discusses the experiences of OCS and the children's Tribes in collaborating when children are missing from foster care. Offers recommendations for how the Administration and Children and Families can support Alaska improving compliance and addressing gaps presented in this report.
Additional links: Report Highlights
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Fourteen of Thirty Selected Indian Health Service and Rural Providers Did Not Comply or May Not Have Complied With Terms and Conditions and Federal Requirements for Expending Provider Relief Fund Payments
Examines whether 30 selected Indian Health Service (IHS) and rural providers that received Provider Relief Fund (PRF) payments spent funds in accordance with Federal and program requirements. Describes unallowable and potentially unallowable expenditures and inaccurately calculated or unsupported lost revenues and their causes. Presents recommendations for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and HRSA's response.
Additional links: Report Highlights
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Examines whether 30 selected Indian Health Service (IHS) and rural providers that received Provider Relief Fund (PRF) payments spent funds in accordance with Federal and program requirements. Describes unallowable and potentially unallowable expenditures and inaccurately calculated or unsupported lost revenues and their causes. Presents recommendations for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and HRSA's response.
Additional links: Report Highlights
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Update to the Payment for Historically Excepted Tribal Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) for Calendar Year (CY) 2026
Provides an overview of updates to the historically excepted Tribal Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Prospective Payment System (PPS) rate for calendar year 2026.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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Provides an overview of updates to the historically excepted Tribal Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Prospective Payment System (PPS) rate for calendar year 2026.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
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