Skip to main content
Rural Health Information Hub

North Carolina Resources

Forces Driving Change in Rural North Carolina
Examines major forces driving change in rural North Carolina communities, which influence people, communities, and businesses. Includes sections on rural healthcare inequities, social determinants of health, and the long-term impact of COVID-19 on rural people. Features a county-level map showing health outcome rankings as of 2022, and statistics on the number of healthcare professionals per 10,000 people, with breakdowns by urban, suburban, and rural areas. Also contains interactive drivers, which present expanded coverage of selected topics and include interactable maps and graphs.
Additional links: Interactive Driver - A Rural NC for Everyone, Interactive Driver - Education for Tomorrow's Labor Market, Interactive Driver - Rural Healthcare Inequities and Social Determinants of Health
Date: 03/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Center
view details
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Periodontal Health among Adults Seeking Dental Care in Rural North Carolina Communities: A Retrospective Study
Examines the prevalence of periodontitis in adults seen in dental clinics in rural North Carolina. Analyzes 10,544 electronic health records (EHRs) from 2011 to 2017 to observe periodontitis prevalence by age, race and ethnicity, tobacco use, diabetes diagnosis, and payer status. Discusses health disparities present in various sociodemographic groups.
Author(s): Alex Gillone, Acela A. Martinez Luna, Qiang Wu, et al.
Citation: Journal of Periodontology, 94(3), 364-375
Date: 03/2023
Type: Document
view details
The State of Healthcare in North Carolina: 2022 Impact Report
Examines contributions to the people and economy of North Carolina by the 130 members of the North Carolina Heathcare Association. Describes key issues facing North Carolina health systems, including access and innovation, workforce development and retention, health equity, and behavioral health. Mentions rural throughout.
Date: 01/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Healthcare Association
view details
The Economic Contributions of North Carolina's Health Systems and Hospitals
Presents information for 137 hospital facilities in North Carolina, including number of jobs, wage income, total value added, taxes that result from health system and hospital operations, and community benefits such as reduced cost care. Features statistics including numbers of hospitals and beds, with breakdowns by rural, suburban, and urban areas.
Additional links: Two-Page Summary
Author(s): Sara Nienow, Rizwaan Lakhani, Michael Hogan, Chrystall Davis, Jared Woollacott,
Date: 12/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Healthcare Association
view details
Responding to One Rural Community's Primary Care Needs: Investing in Workforce and Broad Community Stakeholder Engagement
Commentary describing a model in which an academic health system in Rockingham County, North Carolina made targeted primary care investments to address rural health disparities while working to ensure sustainability within the health workforce. Examines challenges to improving rural health outcomes and offers suggestions for health systems seeking to replicate the Rockingham model.
Author(s): Sherry Hay, Emily M. Hawes, Alyssa Zamierowski, Stokes Ann Hunt, Cristen P. Page
Citation: North Carolina Medical Journal, 83(6), 435-439
Date: 11/2022
Type: Document
view details
Physical Activity Among Adults in Rural Western North Carolina During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Examines physical activity among adults in a rural area of North Carolina during the COVID-19 pandemic. Analyzes 297 survey responses from August 3, 2020 through September 15, 2020 and reports on demographic characteristics of respondents, type of and reason for physical activity, and perceived barriers and benefits of physical activity.
Author(s): Wade L. Creech, Brooke C. Towner, Rebecca A. Battista
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 19
Date: 11/2022
Type: Document
view details
Determining Trends and Factors Associated with Self-Reported Physical Activity among Adolescents in Rural North Carolina
Uses data from a school-based wellness intervention to evaluate demographic, environmental, and school-level factors that may impact self-reported physical activity (PA) in 7th grade students in rural, eastern North Carolina during the 2018–2019 school year. Includes statistics on self-reported days of 60 min. PA per week with breakdowns by sex, race, and weight category.
Author(s): Sina Kazemzadeh, Chloe E. Opper, Xiangming, Suzanne Lazorick
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(18), 11417
Date: 09/2022
Type: Document
view details
County-Level Sociodemographic Factors Associated with COVID-19 Incidence and Mortality in North and South Carolina
Explores associations of county-level characteristics with COVID-19 outcomes within North Carolina and South Carolina during the first 7 months of the pandemic. Features statistics including incidence and mortality rates, with breakdowns by rural and nonrural areas.
Author(s): Nicole Kniep, Thelma Achidi, Christy Flynn, et al.
Citation: North Carolina Medical Journal, 83(5), 366-374
Date: 09/2022
Type: Document
view details
Consumer Finances in Rural Appalachia
Describes the financial needs and challenges of consumers in rural Appalachia. Features sections on consumer finance profiles, including a section on medical debt, and consumer distress and delinquencies. Appendix A includes state-level statistics for the 13 Appalachian states, including percent of rural people with medical debt in the state.
Author(s): Matthew Liu, Cooper Luce, Michael Orevba, Shawn Sebastian, Cortnie Shupe
Date: 09/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
view details
North Carolina State Designated Rural Health Centers: SFY 2023
North Carolina map showing Rural Health Center site county coverage and locations of the 18 state designated Rural Health Center sites.
Date: 07/2022
Type: Map/Mapping System
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
view details

Additional resources are available. See a full list of North Carolina Resources.


Last Updated: 1/29/2024