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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Environmental health

Water Infrastructure: Technical Assistance and Climate Resilience Planning Could Help Utilities Prepare for Potential Climate Change Impacts
Examines federal technical and financial assistance to drinking and wastewater utilities for enhancing climate resilience. Discusses the needs of small and rural communities and identifies federal resources targeted to these areas.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 01/2020
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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2020 Navajo Nation Maternal and Child Health Needs Assessment
Report documenting a Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Needs Assessment for the Navajo Nation reservation. Describes health status, healthcare system strengths and weaknesses, and uses a Navajo-specific cultural framework to discuss health outcomes in relation to environmental, community, family, and individual health. Offers data on demographics, environmental health, women's health, maternal health, perinatal and infant health, child health, and adolescent health.
Date: 2020
Sponsoring organizations: Arizona Department of Health Services, Navajo Nation Department of Health, Navajo Native American Research Centers for Health
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After Hurricane Maria - Predisaster Conditions, Hurricane Damage, and Recovery Needs in Puerto Rico
Report details the state of Puerto Rico's economy, environment, education, and healthcare both before and after hurricane Maria. Discusses the barriers to rebuilding various infrastructures across the commonwealth, including in rural communities.
Author(s): Jordan R. Fischbach, Linnea Warren May, Katie Whipkey, et al.
Date: 2020
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
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Trends and Patterns in Lyme Disease: An Analysis of Private Claims Data
Analysis and comparison of data from privately-billed healthcare claims to identify trends and patterns related to Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases. Features statistics comparing claim lines for these diseases from 2007-2018, with breakdowns by urban and rural areas.
Date: 12/2019
Sponsoring organization: FAIR Health
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FY 2016 Report to Congress on Outcome Evaluations of Administration for Native Americans Projects
An evaluation of the activities and outcomes of Administration for Native Americans (ANA) funding in native communities in accordance with the Native American Programs Act (NAPA), and the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993. Describes and measures the impact of the funding, the effectiveness of the planned goals, the methods used for economic and social development including sustainability efforts. Highlights projects related to community health, healthy living, behavioral health, environmental health, and food and nutrition. Includes data on Native American community-driven projects useful to leaders, planners, service providers, and tribal government agencies.
Date: 11/2019
Sponsoring organizations: Administration for Children and Families, Administration for Native Americans
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Characterizing the Local Food Environment and Grocery Store Decision-Making among a Large American Indian Community in the North-Central United States: Qualitative Results from the Healthy Foods Healthy Families Feasibility Study
Highlights a study on the perceived barriers to the access of healthy food for rural tribal communities. Bases conclusions on focus group interviews and discusses potential interventions.
Author(s): Meagan C. Brown, Umit Shrestha, Corrine Huber, et al.
Citation: Public Health Nutrition, 22(14), 2653-2661
Date: 10/2019
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Association Between Environmental Quality and Diabetes in the USA
Results of a study comparing diabetes prevalence in 3,134 urban or rural counties from 2004-2012, taking into account the possible effects of environmental pollutants. Features statistics with breakdowns by 4 levels of urban or rural status.
Author(s): Jyotsna S. Jagai, Alison K. Krajewski, Sabina Shaikh, Danelle T. Lobdell, Robert M. Sargis
Citation: Journal of Diabetes Investigation, 11(2), 315-324
Date: 10/2019
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African American Exposure to Prescribed Fire Smoke in Georgia, USA
Study examining exposure to air pollution from prescribed burning affecting predominantly African American communities in rural Georgia. Discusses conservation-based prescribed burning practices in Georgia and land ownership dynamics, offering a census tract analysis of African American, Hispanic American, and White residence in relation to burn areas. Provides maps indicating spatial distribution of burn permits for conservation lands, government lands, commercial lands, and private landowner lands with approximate percentages of African American population for each census tract.
Author(s): Cassandra Johnson Gaither, Sadia Afrin, Fernando Garcia-Menendez, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(17), 3079
Date: 08/2019
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Health Needs Assessment of Five Pennsylvania Plain Populations
Offers the results of a health needs assessment for 5 Anabaptist Pennsylvania Plain communities compared with the general state population. Discusses prevalence of genetic diseases and mental health conditions, screenings and vaccinations, and general health outcomes. Provides data on demographics, nutrition, environmental health, and health conditions taken from household surveys conducted in 2014 and 2015 which were designed to represent Plain community views of modern medicine.
Author(s): Kirk Miller, Berwood Yost, Christina Abbott, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(13), 2378
Date: 07/2019
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Running Clear: Preventing Private Water Sources from Becoming a Health Hazard in Rural America
Provides an overview of the potential contaminants in well water and describes how the safety of private water sources is maintained. Features water experts and a public health professional explaining what can be done to keep well water clean, including water testing, education and training, funding, and technical assistance.
Author(s): Jenn Lukens
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 06/2019
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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