Rural Health Disparities – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Health Disparities.
Health Disparities in Appalachia
Measures population health in Appalachia and explores disparities within the region and between Appalachia and the country as a whole. Features statistics on mortality, morbidity, behavioral health, child health, community characteristics, lifestyle, healthcare systems, quality of care, and social determinants, with breakdowns between urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Julie L. Marshall, Logan Thomas, Nancy M. Lane, et al.
Date: 08/2017
Sponsoring organizations: Appalachian Regional Commission, PDA, Inc., The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research
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Measures population health in Appalachia and explores disparities within the region and between Appalachia and the country as a whole. Features statistics on mortality, morbidity, behavioral health, child health, community characteristics, lifestyle, healthcare systems, quality of care, and social determinants, with breakdowns between urban and rural areas.
Author(s): Julie L. Marshall, Logan Thomas, Nancy M. Lane, et al.
Date: 08/2017
Sponsoring organizations: Appalachian Regional Commission, PDA, Inc., The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research
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Bringing Change for Rural COPD Patients: Possibilities with the COPD National Action Plan
Highlights the mounting costs of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the substantial impact the disease has on rural communities, and the growing divide between COPD-related rural and urban mortality rates. The recently released COPD National Action Plan (CNAP) is set to bring COPD into the spotlight as a national health concern, and rural America will likely play a major role.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 08/2017
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Highlights the mounting costs of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the substantial impact the disease has on rural communities, and the growing divide between COPD-related rural and urban mortality rates. The recently released COPD National Action Plan (CNAP) is set to bring COPD into the spotlight as a national health concern, and rural America will likely play a major role.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 08/2017
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Making the Case for Investment in Rural Cancer Control: An Analysis of Rural Cancer Incidence, Mortality, and Funding Trends
Highlights rural-urban disparities in cancer prevalence and mortality from 2009-2013, and analyzes the five-year (2011-2016) funding trends for rural-focused, National Cancer Institute (NCI) supported cancer control grants.
Author(s): Kelly D. Blake, Jennifer L. Moss, Anna Gaysynsky, Shobha Srinivasan, Robert T. Croyle
Citation: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 26(7), 992-997
Date: 07/2017
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Highlights rural-urban disparities in cancer prevalence and mortality from 2009-2013, and analyzes the five-year (2011-2016) funding trends for rural-focused, National Cancer Institute (NCI) supported cancer control grants.
Author(s): Kelly D. Blake, Jennifer L. Moss, Anna Gaysynsky, Shobha Srinivasan, Robert T. Croyle
Citation: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 26(7), 992-997
Date: 07/2017
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Health Conditions and Behaviors of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Persons in the United States, 2014
Offers detailed statistics on health conditions and behaviors for the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) population and for multiple and single-race NHPI populations, with comparisons to other racial groups and to the U.S. population as a whole. Topics covered include general health status, specific health conditions, disabilities, body mass index, physical activity, and substance use.
Author(s): Adena M. Galinsky, Carla E. Zelaya, Catherine Simile, Patricia M. Barnes
Citation: Vital and Health Statistics, 3(40)
Date: 07/2017
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Offers detailed statistics on health conditions and behaviors for the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) population and for multiple and single-race NHPI populations, with comparisons to other racial groups and to the U.S. population as a whole. Topics covered include general health status, specific health conditions, disabilities, body mass index, physical activity, and substance use.
Author(s): Adena M. Galinsky, Carla E. Zelaya, Catherine Simile, Patricia M. Barnes
Citation: Vital and Health Statistics, 3(40)
Date: 07/2017
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Invasive Cancer Incidence, 2004-2013, and Deaths, 2006-2015, in Nonmetropolitan and Metropolitan Counties — United States
Provides a comprehensive assessment of cancer incidence and deaths by cancer type in nonmetropolitan and metropolitan counties. Includes rural-urban data by sex, age, cancer site, and other demographic factors. Discusses cancer risk factor prevalence and evidence-based interventions.
Author(s): S. Jane Henley, Robert N. Anderson, Cheryll C. Thomas, et al.
Citation: MMWR Surveillance Summaries, 66(14), 1-13
Date: 07/2017
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Provides a comprehensive assessment of cancer incidence and deaths by cancer type in nonmetropolitan and metropolitan counties. Includes rural-urban data by sex, age, cancer site, and other demographic factors. Discusses cancer risk factor prevalence and evidence-based interventions.
Author(s): S. Jane Henley, Robert N. Anderson, Cheryll C. Thomas, et al.
Citation: MMWR Surveillance Summaries, 66(14), 1-13
Date: 07/2017
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Assessing Diabetes and Factors Associated with Foregoing Medical Care among Persons with Diabetes: Disparities Facing American Indian/Alaska Native, Black, Hispanic, Low Income, and Southern Adults in the U.S. (2011-2015)
Identifies trends in care of and prevalence of diabetes in terms of socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, and explores individual and community factors related to diabetes and diabetics' unmet medical needs. Features statistics on percentages of adults diagnosed with diabetes from 2011-2015 and distribution of diabetes and foregone medical care, with breakdowns including race or ethnicity, income, and levels of rurality.
