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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: COVID-19

Community-Level Factors and their Associations with Changing Opioid Overdose Fatality Rates in Kentucky, 2019–2021
Identifies associations between community-level factors and opioid overdose fatality rates in Appalachian and non-Appalachian Kentucky counties, and examines how these associations have changed from 2019 to 2021. Discusses societal changes that occurred due to COVID-19, including social isolation, and which may be linked to an increase in overdose deaths. Features statistics with breakdowns by metropolitan, adjacent-to-metropolitan, and nonmetropolitan areas.
Author(s): Shawn R. Nigam, Philip M. Westgate, Svetla Slavova, Rachel Vickers-Smith, Katherine L. Thompson
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 6(1), 90-115
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
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Spatial Accessibility and Uptake of Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccinations by Social Vulnerability
Examines pediatric uptake of COVID-19 vaccines by vaccination site, travel time to nearest site, and county-level social vulnerability. Utilizes 2022 U.S. Vaccine Tracking System data to analyze 15,233,956 vaccine doses administered across 27,526 sites, with breakdowns according to sociodemographics, including rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Rohan Khazanchi, Benjamin Rader, Jonathan Cantor, et al.
Citation: Pediatrics, 154(2)
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
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The Prevalence of Mental Health Conditions Was on the Rise Before the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Pandemic Had a Negative Effect on Mental Health
Data spotlight on mental illness, depression, and suicide among adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Analyzes disparities and discusses barriers to care related to a variety of sociodemographic factors including geography. See Figures 3, 7, and 8 for data on health professional shortage areas (HPSAs), mental health-related emergency department visits, and suicide deaths by level of rurality.
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Qualitative Insights into Mental Health Treatment Through Telemedicine During the COVID-19 Crisis: A Natural Experiment in Community Mental Health Centers
Examines telemedicine for mental healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic for criminal justice-involved individuals. Analyzes qualitative interview feedback with 61 community mental health center service providers in Indiana, focusing on benefits and drawbacks of telemedicine service delivery. Includes discussion regarding the impact of telemedicine for mental health treatment in rural populations.
Author(s): Brittany J. Hood
Citation: Health & Justice, 12, 32
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
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Patient Perspectives on Cancer Care during COVID-19: A Qualitative Study
Analyzes the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on cancer patients' care experiences and mental health. Utilizes interview data from 15 rural Maryland patients who received a cancer diagnosis or treatment between January 2020 and October 2022. Discusses access to care, consistency of care, telehealth use, social isolation, patient advocacy, COVID-19 precautions, and more.
Author(s): Krista Y. Chen, Olivia Stanford, Jennifer A. Wenzel, Robert L. Joyner, Adrian S. Dobs
Citation: PLoS ONE, 19(7), e0306035
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
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Experiences Participating in Federal Nutrition Assistance Programs During the Early Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Investigation in Vermont
Analyzes participant experiences with federal nutrition assistance programs during the COVID-19 period of July 2020 to September 2020 in Vermont. Utilizes qualitative and quantitative feedback to analyze program participation, food insecurity, perceived stress, and fruit and vegetable intake. Discusses rurality as a factor in food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Author(s): Emma H. Spence, Meredith T. Niles, Farryl Bertmann, Emily H. Belarmino
Citation: Nutrition Journal, 23, 74
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
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Associations Between COVID-19 Therapies and Outcomes in Rural and Urban America: A Multisite, Temporal Analysis from the Alpha to Omicron SARS-CoV-2 Variants
Examines COVID-19 treatment, health outcomes, and mortality disparities in rural and urban areas of the United States. Analyzes 2021-2023 National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C) data from 3,018,646 patients to break down COVID-19 disparities according to patient demographics, vaccine status, comorbidities, U.S. Census region, and adverse inpatient events, as well as urban, urban-adjacent, or nonurban-adjacent location.
Author(s): A. Jerrod Anzalone, William H. Beasley, Kimberly Murray, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
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Impact of In-Home Handwashing Stations on Hand Hygiene During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Unpiped Rural Alaska Native Homes
Examines the impact of installing the Miniature Portable Alternative Sanitation System (Mini-PASS) in rural Alaskan homes that lacked piped water. Utilizes interview feedback from 71 households who used the Mini-PASS during the COVID-19 pandemic, discussing themes such as handwashing station usage, the ability to troubleshoot repairs, collaboration with tribal health organizations, and more.
Author(s): Olivia A. Harmon, Tricia S. Howe, Jacqualine D. Schaeffer, Ramot Adeboyejo, Laura P. Eichelberger
Citation: Public Health Reports, 139(1), 81S-88S
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
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Stroke Prevention and Management in Rural Georgia: Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Community Paramedicine Program
Evaluates the effectiveness of a community paramedicine service delivery model for improving stroke outcomes for high risk residents of 2 rural Georgia counties. Assesses hospital readmissions and mortality for 22 study participants compared to 621 nonparticipants. Discusses risk factors, telehealth, and pandemic related challenges.
Author(s): Brandon Calvert, Rana Bayakly, Teri Newsome
Citation: Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 30, S32-S38
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
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Changes in Screening Test Volume in the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program during the COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020–2022
Examines trends in National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) screening volume from January 2020 to December 2022. Provides data, with comparisons to the pre-pandemic period, on breast and cervical cancer screening volume in metropolitan, urban, and rural areas.
Author(s): Yamisha Bermudez, Amy DeGroff, Jacqueline Miller, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(7), 816
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
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