Social Determinants of Health for Rural People – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Social Determinants of Health for Rural People.
Unequal Paths to Care: How Region, Rurality, and Deprivation Determine Transport to Verified Trauma Centers among the Critically Injured
Examines the relationship among rurality, area deprivation index (ADI), and trauma center transport of critically injured patients. Utilizes 2018-2022 National Emergency Medical Services Information System data from 36,897,269 critically injured patients and analyzes rural versus urban transport to a trauma center, region of the country, and ADI.
Author(s): Amani Sampson, Edward Helderop, Tokoya Williams, et al.
Citation: Surgery, 196, 110232
Date: 08/2026
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Examines the relationship among rurality, area deprivation index (ADI), and trauma center transport of critically injured patients. Utilizes 2018-2022 National Emergency Medical Services Information System data from 36,897,269 critically injured patients and analyzes rural versus urban transport to a trauma center, region of the country, and ADI.
Author(s): Amani Sampson, Edward Helderop, Tokoya Williams, et al.
Citation: Surgery, 196, 110232
Date: 08/2026
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Young Adult Urbanicity, Late Midlife Neighborhood Disadvantage, and Cognitive Functioning in Community-Dwelling Older Men
Examines the impact of geography and neighborhood socioeconomics on cognitive function in older men. Analyzes data of cognitive performance from 881 community-dwelling men with additional breakdowns according to demographic variables, rural versus urban location, and area disadvantage index (ADI).
Author(s): Rongxiang Tang, Asad Beck, Daniel E Gustavson, et al.
Citation: The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 81(8)
Date: 08/2026
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Examines the impact of geography and neighborhood socioeconomics on cognitive function in older men. Analyzes data of cognitive performance from 881 community-dwelling men with additional breakdowns according to demographic variables, rural versus urban location, and area disadvantage index (ADI).
Author(s): Rongxiang Tang, Asad Beck, Daniel E Gustavson, et al.
Citation: The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 81(8)
Date: 08/2026
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Prevalence and Correlates of Social Risks and Receipt of Resources Among Rural and Urban Veterans
Examines social risks, needs screenings, and resource referrals for veterans. Utilizes 2024-2025 Assessing Circumstances and Offering Resources for Needs (ACORN) data from 92,017 veterans to examine social risks and follow-up referrals in rural versus urban veterans.
Author(s): Lauren E. Russell, Sarah M. Leder, Jenny K. Cohen, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70186
Date: 07/2026
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Examines social risks, needs screenings, and resource referrals for veterans. Utilizes 2024-2025 Assessing Circumstances and Offering Resources for Needs (ACORN) data from 92,017 veterans to examine social risks and follow-up referrals in rural versus urban veterans.
Author(s): Lauren E. Russell, Sarah M. Leder, Jenny K. Cohen, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70186
Date: 07/2026
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Survivability in Patients with Rare Sigmoid Colon Adenocarcinoma Variants: Exploring the Influence of Rural–Urban Continuum Codes and Social Determinants of Health in the USA
Examines survival rates of patients with rare sigmoid colon adenocarcinoma across geographic and income variables. Utilizes SEER data from 93,020 patients and includes rural versus urban breakdowns according to demographics, cancer characteristics, mortality, and median household income. Discusses impacts of rurality and socioeconomics on survivability.
Author(s): Md Roungu Ahmmad, Fazlay Faruque, Rodney Rocconi, et al.
Citation: Cancer Causes & Control, 37, 123
Date: 07/2026
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Examines survival rates of patients with rare sigmoid colon adenocarcinoma across geographic and income variables. Utilizes SEER data from 93,020 patients and includes rural versus urban breakdowns according to demographics, cancer characteristics, mortality, and median household income. Discusses impacts of rurality and socioeconomics on survivability.
Author(s): Md Roungu Ahmmad, Fazlay Faruque, Rodney Rocconi, et al.
