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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Environmental health

Fruit and Vegetable Preferences and Practices may Hinder Participation in Community Supported Agriculture among Low-Income Rural Families
Presents a study on the effect food preferences have on rates of participation in community agriculture programs for low-income families in rural areas. Bases results on interviews with families regarding fruit and vegetable preferences.
Author(s): Karla L. Hanson, Jennifer Garner, Leah M. Connor, et al.
Citation: Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 51(1), 57-67
Date: 01/2019
Type: Document
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Climate Change & Tribes: Exploring Current Impacts and Future Predictions for America's First People
Report highlights the current and potential impact of climate change on American Indian and Alaska Native communities. Looks at potential consequences of climate change pertaining to health and food access, as well as strategies for tribal communities to adapt to these changes.
Date: 01/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Indian Health Board
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Superfund: EPA Should Improve the Reliability of Data on National Priorities List Sites Affecting Indian Tribes
Examines the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) list of seriously contaminated sites for those having a health or cultural impact on Native American tribes, actions taken by the EPA to address tribal needs when cleaning up these sites, and EPA records on the sites and their consultation with tribes. Provides recommendations for the EPA. Appendices include a list of identified sites and 6 case studies.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 01/2019
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Association Between the Food and Physical Activity Environment, Obesity, and Cardiovascular Health Across Maine Counties
Study examining associations between demographic and environmental factors, such as food availability and access to fitness facilities, and prevalence of obesity and poor cardiovascular health (CVH) in the predominantly rural state of Maine. Includes relationships between individual characteristics, like age and income, and risk factors for poor CVH, including smoking, physical inactivity, obesity, poor diet, and diabetes.
Author(s): Allison Briggs, Adam Black, F. Lee Lucas, Andrea Siewers, Kathleen Fairfield
Citation: BMC Public Health, 19(1), 374
Date: 2019
Type: Document
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Variations in Support for Secondhand Smoke Restrictions Across Diverse Rural Regions of the United States
Surveys the support of secondhand smoke restrictions among rural and urban people across all of the HHS regions. Explores the attitudes of people pertaining to smoking regulations in various locations, such as in homes, bars, and playgrounds, among others.
Author(s): Frances A. Stillman, Erin Tanenbaum, Mary Ellen Wewers, et al.
Citation: Preventive Medicine, 116, 157-165
Date: 11/2018
Type: Document
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Allergy, Asthma, and Respiratory Disease Surveillance among American Indians in Arizona, Nevada, and Utah
Examines the prevalence of asthma, allergies, and respiratory disease among Native Americans in Arizona, Utah, and Nevada, including related hospital admissions and mortality rates. Addresses risk factors such as tobacco use and wildfire smoke, along with prevention and treatment efforts. Identifies action items for tribes, public health professionals, and individuals.
Date: 10/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, American Indian Research Center for Health
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The Amish Have Decreased Asthma and Allergic Diseases Compared to Old Order Mennonites
Compares allergic disease prevalence among Wisconsin Amish to prevalence among Old Order Mennonites. Discusses the potential role of farm environmental factors in protecting against allergic diseases. Includes statistics and data on self- and doctor-reported prevalence of eczema, asthma, food allergies, or hay fever.
Author(s): Jamee C Tantoco, Jordan Elliott Bontrager, Qianqian Zhao, James DeLine, Christine M Seroogy
Citation: Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, 121(2), 252–253.e1
Date: 08/2018
Type: Document
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Health Services Utilization in Asthma Exacerbations and PM10 Levels in Rural Colorado
Study examining the relationship between increased air levels of particulate matter with a diameter below 10 micrometers (PM10) and the number of asthma-related emergency/urgent visits and hospitalizations (EUH) in rural Colorado. Includes average EUHs and PM10 concentrations by day of week, month, and year from 2003-2012. Provides data from a biethnic population of White and Hispanic/Latino individuals, including breakdowns by age.
Author(s): Katherine James, Matthew Strand, Mika Hamer, Lisa Cicutto
Citation: Annals of the American Thoracic Society, 15(8), 947-954
Date: 08/2018
Type: Document
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Oregon's State Health Assessment, 2018
Reports on the overall health of residents in state of Oregon. Includes information on social determinants of health, environmental health, prevention and health promotion, and other topics. Covers urban, rural, frontier statistics for economic disparities; educational attainment; food insecurity; homelessness; adult suicide rates; chronic disease; mortality; oral, primary care, and behavioral health workforce; communicable disease; and access to healthcare services.
Additional links: En Español
Date: 07/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Oregon Health Authority
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Ecological Approaches to Promoting Active Living and Preventing Childhood Obesity
Features the opening keynote presentation by Dr. Jim Sallis at the 2018 Heartland Childhood Obesity Summit - Factors of Health: Addressing the Systems Influencing Childhood Obesity. Covers discussion on ecological models and evidence of environmental roles influencing active living and obesity in youth. Describes environmental disparities and mentions tool to assess rural communities' physical environment features and amenities, town characteristics, and other factors influencing rural residents' physical activity.
Author(s): James Sallis
Date: 06/2018
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organizations: Children's Mercy Hospital, Health Resources and Services Administration, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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