Rural Health Disparities – Resources

Rural Community Engagement for Health Disparities Research: The Unique Role of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
Explores the potential of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HCBUs) to help reduce health disparities in rural communities of color. Highlights the Research with Care project, a collaboration between the North Carolina Central University and rural Halifax County, N.C. and discusses the expounding health disparities faced by people of color in rural areas, including COVID-19.
Author(s): Lorraine C. Taylor, Charity S. Watkins, Hannah Chesterton, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(1), 64
Date: 01/2021
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Caring for Miners During the Coronavirus Disease‐2019 (COVID‐19) Pandemic
Highlights the particular susceptibility of miners in the Southwestern U.S. to COVID-19. Discusses preexisting conditions, such as COPD, as well as issues related to access to care.
Author(s): Akshay Sood, Charles Pollard, Kyla Le Suer, Kevin Vlahovich, Jolene Walker
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(1), 165-168
Date: 01/2021
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Healthy People 2020 Progress by Population Group
Provides charts and data tables that represent the final status of progress toward Healthy People 2020 target attainments by population group as part of the Healthy People 2020 Final Review. Breaks down progress in specific topic areas for various groupings, including geographic location, which provides rural and urban comparisons, as well as sex, race/ethnicity, educational attainment, family income, and disability status.
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics
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Special Issue: Physical Activity Promotion for Reducing Health Disparities in Rural Communities
Collection of articles examining health disparities and physical activities in rural areas.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Date: 2021
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Advancing Maternal Health Equity and Reducing Maternal Mortality: Proceedings of a Workshop
Reports on a workshop that examined maternal health in the U.S. in order to support communities and healthcare systems in reducing maternal morbidity and mortality. Addresses maternal health inequities facing rural and tribal communities.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Health Disparities Report 2021
Report examining health disparity trends based on data from America's Health Rankings reports. Offers reports by state and discusses disparities related to social and economic factors, physical environment, clinical care, behaviors, and health outcomes. Most state reports offer data comparisons by metro and nonmetro residence.
Additional links: Executive Brief, State Summaries
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: United Health Foundation
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The Future of Nursing 2020-2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity
Series of essays exploring how nurses can work to reduce health disparities and promote equity, while keeping costs at bay, using technology, and maintaining patient- and family-focused care into 2030. Includes sections on social determinants of health and nurses' role in disaster preparedness and public health emergency response. Provides rural references throughout.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Committee on the Future of Nursing 2020-2030
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Population Health in Rural America in 2020: Proceedings of a Workshop
Presents the proceedings of the Population Health in Rural America 2020 workshop. Chapters examine rural demographics and social determinants of health, rural health and data challenges, rural and tribal healthcare, community health needs assessment, and rural health policy.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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High and Rising Mortality Rates Among Working-Age Adults
Identifies key drivers of increasing death rates and disparities in working-age mortality from 1990-2017 and examines modifiable risk factors that could alleviate poor health and widening health inequalities in the working-age population. Makes recommendations for future research and data collection, and explores potential policy implications. Mentions rural throughout. Features statistics on trends in working-age mortality by age, sex, race/ethnicity, cause of death, and geography.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Committee on Rising Midlife Mortality Rates and Socioeconomic Disparities
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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County Reclassifications and Rural–Urban Mortality Disparities in the United States (1970–2018)
Examines urban and rural mortality disparities since 1970, comparing baseline changes to mortality rates by decade of reclassificiation of rural and urban counties based on CDC WONDER data. Describes the impact of reclassification on disparities and the importance of rural and urban classification in policy interventions.
Author(s): Matthew M. Brooks, J. Tom Mueller, Brian C. Thiede
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 110(12): 1814-1816
Date: 12/2020
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