Citation: Cancer Causes & Control, 37, 123
Date: 07/2026
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County Economic Status in Appalachia, FY 2027
Shows levels of economic distress in Appalachian counties based on unemployment rates, income, and poverty levels. Includes interactive map, downloadable maps and data files, and data report.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Appalachian Regional Commission
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Shows levels of economic distress in Appalachian counties based on unemployment rates, income, and poverty levels. Includes interactive map, downloadable maps and data files, and data report.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Appalachian Regional Commission
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Rural Water Infrastructure: Better Agency Coordination Could Help Unserved Communities Address Their Needs
Discusses issues related to rural water infrastructure, including what the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) know about rural communities not served by drinking water or wastewater utilities. Describes USDA and EPA programs that can provide financial and technical assistance to rural communities for water infrastructure, how the agencies prioritize these communities, and challenges rural unserved communities face in accessing financial and technical assistance from USDA and EPA. Offers recommendations to USDA and EPA regarding increasing access to water infrastructure funding and technical assistance.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Discusses issues related to rural water infrastructure, including what the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) know about rural communities not served by drinking water or wastewater utilities. Describes USDA and EPA programs that can provide financial and technical assistance to rural communities for water infrastructure, how the agencies prioritize these communities, and challenges rural unserved communities face in accessing financial and technical assistance from USDA and EPA. Offers recommendations to USDA and EPA regarding increasing access to water infrastructure funding and technical assistance.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Health-Related Social Needs as a Rural Health Transformation Strategy
Analyzes how state Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) applications have planned to address health-related social needs (HRSNs) or non-medical drivers of health. Provides recommendations for implementing HRSN policies at the state level.
Author(s): Charles W. Mathias, Kathryn Jantz, Elena M. Marks, Carlos A. Cruz
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy
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Analyzes how state Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) applications have planned to address health-related social needs (HRSNs) or non-medical drivers of health. Provides recommendations for implementing HRSN policies at the state level.
Author(s): Charles W. Mathias, Kathryn Jantz, Elena M. Marks, Carlos A. Cruz
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy
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Association Between Well-Being and Occupational Class in Small Businesses in the Rural United States
Examines mental health, stress, productivity, and more across different occupational roles in the rural United States. Utilizes 2024 survey data from 1,910 employees and analyzes mental health according to blue-collar versus white-collar occupation, demographics, and mental health condition.
Author(s): Laxmi D. Adhikari, Sampada Wagle, Bhagyashree Katare
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70172
Date: 06/2026
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Examines mental health, stress, productivity, and more across different occupational roles in the rural United States. Utilizes 2024 survey data from 1,910 employees and analyzes mental health according to blue-collar versus white-collar occupation, demographics, and mental health condition.
Author(s): Laxmi D. Adhikari, Sampada Wagle, Bhagyashree Katare
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70172
Date: 06/2026
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The 2025 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress
Presents a point-in-time estimate of the number of people experiencing sheltered and unsheltered homelessness in January 2025. Explores national estimates on homeless individuals, families, unaccompanied youth, veterans, and chronically homeless individuals. Provides data on homelessness trends over time, demographics of homeless individuals, sheltered individuals, and differences by geography.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
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Presents a point-in-time estimate of the number of people experiencing sheltered and unsheltered homelessness in January 2025. Explores national estimates on homeless individuals, families, unaccompanied youth, veterans, and chronically homeless individuals. Provides data on homelessness trends over time, demographics of homeless individuals, sheltered individuals, and differences by geography.
Date: 05/2026
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
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Economic Stability of Children, a Key Social Determinant of Health, in the United States: Differences by Rurality
Presents a study exploring economic security as a social determinant of health for rural children. Compares rates of economic security for rural and urban children by three different measures: housing instability, food insecurity, and income inadequacy.
Author(s): Elizabeth Crouch, Emma Boswell, Cassie Odahowski, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70164
Date: 05/2026
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Presents a study exploring economic security as a social determinant of health for rural children. Compares rates of economic security for rural and urban children by three different measures: housing instability, food insecurity, and income inadequacy.
Author(s): Elizabeth Crouch, Emma Boswell, Cassie Odahowski, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(2), e70164
Date: 05/2026
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