Kentucky Resources
The Appalachian Region: A Data Overview from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey Chartbook
Provides state- and county-level information on population, age, household characteristics, housing occupancy, education, labor force, employment, transportation, income, health insurance coverage, disability, and veteran status for the 13 Appalachian states. Features statistics with breakdowns by 5 levels of population density. Includes data explorer options for Appalachian categories such as population and age, education, income and poverty, computer and broadband access, rural Appalachia versus rural America, and employment and commuting.
Additional links: Full Report
Author(s): Sara Srygley, Nurfadila Khairunnisa, Diana Elliott
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Appalachian Regional Commission, Population Reference Bureau
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Provides state- and county-level information on population, age, household characteristics, housing occupancy, education, labor force, employment, transportation, income, health insurance coverage, disability, and veteran status for the 13 Appalachian states. Features statistics with breakdowns by 5 levels of population density. Includes data explorer options for Appalachian categories such as population and age, education, income and poverty, computer and broadband access, rural Appalachia versus rural America, and employment and commuting.
Additional links: Full Report
Author(s): Sara Srygley, Nurfadila Khairunnisa, Diana Elliott
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Appalachian Regional Commission, Population Reference Bureau
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Disparities in Access to Medicare-Approved Medical Specialists in Rural Kentucky
Describes healthcare disparities among rural Kentucky communities by examining the potential distance required to access specialty care. Features statistics with breakdowns by medical specialty and rural, urban, or mixed-designated ZIP codes, and a county-level map with shadings showing county designations based on eligibility for rural healthcare grants through the Department of Health and Human Services.
Author(s): Logan Hurm, Jacob A. Welch, James Adkins
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 8(2), 1-13
Date: 08/2026
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Describes healthcare disparities among rural Kentucky communities by examining the potential distance required to access specialty care. Features statistics with breakdowns by medical specialty and rural, urban, or mixed-designated ZIP codes, and a county-level map with shadings showing county designations based on eligibility for rural healthcare grants through the Department of Health and Human Services.
Author(s): Logan Hurm, Jacob A. Welch, James Adkins
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 8(2), 1-13
Date: 08/2026
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Mental Health Stressors and Barriers to Support Among Rural Farmers: A Qualitative Study of Agricultural Communities in the East South-Central United States
Explores how farmers experience mental health stressors, coping strategies, and barriers to seeking help via thematic analysis of interviews with 14 rural Kentucky farmers. Discusses farming-specific stressors, stigma, self-reliance, and lessons for suicide prevention.
Author(s): Jeanne M. Ward, Melissa Perkins, John R. Blosnich
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 23(8), 983
Date: 07/2026
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Explores how farmers experience mental health stressors, coping strategies, and barriers to seeking help via thematic analysis of interviews with 14 rural Kentucky farmers. Discusses farming-specific stressors, stigma, self-reliance, and lessons for suicide prevention.
Author(s): Jeanne M. Ward, Melissa Perkins, John R. Blosnich
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 23(8), 983
Date: 07/2026
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2026 Workforce Survey Report: The Status of Kentucky's Hospital Workforce
Provides an in-depth look at non-physician direct care positions in inpatient or hospital-related outpatient departments in Kentucky as of 2025. Includes statistics on vacancies, benefits, and pay, with breakdowns by rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Maik Schutze
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Kentucky Hospital Association
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Provides an in-depth look at non-physician direct care positions in inpatient or hospital-related outpatient departments in Kentucky as of 2025. Includes statistics on vacancies, benefits, and pay, with breakdowns by rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Maik Schutze
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Kentucky Hospital Association
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Contraceptive Method Provision Patterns Among Rural and Urban Kentucky Medicaid Enrollees
Describes contraceptive provision rates among Medicaid enrollees in Kentucky in 2019. Analyzes Kentucky Medicaid claims from calendar year 2019 to examine provider- and patient-related differences in the contraceptive methods provided, including variations by the rurality of the patient's residence.
Author(s): Dustin K. Miracle, Svetla Slavova, Jeffrey Talbert, Daniela C. Moga, Patricia R. Freeman
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70160
Date: 05/2026
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Describes contraceptive provision rates among Medicaid enrollees in Kentucky in 2019. Analyzes Kentucky Medicaid claims from calendar year 2019 to examine provider- and patient-related differences in the contraceptive methods provided, including variations by the rurality of the patient's residence.
