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Social Determinants of Health for Rural People – Resources

Selected recent or important resources focusing on Social Determinants of Health for Rural People.

The Justice Gap: The Unmet Civil Legal Needs of Low-Income Americans
Reports on civil legal needs experienced by low-income Americans who do not seek professional legal help and the paths they take when facing civil legal problems. Includes information on legal needs related to healthcare access and other issues that impact health, such as housing and COVID-19. Provides details for specific groups, including rural residents, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, parents of children under 18, and domestic violence survivors.
Additional links: Executive Summary, Full Report, Special Focus Rural
Date: 04/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Legal Services Corporation
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Addressing Social Determinants of Health: Examples of Successful Evidence-Based Strategies and Current Federal Efforts
Provides an overview of efforts to address social determinants of health (SDOH) that impact people of color, LGBTQ+ persons, individuals living in rural areas, and people with disabilities. Discusses housing, food and nutrition, transportation, social and economic mobility, and social service connections in terms of community (upstream) and individual (downstream) SDOH impacts.
Author(s): Amelia Whitman, Nancy De Lew, Andre Chappel, et al.
Date: 04/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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A Critical Review on the Complex Interplay between Social Determinants of Health and Maternal and Infant Mortality
Reports on a critical review of maternal and infant mortality literature to observe how social determinants of health relate to health disparities for mothers and babies of racial/ethnic minorities, less privileged socioeconomic statuses, and rural geographies. Includes discussion about rural versus urban differences in maternal and infant mortality.
Author(s): Rada K. Dagher, Deborah E. Linares
Citation: Children, 9(3), 394
Date: 03/2022
Type: Document
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Data Elements for Research on the Role of Social Determinants of Health in Coronavirus Disease 2019 Infection and Outcomes in the U.S.
Reviews 27 studies published between December 2019 and August 2021 to explore how social determinants of health (SDOH) are related to outcomes of COVID-19. Focuses on modifiable SDOH such as income, housing, health insurance status, and food insecurity, among others. Examines rural and urban settings in data analysis as possible predictors of COVID-19 outcomes.
Author(s): Katherine K. Kim, Hibah K. Qudsi, Heather M. Halter, et al.
Date: 03/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Assessment of Structural Barriers and Racial Group Disparities of COVID-19 Mortality With Spatial Analysis
Explores social determinants of health such as minority status, income inequality, and lack of health insurance, among others, and their relationship to COVID-19 mortality rates. Analyzes data from rural, suburban, and urban counties across all 50 states from January 2020 to February 2021. Includes demographic data such as age, race and ethnicity, socioeconomic advantage index, and more.
Author(s): Qinyun Lin, Susan Paykin, Dylan Halpern
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 5(3)
Date: 03/2022
Type: Document
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Findings from the National Agricultural Workers Survey (NAWS) 2019–2020: A Demographic and Employment Profile of United States Farmworkers
Reports on demographic and employment characteristics of hired agricultural workers in the United States. Includes data on health insurance and healthcare access, as well as information on social determinants of health such as income, education level, language skills, and housing. Based on data collected from face-to-face interviews with 2,586 crop farmworkers conducted between October 1, 2018, and September 30, 2020.
Date: 01/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Labor
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Cardiometabolic Health after First Pregnancy: Associations with Social Determinants of Health. A nuMoM2b-HHS Study
Examines connections between social determinants of health and metabolic syndrome after first pregnancy, including hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. Reports on metabolic syndrome in 4,484 participants broken down by income, education, acculturation, social support, insurance, and health literacy. Includes rural versus urban data in Table 2.
Author(s): N.A. Bello, J. Moore, E. C. Miller, et al.
Citation: American Heart Journal Plus: Cardiology Research and Practice, 13
Date: 01/2022
Type: Document
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Optimizing Care Coordination to Address Social Determinants of Health Needs for Dual-Use Veterans
Explores a study evaluating a care coordination program that aims to address social determinants of health (SDOH) for veterans who use both Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities and non-VA hospitals. Highlights the social worker-led program to help address SDOH factors, such as connecting veterans with transportation, homelessness resources, and financial assistance, among others. Discusses the role rurality plays in veterans' ability to access services and care.
Author(s): Heidi Sjoberg, Wenhui Liu, Carly Rohs, et al.
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 22(59)
Date: 01/2022
Type: Document
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2021 Impact Report: Measuring the Economic and Human Impact of Nonprofit Organizations in Rural America
Highlights key federal programs that support affordable housing and community infrastructure, including water and wastewater disposal. Features successful rural housing programs, describing their work and impact, including health-related improvements and services.
Date: 12/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Housing Coalition
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NIH Rural Health Seminar: Structural-Level Determinants of Rural Health Disparities
Recording of a seminar that examines structural-level determinants of rural health disparities, including sociocultural and economic determinants, physical environmental determinants, and research, evaluation, measurement, and policy methods and implications.
Additional links: Seminar Agenda, Speaker Biographies
Date: 11/2021
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organizations: National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health
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Last Updated: 5/10/2024