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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by State: Virginia

Virginia Rural Health Plan 2022-2026
Identifies key objectives and priorities for rural health in Virginia including broadband access, healthy housing, transportation, nutrition and food security, maternal and child health, access to healthcare services, behavioral health, aging in place, and workforce development. Features statistics with breakdowns by rural and nonrural areas.
Date: 01/2022
Sponsoring organization: Virginia State Office of Rural Health
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Rural Community Health Initiative: Compendium of Best Practices
Presents a collection of community-based health initiatives, including a school health initiative, a COVID-19 vaccine outreach and education program, and telehealth consortia, among others. Describes successful outcomes and sources of funding for each program.
Date: 01/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Evaluation of State-Led Surveillance of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome — Six U.S. States, 2018–2021
Examines data collection challenges and infrastructure gaps that impact surveillance of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), based on information from six states with mandated NAS reporting. Includes brief discussion of rural concerns, including disparities in the incidence of opioid use disorder and NAS and gaps in rural infrastructure and access to care.
Author(s): Shahla M. Jilani, Kristina West, Laura Jacobus-Kantor, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 71(2), 37-42
Date: 01/2022
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Virginia Rural Microtransit Project
Case study of a microtransit program in rural Virginia that aims to provide transportation to senior centers that require meal delivery, as well as fixed route and demand-response transportation to aging residents and residents with disabilities. Describes the cost of the project, coordination with community entities, and impacts of COVID-19.
Date: 12/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Aging and Disability Transportation Center
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Engaging Rural Communities in Cancer Prevention and Control Research: Development and Preliminary Insights from a Community-Based Research Registry
Discusses the establishment of the Virginia Living Well (VALW) registry in 2018 and the methodology involved to include rural and underrepresented populations in cancer research through community outreach. Includes county-level maps of cancer data in Virginia as well as demographic data on VALW participants broken down by employment, income, insurance status, cancer screening frequency, race, rural versus urban, and more.
Author(s): Maria D. Thomson, April R. Williams, Arnethea L. Sutton, et al.
Citation: Cancer Medicine, 10(21), 7726-7734
Date: 10/2021
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Spatial Analysis of Colorectal Cancer Outcomes and Socioeconomic Factors in Virginia
Shares the results of a spatial analysis of colorectal cancer outcomes in Virginia. Identifies demographic, socioeconomic, and other factors related to healthcare access that impact colorectal cancer disparities. Includes tables and maps sharing rural versus urban data and information.
Author(s): Esther J. Thatcher, Fabian Camacho, Roger T. Anderson, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 21, 1908
Date: 10/2021
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Strengthening SNAP and TANF is Essential to Support Children in Early Childhood
Research brief examining participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) in Virginia during children's first six years of life. Uses administrative data from the Virginia Longitudinal Data System to explore differences in participation by race and residence in rural versus urban counties.
Author(s): Colleen Heflin, Michah W. Rothbart, Mattie Mackenzie-Liu
Date: 09/2021
Sponsoring organization: Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion
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Low Health Literacy Is Associated With Energy-Balance-Related Behaviors, Quality of Life, and BMI Among Rural Appalachian Middle School Students: A Cross-Sectional Study
Results of a study of 854 7th-grade students in rural Appalachian Virginia, exploring relationships between health literacy and energy-balance-related health behaviors, body mass index (BMI), and quality of life. Features demographics and statistics on health-promoting and risky health behaviors, and self-rated health status.
Author(s): Annie L. Reid, Kathleen J. Porter, Wen You, et al.
Citation: Journal of School Health, 91(8), 608-616
Date: 08/2021
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Epidemiology of Acute Myeloid Leukemia in Virginia: Excellent Survival Outcomes for Patients in Rural Appalachia
Results of a study comparing the molecular characteristics of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in rural and urban Virginia. Also evaluates the effect of geography and socioeconomic factors on the biology, treatment, and survival rate of AML patients. Features demographics with breakdowns by urban or rural location and a county-level map showing frequency of patients, with shadings indicating urban or rural area.
Author(s): Krista M. Isaac, Daniel R. Reed, Raj Piyush Desai, et al.
Citation: Cancer Reports (Hoboken), 4(4), e1354
Date: 08/2021
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Implementation and Outcomes of the Balanced Living with Diabetes Program Conducted by Cooperative Extension in Rural Communities in Virginia
Shares the results of a study examining a lifestyle management program, Balanced Living with Diabetes (BLD), to address gaps in diabetes education that was implemented by Cooperative Extension System educators in rural Virginia. Includes an analysis of the BLD program outcomes in Table 2 and 3.
Author(s): Carlin Rafie, Kathy Hosig, Sophie G. Wenzel, Shelby Borowski, Kristina A. Jiles, Eleanor Schlenker
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 21(1), 6620
Date: 08/2021
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