Author(s): Samuel D. Towne, Jr., Jane Bolin, Alva Ferdinand, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(5), 464
Date: 05/2017
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Identifies trends in care of and prevalence of diabetes in terms of socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, and explores individual and community factors related to diabetes and diabetics' unmet medical needs. Features statistics on percentages of adults diagnosed with diabetes from 2011-2015 and distribution of diabetes and foregone medical care, with breakdowns including race or ethnicity, income, and levels of rurality.
Author(s): Samuel D. Towne, Jr., Jane Bolin, Alva Ferdinand, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(5), 464
Date: 05/2017
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Prevalence of Arthritis and Arthritis-Attributable Activity Limitation by Urban-Rural County Classification — United States, 2015
Provides detailed data on prevalence of arthritis and arthritis-attributable activity limitation for six urban-rural categories. Includes urban-rural data by age, sex, education, employment, body mass index, smoking status, physical activity, self-rated health, and functionally disabled status.
Author(s): Michael A. Boring, Jennifer M. Hootman, Yong Liu, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 66(20), 527-532
Date: 05/2017
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Provides detailed data on prevalence of arthritis and arthritis-attributable activity limitation for six urban-rural categories. Includes urban-rural data by age, sex, education, employment, body mass index, smoking status, physical activity, self-rated health, and functionally disabled status.
Author(s): Michael A. Boring, Jennifer M. Hootman, Yong Liu, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 66(20), 527-532
Date: 05/2017
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Extending Work on Rural Health Disparities: A Commentary on Matthews and Colleagues' Report
Commentary on the CDC MMWR report, Health-Related Behaviors by Urban-Rural County Classification — United States, 2013. Discusses the value of the data provided in the report, which highlights health-related behaviors for six geographic levels. Offers recommendations to build on this work.
Author(s): Paul A. Gilbert, Helena H. Laroche, Robert B. Wallace, Edith A. Parker, Susan J. Curry
Citation: Journal of Rural Health
Date: 04/2017
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Commentary on the CDC MMWR report, Health-Related Behaviors by Urban-Rural County Classification — United States, 2013. Discusses the value of the data provided in the report, which highlights health-related behaviors for six geographic levels. Offers recommendations to build on this work.
Author(s): Paul A. Gilbert, Helena H. Laroche, Robert B. Wallace, Edith A. Parker, Susan J. Curry
Citation: Journal of Rural Health
Date: 04/2017
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Differences in Health Care, Family, and Community Factors Associated with Mental, Behavioral, and Developmental Disorders Among Children Aged 2–8 Years in Rural and Urban Areas — United States, 2011–2012
Provides rural and urban data on a variety of health-related factors for children 2-8 years of age with and without mental, behavioral, and developmental disorders. Topics addressed include demographics, health insurance coverage, having a medical home, parental mental health, family financial difficulties, and community factors.
Author(s): Lara R. Robinson, Joseph R. Holbrook, Rebecca H. Bitsko, et al.
Citation: MMWR Surveillance Summaries, 66(8), 1-11
Date: 03/2017
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Provides rural and urban data on a variety of health-related factors for children 2-8 years of age with and without mental, behavioral, and developmental disorders. Topics addressed include demographics, health insurance coverage, having a medical home, parental mental health, family financial difficulties, and community factors.
Author(s): Lara R. Robinson, Joseph R. Holbrook, Rebecca H. Bitsko, et al.
Citation: MMWR Surveillance Summaries, 66(8), 1-11
Date: 03/2017
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Health-Related Behaviors by Urban-Rural County Classification — United States, 2013
Provides data on five self-reported health-related behaviors for residents of rural and urban areas. Behaviors include sufficient sleep, current nonsmoking, nondrinking or moderate drinking, maintaining normal body weight, and meeting aerobic leisure time physical activity recommendations. Includes data for each behavior for metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore (rural) areas, as well as prevalence of 4-5 health behaviors by sex, age, race/ethnicity, and education level. Based on 2013 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data.
Author(s): Kevin A. Matthews, Janet B. Croft, Yong Liu, et al.
Citation: MMWR Surveillance Summaries, 66(5), 1-8
Date: 02/2017
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Provides data on five self-reported health-related behaviors for residents of rural and urban areas. Behaviors include sufficient sleep, current nonsmoking, nondrinking or moderate drinking, maintaining normal body weight, and meeting aerobic leisure time physical activity recommendations. Includes data for each behavior for metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore (rural) areas, as well as prevalence of 4-5 health behaviors by sex, age, race/ethnicity, and education level. Based on 2013 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data.
Author(s): Kevin A. Matthews, Janet B. Croft, Yong Liu, et al.
Citation: MMWR Surveillance Summaries, 66(5), 1-8
Date: 02/2017
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: 6/9/2025