Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Women
Trends in Mean Age of Mothers: United States, 2016–2023
Examines trends in maternal age at the time of first birth, second birth, and third birth and higher, as well as by mother's demographics and urbanicity. Utilizes 2016–2023 National Vital Statistics System data to provide the mean maternal age with urbanicity breakdowns according to noncore (nonmetropolitan), micropolitan (nonmetropolitan), small metropolitan, medium metropolitan, large fringe metropolitan, and large central metropolitan.
Author(s): Andrea D. Brown, Brady E. Hamilton, Dmitry M. Kissin, Joyce A. Martin
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
view details
Examines trends in maternal age at the time of first birth, second birth, and third birth and higher, as well as by mother's demographics and urbanicity. Utilizes 2016–2023 National Vital Statistics System data to provide the mean maternal age with urbanicity breakdowns according to noncore (nonmetropolitan), micropolitan (nonmetropolitan), small metropolitan, medium metropolitan, large fringe metropolitan, and large central metropolitan.
Author(s): Andrea D. Brown, Brady E. Hamilton, Dmitry M. Kissin, Joyce A. Martin
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
view details
Logistic and Time Burdens Reported by Gynecologic and Breast Cancer Survivors
Examines logistic and time burdens of cancer care in breast and gynecologic cancer survivors. Analyzes survey feedback from 224 participants related to travel time, wait time, and trips to the cancer center, with data breakdowns according to patient's employment, education, cancer type and treatment status, dependent status, income, and rural versus urban residence. Discusses the impact of cancer care on time for other activities.
Author(s): Allison C. Dona, Aisha Ambo, Patricia Jewett, et al.
Citation: BMC Women's Health, 25, 273
Date: 06/2025
view details
Examines logistic and time burdens of cancer care in breast and gynecologic cancer survivors. Analyzes survey feedback from 224 participants related to travel time, wait time, and trips to the cancer center, with data breakdowns according to patient's employment, education, cancer type and treatment status, dependent status, income, and rural versus urban residence. Discusses the impact of cancer care on time for other activities.
Author(s): Allison C. Dona, Aisha Ambo, Patricia Jewett, et al.
Citation: BMC Women's Health, 25, 273
Date: 06/2025
view details
Access to Maternity Care in Pennsylvania: Labor and Delivery Services
Fact sheet providing an overview of access to maternity care in rural Pennsylvania. Features county-level maps showing locations of hospitals with a labor and delivery unit as of 2025, and locations of general acute care hospitals, with shadings showing counties with no labor and delivery unit and those with at least one unit. Includes statistics on numbers of OB/GYNs and certified nurse midwives per 10,000 females of childbearing age, with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
view details
Fact sheet providing an overview of access to maternity care in rural Pennsylvania. Features county-level maps showing locations of hospitals with a labor and delivery unit as of 2025, and locations of general acute care hospitals, with shadings showing counties with no labor and delivery unit and those with at least one unit. Includes statistics on numbers of OB/GYNs and certified nurse midwives per 10,000 females of childbearing age, with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
view details
Medicaid Plays A Key Role for Maternal and Infant Health in Rural Communities
Explores the role of Medicaid in covering women of childbearing age - 19 through 44 years old - living in small towns and rural areas. Presents data from the 2023 U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) on the percentage of women of childbearing age in small towns and rural areas have Medicaid coverage by state and compares the share of Medicaid coverage to similar women in metropolitan counties. Describes the percentage of women of childbearing age with Medicaid coverage as a share of non-elderly adults with Medicaid across Medicaid expansion states and non-expansion states. Highlights the 20 small towns and rural areas with the highest share of women of childbearing age covered by Medicaid.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Georgetown University Health Policy Institute
view details
Explores the role of Medicaid in covering women of childbearing age - 19 through 44 years old - living in small towns and rural areas. Presents data from the 2023 U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) on the percentage of women of childbearing age in small towns and rural areas have Medicaid coverage by state and compares the share of Medicaid coverage to similar women in metropolitan counties. Describes the percentage of women of childbearing age with Medicaid coverage as a share of non-elderly adults with Medicaid across Medicaid expansion states and non-expansion states. Highlights the 20 small towns and rural areas with the highest share of women of childbearing age covered by Medicaid.
Date: 05/2025
Sponsoring organization: Georgetown University Health Policy Institute
view details
Perceived Risk and HPV Vaccination Awareness Among Women in Rural and Underserved Communities in the State of Louisiana
Explores human papillomavirus (HPV) awareness and vaccination knowledge among women in rural and underserved areas of Louisiana, via a study of 141 women who participated in a mobile health unit-based study conducted between November 2022 and December 2023. Includes data on awareness of the existence of the HPV vaccine, history of being offered or receiving the HPV vaccine, willingness to be vaccinated, and the relationship between HPV knowledge and perceived HPV risk.
Author(s): Deborah Gurgel Smith, Emily M Dantes, Robbie Beyl, et al.