Author(s): Dustin K. Miracle, Svetla Slavova, Jeffrey Talbert, Daniela C. Moga, Patricia R. Freeman
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70160
Date: 05/2026
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2025 Kentucky Drug Overdose Fatality Report
Offers statistics on drug overdose deaths in Kentucky in 2025, based on autopsy and toxicology reports. Features demographics and statistics with breakdowns by type of drug and age-adjusted mortality rates by county. Includes county-level maps with shadings indicating numbers of deaths involving methamphetamine and fentanyl, and markings to show Appalachian counties.
Author(s): Meghan Steel, Mira Mirzaian, Lara Daniels
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center, Kentucky Public Health Association, Team Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, University of Kentucky College of Public Health
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Offers statistics on drug overdose deaths in Kentucky in 2025, based on autopsy and toxicology reports. Features demographics and statistics with breakdowns by type of drug and age-adjusted mortality rates by county. Includes county-level maps with shadings indicating numbers of deaths involving methamphetamine and fentanyl, and markings to show Appalachian counties.
Author(s): Meghan Steel, Mira Mirzaian, Lara Daniels
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center, Kentucky Public Health Association, Team Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, University of Kentucky College of Public Health
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Selected Rural Healthcare Facilities in Kentucky
Shows the state's Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs), and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), as well as Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) sites and short term/PPS (Prospective Payment System) hospitals located in rural areas.
Additional links: Kentucky Rural Health Facility Table
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Shows the state's Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs), and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), as well as Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) sites and short term/PPS (Prospective Payment System) hospitals located in rural areas.
Additional links: Kentucky Rural Health Facility Table
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Increasing Uptake of Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) in Rural Kentucky Primary Care Clinics: Findings From a Pilot Pragmatic Cluster-Randomized Trial
Provides findings from a quality improvement pilot study focused on increasing diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) uptake via coaching and technical assistance in rural Kentucky primary care clinics.
Author(s): Mary E. Lacy, Jessica Elliott, Vance Drakeford, et al.
Citation: Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 17
Date: 03/2026
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Provides findings from a quality improvement pilot study focused on increasing diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) uptake via coaching and technical assistance in rural Kentucky primary care clinics.
Author(s): Mary E. Lacy, Jessica Elliott, Vance Drakeford, et al.
Citation: Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 17
Date: 03/2026
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Wastewater Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 in Rural Kentucky, 2021–2023
Examines results from SARS-CoV-2 wastewater testing in majority rural Eastern Kentucky counties. Analyzes 818 wastewater samples to provide information on COVID-19 incidence from 2021 to 2023. Discusses how wastewater surveillance in rural communities can assist in describing disease levels.
Author(s): James W. Keck, Reuben Adatorwovor, Ann Noble, et al.
Citation: Viruses, 18(3), 282
Date: 02/2026
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Examines results from SARS-CoV-2 wastewater testing in majority rural Eastern Kentucky counties. Analyzes 818 wastewater samples to provide information on COVID-19 incidence from 2021 to 2023. Discusses how wastewater surveillance in rural communities can assist in describing disease levels.
Author(s): James W. Keck, Reuben Adatorwovor, Ann Noble, et al.
Citation: Viruses, 18(3), 282
Date: 02/2026
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The Interaction of Tobacco Retailer Density and Rurality with Tobacco Use Prevalence in Kentucky
Explores the relationship between the prevalence of tobacco retailers and rates of tobacco use in rural counties in Kentucky. Highlights rates of smoking and smokeless tobacco use by county retailer density.
Author(s): Shyanika W. Rose, W. Jay Christian, Judy van de Venne, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70106
Date: 01/2026
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Explores the relationship between the prevalence of tobacco retailers and rates of tobacco use in rural counties in Kentucky. Highlights rates of smoking and smokeless tobacco use by county retailer density.
Author(s): Shyanika W. Rose, W. Jay Christian, Judy van de Venne, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(1), e70106
Date: 01/2026
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Additional resources are available. See a full list of Kentucky Resources.