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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Wellness, health promotion, and disease prevention

Household Endotoxin Reduction in the Louisa Environmental Intervention Project for Rural Childhood Asthma
Describes environmental interventions, including cleaning and education, to reduce endotoxin exposure for rural Iowa children with asthma. Data represents endotoxin loads and participant characteristics. Discusses endotoxin's effects on asthma symptoms and the potential for endotoxin reduction to improve those symptoms, particularly in farm homes.
Author(s): Angelico Mendy, Nervana Metwali, Sarah S. Perry, et al.
Citation: Indoor Air: International Journal of Indoor Environment and Health, 30(1), 88-97
Date: 01/2020
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The Healthy Hawai'i Initiative: Insights from Two Decades of Building a Culture of Health in a Multicultural State
Provides an overview of the Healthy Hawai'i Initiative (HHI), a statewide public health program founded in 2000 to promote health and wellness through policy change and social ecological efforts. Analyzes information from interviews with individuals involved with HHI. Discusses coalitions that brought together community leaders, grassroots organizations, and rural communities.
Author(s): Joy Agner, Catherine M. Pirkle, Lola Irvin, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 20(1), 141
Date: 01/2020
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Addressing Obesity in Nebraska's Youth: Water Consumption in Schools
Report details an effort to promote water consumption as a replacement for sugary beverages in order to combat obesity in Nebraska schools. Highlights ways the state has increased access to water fountains and water bottle filling stations. Compares rates of obesity to other states for children and adults.
Author(s): Jon M. Bailey
Date: 01/2020
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Affairs
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The Motivations and Needs of Rural, Low-Income Household Food Gardeners
Results of a study using surveys, interviews, and garden visits to households in rural, western Pennsylvania to explore behavior and motivations of rural food gardeners, and the challenges they face. Discusses the financial, spiritual, and ecological value of gardening, and opportunities for community support.
Author(s): Kate J. Darby, Taylor Hinton, Joaquin Torre
Citation: Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 9(2), 55-69
Date: 01/2020
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A Public Health Emergency: State Efforts to Curb the Opioid Crisis
Presents the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on the outcomes of public health efforts to combat the opioid crisis. Features testimony from representatives of the Rhode Island Department of Health, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, and the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs.
Date: 01/2020
Sponsoring organization: House Committee on Energy and Commerce
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Rural Community Action Guide: Building Stronger, Healthy, Drug-Free Rural Communities
Provides an overview of challenges rural communities face related to substance use disorder (SUD), including prescription opioid misuse. Identifies action steps rural communities can take related to prevention, treatment, recovery, and SUD-related issues such as stigma, transportation barriers, and lack of employment opportunities. Features programs that are working to address these issues in rural communities.
Additional links: Promising Practices Supplement
Date: 01/2020
Sponsoring organization: Office of National Drug Control Policy
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Farm and Farm Family Risk and Resilience: A Guide for Extension Educational Programming
A guide for educators focused on programming to reduce risk and increase resilience for farms and farm families. Includes a risk and resilience framework, logic models for programming with three different audiences, tools for assessment and teaching, and teaching resources. Part of the Farm and Farm Family Risk and Resilience Toolkit.
Additional links: Creating a Thriving Farm Visuals, Descriptions and Stacking Game, Farm and Farm Family Risk and Resilience Logic Models, Farm and Farm Family Risk and Resilience Program Planning Tool
Author(s): Bonnie Braun, Maria Pippidis
Date: 01/2020
Sponsoring organizations: University of Cooperative Delaware Extension, University of Maryland Extension
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Special Diabetes Program for Indians 2020 Report to Congress - Changing the Course of Diabetes: Charting Remarkable Progress
Highlights the advancements and improvements in diabetes care and health outcomes for American Indian and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) due to the implementation of evidence-based treatments and local community strategies focused on prevention and treatment of diabetes, and with support from the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI). Presents statistics demonstrating reductions in mortality and complications from diabetes.
Date: 2020
Sponsoring organization: Indian Health Service
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Does a Rural Community-Based Intervention Improve Knowledge and Attitudes of Opioid Use Disorder and Medication-Assisted Treatment? A Report From the IT MATTTRs Study
Details a study on the effect of a community-based intervention on a rural Colorado community's perception and knowledge of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder (OUD). Bases findings on surveys of community members both before and after the intervention. Breaks down participant data by age and affiliation to the study, among other measures.
Author(s): Kristen Curcija, Linda Zittleman, Mary Fisher, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 38(1), 120-128
Date: 2020
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Development of a National Childhood Obesogenic Environment Index in the United States: Differences by Region and Rurality
Details the formation of a childhood obesogenic environment index (COEI), which was used to identify rural, urban, and other geographic differences in environmental factors associated with obesity. Variables used to calculate COEI scores include availability of fast-food restaurants, farmers markets, grocery stores, and other related facilities; access to exercise opportunities; violent crime; walkability; and more. Includes county-level data on COEI scores across the U.S.
Author(s): Andrew Kaczynski, Jan Eberth, Ellen Stowe, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 17(83)
Date: 2020
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