Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Healthcare needs and services
Vaccination Coverage Among Adolescents Aged 13–17 Years — National Immunization Survey-Teen, United States, 2025
Reports on vaccination coverage among U.S. adolescents for ages 13 through 17. Includes nonmetro data on vaccination for the following vaccines: Tdap (tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis), MenACWY (quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate), and HPV (human papillomavirus). Discusses potential reasons for differences in vaccination coverage for metro versus nonmetro locations.
Author(s): Cassandra Pingali, David Yankey, Laurie D. Elam-Evans, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(34), 530-538
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
view details
Reports on vaccination coverage among U.S. adolescents for ages 13 through 17. Includes nonmetro data on vaccination for the following vaccines: Tdap (tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis), MenACWY (quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate), and HPV (human papillomavirus). Discusses potential reasons for differences in vaccination coverage for metro versus nonmetro locations.
Author(s): Cassandra Pingali, David Yankey, Laurie D. Elam-Evans, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(34), 530-538
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
view details
Broadband Connectivity Among Rural First Responders in Pennsylvania
Explores challenges and opportunities in digital communication technologies experienced by Pennsylvania rural first responders. Features recommendations for Pennsylvania policymakers and stakeholders to improve communication access.
Author(s): Christopher Ali, Abigail Simmerman, DongWook Jeong
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
view details
Explores challenges and opportunities in digital communication technologies experienced by Pennsylvania rural first responders. Features recommendations for Pennsylvania policymakers and stakeholders to improve communication access.
Author(s): Christopher Ali, Abigail Simmerman, DongWook Jeong
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Pennsylvania
view details
Annual Overview of Hospital-Level Changes in Obstetric Services Availability, 2010-2024
First annual report describing changes to the availability of obstetric services at short-term acute care hospitals. Examines the number of hospitals that lost obstetric services and the percentage of all hospitals without obstetric services between 2010 and 2024. Presents data on urban and rural hospitals by state and nationally.
Author(s): Julia D. Interrante, Kevan O'Hanlon, Emily C. Sheffield, Katy B. Kozhimannil
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
view details
First annual report describing changes to the availability of obstetric services at short-term acute care hospitals. Examines the number of hospitals that lost obstetric services and the percentage of all hospitals without obstetric services between 2010 and 2024. Presents data on urban and rural hospitals by state and nationally.
Author(s): Julia D. Interrante, Kevan O'Hanlon, Emily C. Sheffield, Katy B. Kozhimannil
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
view details
Correlates of Glycemic Status among American Indian Adults With Type 2 Diabetes in Rural Southeastern Oklahoma
Explores correlating factors associated with elevated glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), which is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes complications, in a tribal community in rural southeastern Oklahoma. Discusses the relationship between elevated HbA1c levels and type 2 diabetes. Bases findings on data pulled from electronic health records and breaks down patient data by age, sex, distance to nearest clinic, and number of primary care visits per year, among other factors.
Author(s): Tarah Nelson, Diana J. Wilkie, Yingwei Yao, et al.
Citation: Nursing Research, 75(5), 338-345
Date: 09/2026
view details
Explores correlating factors associated with elevated glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), which is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes complications, in a tribal community in rural southeastern Oklahoma. Discusses the relationship between elevated HbA1c levels and type 2 diabetes. Bases findings on data pulled from electronic health records and breaks down patient data by age, sex, distance to nearest clinic, and number of primary care visits per year, among other factors.
Author(s): Tarah Nelson, Diana J. Wilkie, Yingwei Yao, et al.
Citation: Nursing Research, 75(5), 338-345
Date: 09/2026
view details
Disparities in Timely Access to Postoperative Home Health Care and Functional Recovery After Joint Replacement by Rurality and Dual Eligibility
Results of a study examining the association of Medicare and Medicaid dual-eligible status and rural residence with prompt initiation of home health services and subsequent functional recovery, following hip and knee replacement among patients age 65 or older. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural residence.
