Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Infrastructure
Implementation of Change Club Action Plans to Promote Built Environment Change in Rural Communities
Examines implementation of policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) strategies to improve public health infrastructure in rural areas. Analyzes implementation of the Cooperative Extension-led Change Club (CC) community project in rural areas of Texas and New York which focuses on improving PSE interventions and built environments.
Author(s): Meredith L. Graham, Emma C. Lewis, Deyaun L. Villarreal, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 23, 49
Date: 03/2026
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Examines implementation of policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) strategies to improve public health infrastructure in rural areas. Analyzes implementation of the Cooperative Extension-led Change Club (CC) community project in rural areas of Texas and New York which focuses on improving PSE interventions and built environments.
Author(s): Meredith L. Graham, