Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Infrastructure
To Improve Rural Health Equity, Invest in Housing, Water, and Food Access
Discusses proven solutions state and federal policymakers can adopt to promote health equity in rural communities by focusing on investments in water, housing, and food access.
Author(s): Amanda Gold, Jorge Morales-Burnett, Corianne Payton Scally
Date: 11/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Urban Institute
view details
Discusses proven solutions state and federal policymakers can adopt to promote health equity in rural communities by focusing on investments in water, housing, and food access.
Author(s): Amanda Gold, Jorge Morales-Burnett, Corianne Payton Scally
Date: 11/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Urban Institute
view details
Synergistic Disparities and Public Health Mitigation of COVID-19 in the Rural United States
Describes how public health responses to the COVID-19 pandemic emphasize racial, economic, and geographic disparities, especially among rural and poor populations. Covers public health mitigation measures, including disease surveillance, physical distancing, hand and respiratory hygiene, and public health communication. Discusses the ethical demands of public health practice during and following a public health emergency.
Author(s): Kata Chillag, Lisa Lee
Citation: Journal of Bioethical Inquiry, 17(4), 649-656
Date: 11/2020
Type: Document
view details
Describes how public health responses to the COVID-19 pandemic emphasize racial, economic, and geographic disparities, especially among rural and poor populations. Covers public health mitigation measures, including disease surveillance, physical distancing, hand and respiratory hygiene, and public health communication. Discusses the ethical demands of public health practice during and following a public health emergency.
Author(s): Kata Chillag, Lisa Lee
Citation: Journal of Bioethical Inquiry, 17(4), 649-656
Date: 11/2020
Type: Document
view details
Puerto Rico Electricity: FEMA and HUD Have Not Approved Long-Term Projects and Need to Implement Recommendations to Address Uncertainties and Enhance Resilience
Report evaluates the response by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to the damage to Puerto Rico's infrastructure in the three years since hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria hit the island. Bases evaluation on the agencies' response to previous recommendations made by GAO. Discusses the current state of Puerto Rico's electrical grid across the island, including in rural areas.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 11/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
view details
Report evaluates the response by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to the damage to Puerto Rico's infrastructure in the three years since hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria hit the island. Bases evaluation on the agencies' response to previous recommendations made by GAO. Discusses the current state of Puerto Rico's electrical grid across the island, including in rural areas.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 11/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
view details
Internet Access Disparities in Alabama & the Black Belt
Issue brief describing disparities in access to broadband service in Alabama's Black Belt region, comparing access to broadband coverage at rates above 100 Mbps and above 25 Mbps for all counties in the state to the statewide average. Discusses investments in broadband infrastructure in the region and in other rural areas of Alabama, telehealth access during the COVID-19 pandemic, and nationwide efforts to expand broadband coverage.
Author(s): Stephen G. Katsinas, Noel E. Keeney, Emily Jacobs, Emily Grace Corley, Hunter Whann
Date: 10/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Alabama Education Policy Center
view details
Issue brief describing disparities in access to broadband service in Alabama's Black Belt region, comparing access to broadband coverage at rates above 100 Mbps and above 25 Mbps for all counties in the state to the statewide average. Discusses investments in broadband infrastructure in the region and in other rural areas of Alabama, telehealth access during the COVID-19 pandemic, and nationwide efforts to expand broadband coverage.
Author(s): Stephen G. Katsinas, Noel E. Keeney, Emily Jacobs, Emily Grace Corley, Hunter Whann
Date: 10/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Alabama Education Policy Center
view details
Cross-Sectional Associations Between the Neighborhood Built Environment and Physical Activity in a Rural Setting: The Bogalusa Heart Study
Presents findings from the Bogalusa Heart Study of physical activity for rural Bogalusa, Louisiana residents, examining associations between environmental features and physical activity.
Author(s): Jeanette Gustat, Christopher E. Anderson, Queendaleen C. Chukwurah, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 20, 1426
Date: 09/2020
Type: Document
view details
Presents findings from the Bogalusa Heart Study of physical activity for rural Bogalusa, Louisiana residents, examining associations between environmental features and physical activity.
