Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health disparities
Rural Health Disadvantages in the United States: Evidence from Nationally Representative Data
Describes rural and urban mortality rate disparities since the 1990s and then examines National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 1999, 2000, 2017, and 2020 to identify both individual and place-based factors associated with health outcomes within large metropolitan, small/medium metropolitan, and nonmetropolitan areas. Discusses disparities in the working adult population and how county characteristics contribute to rural and urban gaps.
Author(s): Brandon Restrepo, Elizabeth A. Dobis, Sarah A. Low, Kelsey L. Thomas
Citation: Economics & Human Biology, 62
Date: 09/2026
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Describes rural and urban mortality rate disparities since the 1990s and then examines National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 1999, 2000, 2017, and 2020 to identify both individual and place-based factors associated with health outcomes within large metropolitan, small/medium metropolitan, and nonmetropolitan areas. Discusses disparities in the working adult population and how county characteristics contribute to rural and urban gaps.
Author(s): Brandon Restrepo, Elizabeth A. Dobis, Sarah A. Low, Kelsey L. Thomas
Citation: Economics & Human Biology, 62
Date: 09/2026
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Nowhere to Go: Maternity Care Deserts Across the U.S. 2026
Reports on maternal healthcare access and provides data on maternity care deserts, distribution of OB providers, and travel time to maternity care, including color-coded, county-level maps. Includes rural versus urban data comparisons of maternal health workforce availability, travel distance to care, and labor and delivery unit closures, and discusses efforts to address rural shortages, including the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP).
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: March of Dimes
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Reports on maternal healthcare access and provides data on maternity care deserts, distribution of OB providers, and travel time to maternity care, including color-coded, county-level maps. Includes rural versus urban data comparisons of maternal health workforce availability, travel distance to care, and labor and delivery unit closures, and discusses efforts to address rural shortages, including the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP).
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organization: March of Dimes
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Precision Oncology for Solid Tumor Malignancies in the Rural United States: A Scoping Review
Scoping review examining literature published between 2014 and 2026 on precision oncology service delivery, access, research, and health policy in the rural United States. Discusses topics related to rural and urban disparities, patient and provider perceptions, and implementation.
Author(s): Dena P. Rhinehart, Madelyn F. Klugman, Shuait Nair, et al.
Citation: JCO Oncology Advances, 3(3), e2600045
Date: 08/2026
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Scoping review examining literature published between 2014 and 2026 on precision oncology service delivery, access, research, and health policy in the rural United States. Discusses topics related to rural and urban disparities, patient and provider perceptions, and implementation.
Author(s): Dena P. Rhinehart, Madelyn F. Klugman, Shuait Nair, et al.
Citation: JCO Oncology Advances, 3(3), e2600045
Date: 08/2026
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The Role of Rurality on Self-Reported Sleep and Cognition in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Preliminary Study
Presents a study aiming to understand the way rurality impacts the relationship between sleep and cognition in aging adults. Breaks down participants' self-reported sleep, objective cognition, working memory, and executive function, among other measures, and compares rates of individuals from rural and non-rural areas.
Author(s): Madison Musich, Amy N. Costa, Puja Halder, et al.
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 26(3), 10695
Date: 08/2026
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Presents a study aiming to understand the way rurality impacts the relationship between sleep and cognition in aging adults. Breaks down participants' self-reported sleep, objective cognition, working memory, and executive function, among other measures, and compares rates of individuals from rural and non-rural areas.
Author(s): Madison Musich, Amy N. Costa, Puja Halder, et al.
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 26(3), 10695
Date: 08/2026
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Long-Term Poverty, Rurality, and Geographic Disparities in Colorectal Cancer: A Spatial Analysis in Texas
Analyzes the relationship between colorectal cancer (CRC) and multi-decade poverty. Examines CRC incidence using 2017-2021 Texas Cancer Registry data and provides breakdowns according to rurality, poverty level, and persistence of poverty since 1970. Discusses the relationship of health disparities to poverty and geography.
Author(s): Ryan Ramphul, Tracey Farrigan, Yixiao Chen, et al.
Citation: Cancer Causes & Control, 37, 141
Date: 08/2026
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Analyzes the relationship between colorectal cancer (CRC) and multi-decade poverty. Examines CRC incidence using 2017-2021 Texas Cancer Registry data and provides breakdowns according to rurality, poverty level, and persistence of poverty since 1970. Discusses the relationship of health disparities to poverty and geography.
Author(s): Ryan Ramphul, Tracey Farrigan, Yixiao Chen, et al.
