Rural Health Disparities – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Health Disparities.
Adaptation of an Evidence-Based Cardiovascular Health Intervention for Rural African Americans in the Southeast
Explores the process of adapting an evidence-based intervention to address factors contributing to cardiovascular disease in African Americans living in the rural southeastern U.S. Uses community-based participatory research via focus groups, interviews, web-based surveys, and weekly meetings with community and academic stakeholders to identify findings and integrate them into the structure of the intervention.
Author(s): Kiana D. Bess, Leah Frerichs, Tiffany Young, et al.
Citation: Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action, 13(4), 385-396
Date: 2019
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Explores the process of adapting an evidence-based intervention to address factors contributing to cardiovascular disease in African Americans living in the rural southeastern U.S. Uses community-based participatory research via focus groups, interviews, web-based surveys, and weekly meetings with community and academic stakeholders to identify findings and integrate them into the structure of the intervention.
Author(s): Kiana D. Bess, Leah Frerichs, Tiffany Young, et al.
Citation: Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action, 13(4), 385-396
Date: 2019
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Establishing a Community-Based Participatory Research Partnership in a Rural Community in the Midwest
Reports on a research approach to address health disparities in a rural Midwestern community identified as a "new destination" location for immigrants including Latinos. Describes the creation of a partnership between the University of Iowa (UI) Prevention Research Center (PRC) and the community of Ottumwa, Iowa to develop an intervention to increase the physical activity within the population that lacks access to primary care and has high rates of obesity, diabetes, substance abuse, and mental health issues.
Author(s): Edith A. Parker, Barbara Baquero, Jason Daniel-Ulloa, et al.
Citation: Progress in Community Health Partnership,13(2), 201-208
Date: 2019
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Reports on a research approach to address health disparities in a rural Midwestern community identified as a "new destination" location for immigrants including Latinos. Describes the creation of a partnership between the University of Iowa (UI) Prevention Research Center (PRC) and the community of Ottumwa, Iowa to develop an intervention to increase the physical activity within the population that lacks access to primary care and has high rates of obesity, diabetes, substance abuse, and mental health issues.
Author(s): Edith A. Parker, Barbara Baquero, Jason Daniel-Ulloa, et al.
Citation: Progress in Community Health Partnership,13(2), 201-208
Date: 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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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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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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Suicide Mortality in the United States, 1999-2017
Reports on trends in suicide mortality from 1999 through 2017. Includes data by urbanization level of the decedent's county of residence, with information for metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore counties.
Author(s): Holly Hedegaard, Sally C. Curtin, Margaret Warner
Date: 11/2018
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Reports on trends in suicide mortality from 1999 through 2017. Includes data by urbanization level of the decedent's county of residence, with information for metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore counties.
Author(s): Holly Hedegaard, Sally C. Curtin, Margaret Warner
Date: 11/2018
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Update: Rural/Urban Disparities in Pneumococcal Vaccine Service Delivery Among the Fee-for-Service Medicare Population, 2012-2015
Updated report on a study to identify disparities in vaccine provision to people ages 65 and over, and to assess the impact of pharmacies as alternate site providers in rural areas. Revised version specifically assesses the uptake of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, in response to the revised vaccination recommendations issued in 2014. Includes statistics on pneumococcal vaccine services provided by fee-for-service pharmacies and primary care providers, with breakdowns by rural and urban frequency, and state-level maps with rate of service delivery per eligible population, using 2014 and 2015 data.
Author(s): Joseph C. Vanghelof, Aric Schadler, Patricia R. Freeman, Jeffery C. Talbert
Date: 11/2018
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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Updated report on a study to identify disparities in vaccine provision to people ages 65 and over, and to assess the impact of pharmacies as alternate site providers in rural areas. Revised version specifically assesses the uptake of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, in response to the revised vaccination recommendations issued in 2014. Includes statistics on pneumococcal vaccine services provided by fee-for-service pharmacies and primary care providers, with breakdowns by rural and urban frequency, and state-level maps with rate of service delivery per eligible population, using 2014 and 2015 data.
Author(s): Joseph C. Vanghelof, Aric Schadler, Patricia R. Freeman, Jeffery C. Talbert
Date: 11/2018
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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Urban-Rural Differences in Aerobic Physical Activity, Muscle Strengthening Exercise, and Screen-time Sedentary Behavior
Highlights a study of physical activity (PA) among rural and urban residents. Compares rates of aerobic PA, muscle strengthening PA, and sedentary behavior in rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Michael C. Robertson, Jaejoon Song, Wendell C. Taylor, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 34(4), 401-410
Date: 09/2018
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Highlights a study of physical activity (PA) among rural and urban residents. Compares rates of aerobic PA, muscle strengthening PA, and sedentary behavior in rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Michael C. Robertson, Jaejoon Song, Wendell C. Taylor, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 34(4), 401-410
Date: 09/2018
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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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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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Achieving Rural Health Equity and Well-Being: Proceedings of a Workshop
Proceedings of a workshop designed to explore impacts of economic issues, immigration, and racial inequities in healthcare in rural communities and to learn about asset-based approaches to addressing these challenges. Features statistics including average life expectancy at birth from 1969-2009 with breakdowns by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, U.S. maps showing levels of poverty and employment, and a chart showing numbers of rural hospital closures from 2005-2017.
Additional links: Read Online
Date: 03/2018
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Proceedings of a workshop designed to explore impacts of economic issues, immigration, and racial inequities in healthcare in rural communities and to learn about asset-based approaches to addressing these challenges. Features statistics including average life expectancy at birth from 1969-2009 with breakdowns by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, U.S. maps showing levels of poverty and employment, and a chart showing numbers of rural hospital closures from 2005-2017.
Additional links: Read Online
Date: 03/2018
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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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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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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Additional resources are available related to this guide. See the full list of resources by topic for:
- Appalachia
- Delta Region
- Health disparities
- Rural-urban differences
- The South
- U.S.-Mexico Border Region
Last Updated: 3/21/2025