Rural Health Disparities – Resources

QuickStats: Age-Adjusted Death Rates from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Among Persons Aged ≥55 Years, by Sex and Urbanization of County of Residence - United States, 2009-2011
Bar chart showing death rates from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas by gender among adults over 55.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 63(44), 1016
Date: 11/2014
Type: Chart/Graph
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Disparities in Obesity Among Rural and Urban Residents in a Health Disparate Region
Reports on a community-based study to measure and compare the current levels of obesity and associated lifestyle behaviors of physical activity and diets of fruits and vegetables among rural and urban residents in south central Virginia and north central North Carolina.
Author(s): Jennie L Hill, Wen You, Jamie M Zoellner
Citation: BMC Public Health, 2014(14), 1051
Date: 10/2014
Type: Document
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The 2014 Update of the Rural-Urban Chartbook
Updates information presented in Health, United States, 2001: With Urban and Rural Health Chartbook. Highlights current trends and disparities across different levels of metro and nonmetropolitan counties, including population characteristics; health-related behaviors and risk factors; mortality rates; healthcare access and use; mental health measures; and other health measures such as teen birth rates, tooth loss, and activity limitations due to chronic disease. Individual data tables are available in an Excel file.
Author(s): Michael Meit, Alana Knudson, Tess Gilbert, et al.
Date: 10/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Reform Policy Research Center
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Rural Border Health Chartbook II
Presents an analysis of border counties, both urban and rural, by comparing these counties to other counties within the four border states, and to rural and urban counties in the rest of the U.S. Provides county-level rates and statistics for sociodemographic factors, the physical environment, access to care, and health outcomes.
Additional links: Fact Sheet
Author(s): Grishma P. Bhavsar, Amy Brock Martin, Janice C. Probst, et al.
Date: 10/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Minority Health Research Center (formerly the South Carolina Rural Health Research Center)
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Geographic Variation in Potentially Preventable Hospitalizations for Acute and Chronic Conditions, 2005-2011
Examines potentially preventable hospitalizations for adults from 2005 to 2011. Includes data for acute and chronic conditions by location of patient residence for large and small metropolitan, micropolitan, and remote rural areas.
Author(s): Celeste M. Torio , Roxanne M. Andrews
Date: 09/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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The Geography of Disability in America: On Rural-Urban Differences in Impairment Rates
Shows how adult disability rates vary between rural and urban areas in the U.S. Includes statistics on six types of impairment with breakdowns by age group and three levels of county population density.
Author(s): Christiane von Reichert, Lillie Greiman, Andrew Myers,
Date: 08/2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Montana: Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities
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Widening Rural–Urban Disparities in All-Cause Mortality and Mortality from Major Causes of Death in the USA, 1969–2009
Examines U.S. mortality rates between 1969 and 2009 to identify growth or reduction of mortality disparities between rural and urban settings. Addresses the impact or race/ethnicity, gender, and poverty.
Author(s): Gopal K. Singh, Mohammad Siahpush
Citation: Journal of Urban Health, 91(2), 272-292
Date: 04/2014
Type: Document
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Urban-Rural Differences in Coronary Heart Disease Mortality in the United States: 1999-2009
Describes the trends and magnitude of variations in death rates, with statistical breakdowns by age group, sex, race, geographical region, urbanization level, and year. Examines possible contributing factors for the disparities, including physical activity levels, access to healthcare, socioeconomic status, and education level.
Author(s): Ambar Kulshreshtha, Abhinav Goyal, Kaustubh Dabhadkar, Emir Veledar, Viola Vaccarino
Citation: Public Health Reports, 129(1), 19-29
Date: 01/2014
Type: Document
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The State of Health Equity Research: Closing Knowledge Gaps to Address Inequities
Reports results of an analysis of health disparities research funded between 2007 and 2011. Finds that certain populations which experience disparities, including rural and Native American populations, are underrepresented in the research. Reports on the health conditions most studied and geographic distribution of studies. Describes a trend to more research on solutions rather than just description of health disparities.
Author(s): AAMC Health Equity Research and Policy Staff
Date: 2014
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: AcademyHealth
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Ancel Keys Lecture: Adventures (and Misadventures) in Understanding (and Reducing) Disparities in Stroke Mortality
Discusses the racial and geographic disparities in stroke mortality in the U.S. with a goal of determining which intervention methods will best reduce disparities.
Author(s): George Howard
Citation: Stroke, 44(11), 3254-3259
Date: 11/2013
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
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