Citation: Cancer Causes & Control, 37, 141
Date: 08/2026
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Young Adult Urbanicity, Late Midlife Neighborhood Disadvantage, and Cognitive Functioning in Community-Dwelling Older Men
Examines the impact of geography and neighborhood socioeconomics on cognitive function in older men. Analyzes data of cognitive performance from 881 community-dwelling men with additional breakdowns according to demographic variables, rural versus urban location, and area disadvantage index (ADI).
Author(s): Rongxiang Tang, Asad Beck, Daniel E Gustavson, et al.
Citation: The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 81(8)
Date: 08/2026
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Examines the impact of geography and neighborhood socioeconomics on cognitive function in older men. Analyzes data of cognitive performance from 881 community-dwelling men with additional breakdowns according to demographic variables, rural versus urban location, and area disadvantage index (ADI).
Author(s): Rongxiang Tang, Asad Beck, Daniel E Gustavson, et al.
Citation: The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 81(8)
Date: 08/2026
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Urban-Rural and Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Modes of Preconception Cannabis Use among Insured Patients Receiving Prenatal Care at an Integrated Healthcare System in Northern California from 2020 to 2023
Analyzes joint interactions in race and ethnicity and level of rurality on cannabis use and mode of use during preconception, using Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC) data of 191,469 pregnancies taking place between February 2020 and September 2023.
Author(s): Qiana L. Brown, Catherine A. Cortez, Joshua R. Nugent, et al.
Citation: Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 286, 113281
Date: 07/2026
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Analyzes joint interactions in race and ethnicity and level of rurality on cannabis use and mode of use during preconception, using Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC) data of 191,469 pregnancies taking place between February 2020 and September 2023.
Author(s): Qiana L. Brown, Catherine A. Cortez, Joshua R. Nugent, et al.
Citation: Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 286, 113281
Date: 07/2026
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Traffic Safety Facts, 2024 Data: Rural/Urban Traffic Fatalities
Reports 2024 Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data describing fatal motor vehicle crashes. Provides rural versus urban statistics for fatal motor vehicle crashes by light condition, roadway departure and intersection, age group, speeding, alcohol use, seat belt use, and rollover crashes. Includes statistics on ratio of rural to urban fatality rates per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, by state, as of 2024.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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Reports 2024 Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data describing fatal motor vehicle crashes. Provides rural versus urban statistics for fatal motor vehicle crashes by light condition, roadway departure and intersection, age group, speeding, alcohol use, seat belt use, and rollover crashes. Includes statistics on ratio of rural to urban fatality rates per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, by state, as of 2024.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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Economic Cynicism, COVID-19 and Deaths of Despair in Rural Ohio Counties
Explores the relationship between economic cynicism, COVID-19, and deaths of despair (DoDs) in rural counties in Ohio. Highlights rates of social connection, economic disadvantage and cynicism, and how they correlate with DoDs, among other measures.
Author(s): Christopher R. Browning, Bethany Boettner, Catherine A. Calder, Elisabeth Root
Citation: Sociology of Health & Illness, 48(6), e70227
Date: 07/2026
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Explores the relationship between economic cynicism, COVID-19, and deaths of despair (DoDs) in rural counties in Ohio. Highlights rates of social connection, economic disadvantage and cynicism, and how they correlate with DoDs, among other measures.
Author(s): Christopher R. Browning, Bethany Boettner, Catherine A. Calder, Elisabeth Root
Citation: Sociology of Health & Illness, 48(6), e70227
Date: 07/2026
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Voices From the Field: Informing Maternal Child Health Navigator Training Through Rural Practice Insights
Presents a study on Maternal-Child Health (MCH) Navigators on their perception of their preparedness for providing trauma-informed care, substance use support, and addressing drivers of health in rural Texas communities. Explores MCH Navigators' assessment of the efficacy of their training and real-world experience to prepare them for the maternal health challenges in rural communities.
Author(s): Sharon L. Dormire, Cassidy S. Doucet, Nydia Garcia, Robin Page
Citation: Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 17
Date: 07/2026
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Presents a study on Maternal-Child Health (MCH) Navigators on their perception of their preparedness for providing trauma-informed care, substance use support, and addressing drivers of health in rural Texas communities. Explores MCH Navigators' assessment of the efficacy of their training and real-world experience to prepare them for the maternal health challenges in rural communities.
Author(s): Sharon L. Dormire, Cassidy S. Doucet, Nydia Garcia, Robin Page
Citation: Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 17
Date: 07/2026
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