Author(s): Amit Kumar, Jason Falvey, Deepak Adhikari, et al.
Citation: Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 27(9), 106397
Date: 09/2026
view details
Results of a study examining the association of Medicare and Medicaid dual-eligible status and rural residence with prompt initiation of home health services and subsequent functional recovery, following hip and knee replacement among patients age 65 or older. Features statistics with breakdowns by urban and rural residence.
Author(s): Amit Kumar, Jason Falvey, Deepak Adhikari, et al.
Citation: Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 27(9), 106397
Date: 09/2026
view details
Navigating Rural Challenges and Promoting Posttraumatic Growth via Expressive Writing: A Qualitative Study among Rural Breast Cancer Survivors
Preprint article discussing findings from an expressive writing therapeutic intervention for rural breast cancer survivors via interviews with 14 participants. Analyzes interview themes related to the impact of expressive writing on emotional regulation, personal strength, relationships to others, and more, including discussion of rural challenges with rural cancer survivorship and access to supportive services.
Author(s): Yusi Aveva Xu, Eunju Choi, Celia C. Y. Wong-Meli, et al.
Citation: Supportive Care in Cancer, 34, 965
Date: 09/2026
view details
Preprint article discussing findings from an expressive writing therapeutic intervention for rural breast cancer survivors via interviews with 14 participants. Analyzes interview themes related to the impact of expressive writing on emotional regulation, personal strength, relationships to others, and more, including discussion of rural challenges with rural cancer survivorship and access to supportive services.
Author(s): Yusi Aveva Xu, Eunju Choi, Celia C. Y. Wong-Meli, et al.
Citation: Supportive Care in Cancer, 34, 965
Date: 09/2026
view details
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: 09/2026
view details
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: 09/2026
view details
Trends in Rural and Urban Family Physician Teaching of Health Professions Students and Residents
Compares the amount of early career family physicians offering clinical instruction to health professions students in rural and urban areas. Analyzes the types of students being taught, such as premedical, medical, residents, or fellows, among others, as well as practice characteristics of the settings where physicians were engaged in teaching.
Author(s): C. Holly A. Andrilla, Lars E. Peterson, Davis G. Patterson, David V. Evans, Janessa M. Graves
Citation: Family Medicine, 58(8), 555-563
Date: 09/2026
view details
Compares the amount of early career family physicians offering clinical instruction to health professions students in rural and urban areas. Analyzes the types of students being taught, such as premedical, medical, residents, or fellows, among others, as well as practice characteristics of the settings where physicians were engaged in teaching.
Author(s): C. Holly A. Andrilla, Lars E. Peterson, Davis G. Patterson, David V. Evans, Janessa M. Graves
Citation: Family Medicine, 58(8), 555-563
Date: 09/2026
view details
Rural Health Transformation Toolkit
Provides information and resources for state policymakers regarding rural health and the Rural Health Transformation Program. Links to resources describing how states have approached the RHTP application, policies on maternal health and oral health in rural communities, and more.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Conference of State Legislatures
view details
Provides information and resources for state policymakers regarding rural health and the Rural Health Transformation Program. Links to resources describing how states have approached the RHTP application, policies on maternal health and oral health in rural communities, and more.
Date: 09/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Conference of State Legislatures
view details
Oregon by the Numbers - Key Measures for Oregon and Its Counties
Breaks down demographic and socioeconomic data in Oregon by county. Highlights data on various measures for each county such as food insecurity, unemployment rate, adult smoking, broadband access, and percent rural versus urban, among others.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Oregon State University Rural Studies Program, The Ford Family Foundation
view details
Breaks down demographic and socioeconomic data in Oregon by county. Highlights data on various measures for each county such as food insecurity, unemployment rate, adult smoking, broadband access, and percent rural versus urban, among others.
Date: 08/2026
Sponsoring organizations: Oregon State University Rural Studies Program, The Ford Family Foundation
view details