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Resources by Topic: Infectious diseases

Newly Reported Chronic Hepatitis C Among Adults — Alaska, 2016-2023
Reports on newly reported confirmed chronic hepatitis C diagnoses data among Alaskan adults between 2016 and 2023. Notes diagnosis rate disparities for American Indian and Alaska Natives and rural residents, among others. Discusses the potential impact of increased screening on the data. Offers recommendations related to screening, treatment, reporting, and more.
Author(s): Heather M. Scobie, Ian Blake, Eyasu Teshale, et al.
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Alaska Division of Public Health
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Spatial Accessibility and Uptake of Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccinations by Social Vulnerability
Examines pediatric uptake of COVID-19 vaccines by vaccination site, travel time to nearest site, and county-level social vulnerability. Utilizes 2022 U.S. Vaccine Tracking System data to analyze 15,233,956 vaccine doses administered across 27,526 sites, with breakdowns according to sociodemographics, including rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Rohan Khazanchi, Benjamin Rader, Jonathan Cantor, et al.
Citation: Pediatrics, 154(2)
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
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The Prevalence of Mental Health Conditions Was on the Rise Before the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Pandemic Had a Negative Effect on Mental Health
Data spotlight on mental illness, depression, and suicide among adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Analyzes disparities and discusses barriers to care related to a variety of sociodemographic factors including geography. See Figures 3, 7, and 8 for data on health professional shortage areas (HPSAs), mental health-related emergency department visits, and suicide deaths by level of rurality.
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Qualitative Insights into Mental Health Treatment Through Telemedicine During the COVID-19 Crisis: A Natural Experiment in Community Mental Health Centers
Examines telemedicine for mental healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic for criminal justice-involved individuals. Analyzes qualitative interview feedback with 61 community mental health center service providers in Indiana, focusing on benefits and drawbacks of telemedicine service delivery. Includes discussion regarding the impact of telemedicine for mental health treatment in rural populations.
Author(s): Brittany J. Hood
Citation: Health & Justice, 12, 32
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
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Patient Perspectives on Cancer Care during COVID-19: A Qualitative Study
Analyzes the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on cancer patients' care experiences and mental health. Utilizes interview data from 15 rural Maryland patients who received a cancer diagnosis or treatment between January 2020 and October 2022. Discusses access to care, consistency of care, telehealth use, social isolation, patient advocacy, COVID-19 precautions, and more.
Author(s): Krista Y. Chen, Olivia Stanford, Jennifer A. Wenzel, Robert L. Joyner, Adrian S. Dobs
Citation: PLoS ONE, 19(7), e0306035
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
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Energizing and Equipping Rural Providers in Washington State to Increase HPV Vaccination of Preteens, Ages 9-12
Describes a partnership to increase human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among rural and non-English-speaking preteens in Washington State. Discusses collaboration between the Washington Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Washington State Department of Health to provide webinars, printed materials, and more to providers at participating clinics. Includes provider feedback data.
Author(s): Sherri Zorn, DeAnna Pittenger
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
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Experiences Participating in Federal Nutrition Assistance Programs During the Early Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Investigation in Vermont
Analyzes participant experiences with federal nutrition assistance programs during the COVID-19 period of July 2020 to September 2020 in Vermont. Utilizes qualitative and quantitative feedback to analyze program participation, food insecurity, perceived stress, and fruit and vegetable intake. Discusses rurality as a factor in food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Author(s): Emma H. Spence, Meredith T. Niles, Farryl Bertmann, Emily H. Belarmino
Citation: Nutrition Journal, 23, 74
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
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Reported Incidence of Infections Caused by Pathogens Transmitted Commonly Through Food: Impact of Increased Use of Culture-Independent Diagnostic Tests — Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network, 1996–2023
Reports on the 2023 incidence of infections caused by eight pathogens transmitted commonly through food, compared with average annual incidence during 2016–2018. Describes changes in the catchment area covered to better represent certain populations, including people living in rural counties. Table 1 includes data on rural cases in the historic and the expanded catchment.
Author(s): Hazel J. Shah, Rachel H. Jervis, Katie Wymore, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 73(26), 584-593
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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The Impact of Regional Disparities on the Availability of Meningococcal Vaccines in the US
Analyzes the relationship among meningococcal vaccines, area-level socioeconomic status (SES), and state policies. Provides data on variables correlated with stocking rate, such as SES, social vulnerability, healthcare access, vaccine policies, and rural or micropolitan area, as well as public versus private proportion of doses. Includes county-level U.S. maps showing variations in meningococcal vaccine stocking rates.
Author(s): Katharina Schley, Eva Jodar, Jessica V. Presa, Sarah J. Willis, Christopher G. Prener
Citation: BMC Public Health, 24, 1771
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
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Impact of In-Home Handwashing Stations on Hand Hygiene During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Unpiped Rural Alaska Native Homes
Examines the impact of installing the Miniature Portable Alternative Sanitation System (Mini-PASS) in rural Alaskan homes that lacked piped water. Utilizes interview feedback from 71 households who used the Mini-PASS during the COVID-19 pandemic, discussing themes such as handwashing station usage, the ability to troubleshoot repairs, collaboration with tribal health organizations, and more.
Author(s): Olivia A. Harmon, Tricia S. Howe, Jacqualine D. Schaeffer, Ramot Adeboyejo, Laura P. Eichelberger
Citation: Public Health Reports, 139(1), 81S-88S
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
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