Rural Health Disparities – Resources

Risk Factors and Potentially Preventable Deaths in Rural Communities
Compares rates of potentially avoidable deaths in rural and urban communities and shows how these deaths vary by census region. Features statistics on modifiable risk factors, such as smoking, excessive alcohol use, and obesity, and percent of potentially preventable deaths attributable to specific health conditions, with breakdowns by rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Mark Holmes, Kristie W. Thompson
Date: 10/2019
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Growth and Persistence of Place-Based Mortality in the United States: The Rural Mortality Penalty
Examines CDC online epidemiologic research data from 1970 to 2016 for urban and rural county mortality trends. Uses U.S. Census data and Bureau of Economic Analysis data to investigate the effects of rurality and other demographic factors on mortality.
Author(s): Arthur G. Cosby, M. Maya McDoom-Echebiri, Wesley James, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 109(1), 155–162
Date: 01/2019
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Proposed Rural-Specific Objectives for Healthy People 2030
Supports adding a category for rural health to Healthy People 2030 along with specific objectives related to mortality, obesity, healthcare access, and more. Identifies rural/urban disparities for each objective, rationales for including them, possible measures for them, and data sources.
Date: 2019
Sponsoring organization: National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
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Rural-Urban Differences in Cancer Incidence and Trends in the United States
Examines the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries' public use dataset to compare rural and urban population-based cancer incidence rates from 2009-2013 and trends from 1995-2013. Explores factors associated with rural cancer disparities, including demographic, geographic, and socioeconomic characteristics as well as exposure to carcinogens, like tobacco and HPV.
Author(s): Whitney E. Zahnd, Aimee S. James, Wiley D. Jenkins, et al.
Citation: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 27(11), 1265-1274
Date: 11/2018
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The Rise of the Current Mortality Pattern of the United States, 1890–1930
Uses nationwide data to examine patterns and rural/urban differences in mortality from 1890-1930, with a focus on the 1918 influenza pandemic and the shift in leading causes of death from infectious disease to degenerative disease. Includes death rates per 100,000 people, with data broken down by rurality and disease type, including infectious disease, influenza, influenza and pneumonia, and degenerative disease.
Author(s): Hiroshi Maeda
Citation: American Journal of Epidemiology, 187(4), 639-646
Date: 04/2018
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Urban-Rural County and State Differences in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease — United States, 2015
Examines rural-urban chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) disparities. Compares age-adjusted COPD prevalence, Medicare hospitalizations for COPD, and mortality for rural, micropolitan, and metropolitan residents. Also includes state-level data on the percentage rural residents and age-adjusted estimates of selected COPD measures.
Author(s): Janet B. Croft, Anne G. Wheaton, Yong Liu, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 67(7), 205-211
Date: 02/2018
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Exploring Strategies to Improve Health and Equity in Rural Communities
Identifies the strengths and assets of rural communities, key partners, change agents, and opportunities to leverage assets to improve rural health and equity through a national forum of over 400 national and regional cross-sector stakeholders. Findings were organized into 4 categories: individual assets, organizational assets, community assets, and cultural assets. Includes discussion on challenges and opportunities for action for each asset category.
Additional links: Leveraging Culture and History to Improve Health and Equity in Rural Communities, Recommendations for Philanthropies and Government Agencies to Improve Health and Equity in Rural Communities, Supporting Change Agents Across Sectors to Improve Health and Equity in Rural Communities
Author(s): Michael Meit
Date: 02/2018
Sponsoring organization: NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
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Racial/Ethnic Health Disparities Among Rural Adults — United States, 2012-2015
Reports on racial/ethnic health disparities among rural residents. Includes data by race/ethnicity for health-related quality of life, healthcare access and use, chronic health conditions, and health-related behaviors. Based on data from the 2012–2015 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
Author(s): Cara V. James, Ramal Moonesinghe, Shondelle M. Wilson-Frederick, et al.
Citation: MMWR Surveillance Summaries, 66(23), 1-9
Date: 11/2017
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Suicide Trends Among and Within Urbanization Levels by Sex, Race/Ethnicity, Age Group, and Mechanism of Death — United States, 2001–2015
Reports on county-level trends in suicide rates during 2001–2015 for large metropolitan, medium/small metropolitan, and nonmetro counties. Includes data by sex and age group. Covers the mechanism of death, with data on firearms, hanging/suffocation, drug poisoning, non-drug poisoning, and other causes.
Author(s): Asha Z. Ivey-Stephenson, Alex E. Crosby, Shane P. D. Jack, Tadesse Haileyesus, Marcie-jo Kresnow-Sedacca
Citation: MMWR Surveillance Summaries, 66(18), 1-16
Date: 10/2017
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Despair as a Cause of Death: More Complex Than It First Appears
Describes studies showing urban-rural and racial/ethnic comparisons of premature deaths due to self-destructive behaviors and possible underlying social and economic factors in the communities.
Author(s): Ana V. Diez Roux
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 107(10), 1566-1567
Date: 10/2017
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