Citation: Journal of Community Health, 50(5), 826-832
Date: 04/2025
view details
Explores human papillomavirus (HPV) awareness and vaccination knowledge among women in rural and underserved areas of Louisiana, via a study of 141 women who participated in a mobile health unit-based study conducted between November 2022 and December 2023. Includes data on awareness of the existence of the HPV vaccine, history of being offered or receiving the HPV vaccine, willingness to be vaccinated, and the relationship between HPV knowledge and perceived HPV risk.
Author(s): Deborah Gurgel Smith, Emily M Dantes, Robbie Beyl, et al.
Citation: Journal of Community Health, 50(5), 826-832
Date: 04/2025
view details
Financial Health and Well-Being of Rural Female Caregivers of Older Adults with Chronic Illnesses
Examines the financial burdens of female caregivers living in rural areas. Provides interview feedback from 20 women caring for older adults with chronic illnesses, focusing on themes such as gender role imbalances, financial pressures, stress, time constraints, and more.
Author(s): Nasreen Lalani, Evans Appiah Osei, Siqi Yang, Bhagyashree Katare, Sampada Wagle
Citation: BMC Geriatrics, 25, 239
Date: 04/2025
view details
Examines the financial burdens of female caregivers living in rural areas. Provides interview feedback from 20 women caring for older adults with chronic illnesses, focusing on themes such as gender role imbalances, financial pressures, stress, time constraints, and more.
Author(s): Nasreen Lalani, Evans Appiah Osei, Siqi Yang, Bhagyashree Katare, Sampada Wagle
Citation: BMC Geriatrics, 25, 239
Date: 04/2025
view details
Better Health for Mothers and Babies Issue Brief: Reducing Maternal Mortality and Morbidity
Discusses maternal morbidity and mortality in the U.S. and the underlying causes. Focuses on access to care, medically at-risk patients, social factors, and maternal health challenges in rural areas. Includes suggestions to improve maternal health outcomes with examples from various healthcare facilities.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
view details
Discusses maternal morbidity and mortality in the U.S. and the underlying causes. Focuses on access to care, medically at-risk patients, social factors, and maternal health challenges in rural areas. Includes suggestions to improve maternal health outcomes with examples from various healthcare facilities.
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
view details
Mapping Maternity Care Deserts: Driving Distance and Health Outcomes in North Carolina
Examines the relationship between maternity care deserts in North Carolina and maternal and infant health. Utilizes 2016-2021 hospitalization records to examine travel distance to care and health outcomes such as cesarean delivery rates, severe maternal morbidity, and hypertension. Discusses maternal health access issues across rural-urban commuting (RUCA) codes.
Author(s): Margaret Sugg, Shishir Shakya, Sarah Ulrich, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2)
Date: 04/2025
view details
Examines the relationship between maternity care deserts in North Carolina and maternal and infant health. Utilizes 2016-2021 hospitalization records to examine travel distance to care and health outcomes such as cesarean delivery rates, severe maternal morbidity, and hypertension. Discusses maternal health access issues across rural-urban commuting (RUCA) codes.
Author(s): Margaret Sugg, Shishir Shakya, Sarah Ulrich, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2)
Date: 04/2025
view details
Maternal Mortality in Indiana: Contributing Factors and Policy Recommendations
Discusses causes of maternal mortality and related data in Indiana and the U.S. at large. Includes information on disparities with a focus on rural areas, demographics, and access to maternal health services. Provides county-level map of Indiana showing full, moderate, low, or no access to maternity care. Explores potential solutions to maternal mortality, such as co-location of maternal and behavioral healthcare, substance use disorder (SUD) support, mental health support, and more.
Author(s): Tierra Brooks, Lee Ruess, Kristi Schultz, Elizabeth Thuranira
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Indiana University Public Policy Institute
view details
Discusses causes of maternal mortality and related data in Indiana and the U.S. at large. Includes information on disparities with a focus on rural areas, demographics, and access to maternal health services. Provides county-level map of Indiana showing full, moderate, low, or no access to maternity care. Explores potential solutions to maternal mortality, such as co-location of maternal and behavioral healthcare, substance use disorder (SUD) support, mental health support, and more.
Author(s): Tierra Brooks, Lee Ruess, Kristi Schultz, Elizabeth Thuranira
Date: 04/2025
Sponsoring organization: Indiana University Public Policy Institute
view details
Supplement Use among a Diverse Sample of Perimenopausal and Menopausal Women in Rural Hawaiʻi
Examines supplement use in perimenopausal and menopausal women living in rural Hawaii. Utilizes 2023 survey data related to supplement use, with breakdowns according to demographics, type of supplements, and number of supplements used.
Author(s): Paris N. Stowers, Emilie Stickley, Russell Woo, Andras Bratincsak
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 25(1), 9490
Date: 03/2025
view details
Examines supplement use in perimenopausal and menopausal women living in rural Hawaii. Utilizes 2023 survey data related to supplement use, with breakdowns according to demographics, type of supplements, and number of supplements used.
Author(s): Paris N. Stowers, Emilie Stickley, Russell Woo, Andras Bratincsak
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 25(1), 9490
Date: 03/2025
view details