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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Appalachia

Losses, Gains, and Changes to the Food Environment in a Rural Kentucky County during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Results of a study conducted in rural Laurel County, Kentucky, regarding changes to the food environment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Offers suggestions for future programming to address inequitable access and response during public health emergencies.
Author(s): Makenzie L. Barr, Courtney Martin, Courtney Luecking, Kathryn Cardarelli
Citation: Nutrients, 13(11), 3929
Date: 11/2021
Type: Document
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ICU Mortality in Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019 Infection: Highlighting Healthcare Disparities in Rural Appalachia
Study examining 30-day COVID-19 mortality among ICU patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome transferred from rural Appalachian hospitals to West Virginia University Hospital in Morgantown, West Virginia between September 30, 2020 and December 1, 2020. Examines baseline patient demographics, comorbidities, and clinical outcomes, comparing patients transferred from Critical Access Hospitals and other rural facilities to non-COVID-19 ICU patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Author(s): Sunil Sharma, Varun Badami, Edward Rojas, et al.
Citation: Critical Care Explorations, 3(10), e547
Date: 10/2021
Type: Document
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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
Type: Document
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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
Type: Document
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Caregiver Feeding Practices as Predictors for Child Dietary Intake in Low-Income, Appalachian Communities
Results of a study of feeding practices of 178 caregivers of children ages 2-10 from low-income, rural communities in East Tennessee, conducted from November 2017 to June 2018. Features demographics and statistics on caregiver and child dietary intake.
Author(s): Mikaela B. McIver, Sarah Colby, Melissa Hansen-Petrik, Elizabeth T. Anderson Steeves
Citation: Nutrients, 13(8), 2773.
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
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Rural Poverty Has Distinct Regional and Racial Patterns
Describes the findings of a study of persistent poverty, examining the prevalence of poverty in Appalachia, the Black Belt, the Mississippi Delta, the U.S.-Mexico border, and on Native American lands. Discusses the impacts of persistent poverty on access to healthcare, food access, social programs, and other support services.
Author(s): Tracey Farrigan
Citation: Amber Waves
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Emergence of Wasp Dope in Rural Appalachian Kentucky
Surveyed 278 Appalachian Kentucky adult residents between February 2018 and April 2019 that had used opioids or injected drugs in the previous 30 days about their use of "wasp dope," a drug made from insecticides. Discusses factors associated with wasp dope use. Includes break down of study participants by level of rurality.
Author(s): April M. Young, Melvin Livingston, Rachel Vickers-Smith, Hannah L.F. Cooper
Citation: Addiction, 116(7), 1901-1907
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
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Physical Activity Barriers and Assets in Rural Appalachian Kentucky: A Mixed-Methods Study
Study examining barriers, resources, and community support for physical activity to address obesity in rural Appalachia, focusing on Martin County, Kentucky. Describes data related to physical activity, social determinants of health, and physical environment for a cohort of 152 people and 34 focus group participants.
Author(s): Natalie Jones, Dierdre Dlugonski, Rachel Gillespie, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(14), 7646
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
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Federal Agencies' Investment in Rural Cancer Control Fosters Partnerships between Researchers and Rural Communities
Highlights how researchers and rural communities are working together to address rural cancer prevention and control, with support from federal funding. Discusses projects that address health behaviors, cancer screening, vaccination, and rural participation in clinical trials.
Author(s): Mary Charlton, Whitney Zahnd, Jennifer Patterson, Kimberly Merchant
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Flood Risk is Higher in Rural and Disadvantaged Communities
Examines how flood risk varies based on rural or urban location and socioeconomic or demographic composition, using data from the 48 lower U.S. states. Features statistics on average percentage of properties at risk of flooding, with breakdowns by urban, large rural, small rural, and isolated areas. Offers recommendations for preparing evacuation and resource distribution materials and creating partnerships with local service agencies, especially in areas with large populations of older adults.
Author(s): Danielle Rhubart, Yue Sun
Date: 07/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion, Penn State Population Research Institute
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