Author(s): Jeanette Gustat, Christopher E. Anderson, Queendaleen C. Chukwurah, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 20, 1426
Date: 09/2020
Type: Document
view details
A Century Later: Rural Public Health's Enduring Challenges and Opportunities
Discusses rural health disparities that have persisted over the past century, with information on infectious disease, access to healthcare, maternal and child health, and racial health disparities in the United States. Discusses public health challenges and solutions for rural communities.
Author(s): Erika Ziller, Carly Milkowski
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, e1-e9
Date: 09/2020
Type: Document
view details
Discusses rural health disparities that have persisted over the past century, with information on infectious disease, access to healthcare, maternal and child health, and racial health disparities in the United States. Discusses public health challenges and solutions for rural communities.
Author(s): Erika Ziller, Carly Milkowski
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, e1-e9
Date: 09/2020
Type: Document
view details
Toward Optimal and Equitable Rural Health
Explores how the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced public health and clinical care systems and infrastructure. Features discussion on rural health disparities and offers recommendations for promoting health equity and improving population health.
Author(s): Eduardo Sanchez
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 110(9), 1340-1341
Date: 08/2020
Type: Document
view details
Explores how the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced public health and clinical care systems and infrastructure. Features discussion on rural health disparities and offers recommendations for promoting health equity and improving population health.
Author(s): Eduardo Sanchez
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 110(9), 1340-1341
Date: 08/2020
Type: Document
view details
Leveraging the Built Environment for Health Equity: Promising Interventions for Small and Medium-Size Cities
Examines changes small and medium-size cities can make to the built environment to promote health. Identifies promising practices related to developing interventions and overcoming implementation challenges. Includes discussion of the needs of small rural cities.
Author(s): Martha Fedorowicz, Joe Schilling, Emily Bramhall, et al.
Date: 07/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Urban Institute
view details
Examines changes small and medium-size cities can make to the built environment to promote health. Identifies promising practices related to developing interventions and overcoming implementation challenges. Includes discussion of the needs of small rural cities.
Author(s): Martha Fedorowicz, Joe Schilling, Emily Bramhall, et al.
Date: 07/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Urban Institute
view details
Private Well Stewardship Within a Rural, Agricultural Latino Community: A Qualitative Study
Identifies key factors such as well water testing, treatment, and maintenance in relationship to well stewardship in rural Lower Yakima Valley. Reports on challenges Latino communities face regarding well usage, including home repair experience, financial limitations, and uncertainty over who is responsible for well water safety practices among landlords and neighbors.
Author(s): Kori VanDerGeest, Linda K. Ko, Catherine Karr, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 20(863)
Date: 06/2020
Type: Document
view details
Identifies key factors such as well water testing, treatment, and maintenance in relationship to well stewardship in rural Lower Yakima Valley. Reports on challenges Latino communities face regarding well usage, including home repair experience, financial limitations, and uncertainty over who is responsible for well water safety practices among landlords and neighbors.
Author(s): Kori VanDerGeest, Linda K. Ko, Catherine Karr, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 20(863)
Date: 06/2020
Type: Document
view details
An Evaluation of Appalachian Regional Commission Funding of Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Projects: Fiscal Year 2009-Fiscal Year 2016
Assesses 379 drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects funded by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) in fiscal year (FY) 2009 to FY 2016 to benefit communities in all 13 Appalachian states. Offers discussion on the impact of ARC-funded projects on communities, including increased employment opportunities, household benefits, improved public health, and more. Provides background information, challenges, and outcomes for various projects completed before the end of FY 2018.
Author(s): Jeff Hughes, Maureen Berner, Austin Thompson, et al.
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Appalachian Regional Commission, The University of North Carolina Environmental Finance Center
view details
Assesses 379 drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects funded by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) in fiscal year (FY) 2009 to FY 2016 to benefit communities in all 13 Appalachian states. Offers discussion on the impact of ARC-funded projects on communities, including increased employment opportunities, household benefits, improved public health, and more. Provides background information, challenges, and outcomes for various projects completed before the end of FY 2018.
Author(s): Jeff Hughes, Maureen Berner, Austin Thompson, et al.
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Appalachian Regional Commission, The University of North Carolina Environmental Finance Center
view details