This website is being reviewed for updates. Some information is offline. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Skip to main content
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Infectious diseases

Equitable COVID-19 Testing Access for Underserved Communities: The Success of Vending Machines
Examines the public health strategy of the Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD) to use vending machines for free distribution of COVID-19 tests. Focuses on placement of vending machines to improve access in rural and underserved areas, mitigating the spread of disease.
Author(s): Danielle Jamerson, Kimberly Franich, Cassius Lockett
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 114(S7), S558-S561
Date: 10/2024
view details
Promoting Equitable Access to COVID-19 Vaccinations in Rural and Underserved Arizona: Experiences From Three County Health Departments
Provides background on health disparities related to the COVID-19 outbreak in Arizona and strategies to implement local vaccine access in rural and underserved areas. Discusses how health departments collaborated to serve rural, migrant, and Native American populations.
Author(s): Bryna Koch, Mona Arora, Brianna Rooney, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 114(S7), S546-S550
Date: 10/2024
view details
Associations between Minority Health Social Vulnerability Index Scores, Rurality, and Histoplasmosis Incidence, 8 US States
Examines association between histoplasmosis and race and ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and rurality, utilizing county-level Minority Health Social Vulnerability Index (MH SVI) data. Breaks down histoplasmosis infection rates by level of rurality, with additional data on rurality and infection for 8 MH SVI themes including socioeconomic status, minority status and language, healthcare infrastructure and access, and more. Discusses rural health access and health disparities.
Author(s): Dallas J. Smith, Malavika Rajeev, Kristina Boyd, et al.
Citation: Emerging Infectious Diseases, 30(10)
Date: 10/2024
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
view details
A Programmatic Update on COVID-19 Vaccination in Rural Communities in the United States
A commentary on the complex factors that impact COVID-19 vaccination uptake in rural communities. Focuses on socio-cultural characteristics affecting vaccine uptake as well as federal efforts to address vaccination efforts in rural communities.
Author(s): Alexandra M. Piasecki, Diane M. Hall, Julie Zajac, Scott A. Miller, Jane R. Nilson
Citation: Vaccine, 42(3)
Date: 09/2024
view details
Public Health Policy that Leads with Equity in Rural Appalachia: Recommendations to Confirm Vaccination Status in an Equitable Manner
Discusses vaccination policy related to COVID-19 in rural Appalachia. Focuses on strategies to create equitable vaccine policies and reach underserved populations such as migrant and immigrant farmworkers.
Author(s): Jennifer Schroeder Tyson, Danny Scalise, Adam Hege, Maggie Sugg, Manan Roy
Citation: Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, 18, e284
Date: 09/2024
view details
Training Satisfaction and Future Employment Consideration Among Physician and Nursing Trainees at Rural Veterans Affairs Facilities in the United States During COVID-19: A Time-Series Before and After Study
Presents a study on the perceptions of trainee clinicians in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on the satisfaction they feel towards their training and future employment in rural and urban facilities and compares their answers before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Bases finding on a survey of physicians and nurses in rural and urban areas receiving training in a VA facility and compares responses from August, 2018 to July, 2021.
Author(s): Heather Northcraft, Tiffany Radcliff, Anne Reid Griffin, et al.
Citation: Journal of Educational Evaluation for Health Professions, 21, 25
Date: 09/2024
view details
Trends in Severe Maternal Morbidity Complications by Patient Characteristics, 2016–2021
Examines severe maternal morbidity (SMM) in U.S. women by patient characteristics and type of SMM complication. Utilizes 2016-2021 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) data to analyze yearly trends, with breakdowns for patient age, race/ethnicity, insurance status, income, and residence by large metro, medium/small metro, or nonmetro. Discusses impacts of COVID-19 on SMM trends.
Author(s): Lawrence D. Reid
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organizations: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project
view details
Comparative Analysis of Physician Assistant/Associate National Certifying Examination (PANCE) Performance Trends: Pre and During COVID-19 Era
Analyzes the COVID-19 pandemic's influence on Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) scores and passing rates, utilizing 2017-2019 and 2020-2022 data of 59,459 Physician Assistant/Associate (PA) exam takers. Breaks down data by demographics and program details, including comparisons between small rural, large rural, and urban PA programs.
Author(s): Joshua Goodman, Andrzej Kozikowski, Andrew Dallas
Citation: BMC Medical Education, 24, 1071
Date: 09/2024
view details
Fewer People Are Moving Out of Rural Counties Since COVID-19
Discusses reasons for population growth in rural counties since 2020, noting COVID-19 pandemic drivers of migration pattern changes among other factors.
Author(s): Richelle L. Winkler, Julia Petersen
Citation: Amber Waves
Date: 09/2024
view details
Vaccination Coverage by Age 24 Months Among Children Born During 2017–2021 — U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands
Reports estimated vaccination coverage with selected vaccines and vaccine series by age 24 months among children born during 2017–2021 in the U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands. Includes data for each jurisdiction and year.
Author(s): Ashley Tippins, E.M. Boyd, Kelsey C. Coy, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 73(38), 854-859
Date: 09/2024
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
view details