Skip to main content
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Health disparities

Social Determinants of Health and Vulnerable Populations in Rural Maryland
White paper discussing how social determinants of health impact those who face barriers to health and are susceptible to poor health due to circumstances such as environmental conditions, housing concerns, lack of transportation, and poverty. Includes strategies and examples of programs that have worked in rural communities to address topics such as substance use disorder and care coordination.
Date: 12/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Maryland Community Health Resources Commission, Maryland Rural Health Association
view details
Determinants of Oral Health Assessment and Screening in Physician Assistant Clinical Practice
Results of a survey of physician assistant graduates, focused on their education in oral health and if or how they included oral health screenings and referrals in their clinical practice after graduation. Data and statistics for rural health clinics included, along with contributing factors of care such as availability of dentists, lack of insurance, and cost of dental work.
Date: 12/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Workforce Studies
view details
Addressing the Social Determinants of Health: The Role of Health Professions Education: Thirteenth Annual Report to the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and the Congress of the United States
Includes recommendations for redesign of health professional training to meet needs of an aging and diverse population, to become more team-based and interprofessional, and to prepare students to serve in rural and underserved communities.
Date: 12/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Advisory Committee on Training in Primary Care Medicine and Dentistry
view details
Supporting the Development of Young Children in American Indian and Alaska Native Communities Who Are Affected by Alcohol and Substance Exposure
Policy statement providing recommendations that promote the early development of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) children who have been exposed to alcohol and substance abuse during pregnancy or early childhood. Discusses best practices and reviews promising strategies that tribal early childhood programs can use to support children's development and wellness. Also points out health disparities that exist between tribes and the general U.S. population, and uses case studies to show where success has been achieved in reducing the destructive effects of substance abuse.
Date: 12/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
view details
Report to Congress: Social Risk Factors and Performance Under Medicare's Value-Based Purchasing Program
Uses Medicare data to examine the relationship between social risk factors and the performance of value-based purchasing programs. Discusses policy considerations that could help ensure value-based purchasing programs achieve their intended results, especially among high social risk populations. Categorizes rurality as a community risk factor and discusses whether beneficiaries with social risk factors such as rurality have worse outcomes due to their social risk profile, or because of the providers they see. Also provides rural-specific statistics and recommendations for using value-based purchasing to improve health outcomes among high social risk populations. Appendices summarize and provide additional details for each of the 9 programs evaluated. See the second report.
Additional links: Appendices
Date: 12/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
view details
Exploring High Infant and Maternal Mortality Rates in the Rural U.S. with Dr. Ali Mokdad
An interview with Dr. Ali Mokdad discusses the reasons behind the United States' high infant and maternal mortality rates, with a focus on rural areas.
Author(s): Jenn Lukens
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 10/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
view details
Emergent Public Health Issues in the US-Mexico Border Region
Features articles on public health issues and disparities in the U.S.-Mexico border region. Covers mental health disorders, maternal and child health, diseases, accidents, access to care, and more.
Date: 10/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Arizona Office of Border Health
view details
Challenges and Promise of Health Equity for Native Hawaiians
Illustrates the status of health equity for Native Hawaiians by describing their population characteristics, and health and social disparities. Identifies effective programs developed to address health disparities, and offers recommendations to improve health equity.
Author(s): Noreen Mokuau, Patrick H. DeLeon, Joseph Keawe'aimoku Kaholokula, et al.
Date: 10/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Academy of Medicine
view details
Listening to the Patient: Women Veterans' Insights About Health Care Needs, Access, and Quality in Rural Areas
Presents a study on rural women veterans' experiences accessing quality healthcare. Focus group results highlight issues pertaining to access to oral and mental healthcare, community-based supports services, and gender-specific care in rural communities.
Author(s): Elizabeth Brooks, Nancy K. Dailey, Byron D. Bair, Jay H. Shore
Citation: Military Medicine, 181(9), 976-981
Date: 09/2016
Type: Document
view details
Chronic Disease Disparities by County Economic Status and Metropolitan Classification, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2013
Examines health disparities in the U.S. using county economic data for unemployment, poverty, and per capita market income to compare metropolitan and nonmetropolitan counties' economic status with the prevalence of hypertension, arthritis, and self-rated health.
Author(s): Kate M. Shaw, Kristina A. Theis, Shannon Self-Brown, Douglas W. Roblin, Lawrence Barker
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 13
Date: 09/2016
Type: Document
view details