Social Determinants of Health for Rural People – Resources

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
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
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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
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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
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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
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
Sponsoring organizations: National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health
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Health Disparities in Rural Women
Discusses the health disparities that exist for rural women in all categories of women's health, including obstetric and gynecologic outcomes and access to care. Covers programs to improve healthcare services for rural women and recommendations to reduce health disparities.
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
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Addressing Health-Related Social Needs to Improve Rural Health: Ideas to Action
Identifies strategies for building community and regional systems of care to better address the social needs of patients and inform the design of community-level rural health transformation initiatives, pilots, or demonstrations in rural Maine. Examines existing literature and evidence from similar initiatives in Vermont, Idaho, and Oregon, and highlights key observations. Describes key components of a demonstration designed to build, implement, and test strategies for aligning health, social service, and other systems in order to advance whole-person care.
Author(s): Andrew F. Coburn, Deborah A. Deatrick
Date: 09/2021
Sponsoring organizations: Maine Rural Health Action Network, New England Rural Health Association
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Housing Affordability, Adequacy, and Access to the Internet in Homes of Medicaid Enrollees
Examines the housing adequacy, affordability, and internet access among Medicaid enrollees in 2019. Describes the impact of housing conditions on health, with a focus on the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses policy options for Medicaid programs to address housing challenges. Presents data by Medicaid enrollee demographic characteristics, including race/ethnicity, age, sex, and metro/non-metro status.
Author(s): Bradley Corallo
Date: 09/2021
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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The Supplemental Poverty Measure: 2020
Provides estimates of poverty for the official poverty measure and the supplemental poverty measure, which takes into account government programs that support low-income families. Appendix Tables 1, 2, and 8 provide data for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas.
Author(s): Liana E. Fox, Kalee Burns
Date: 09/2021
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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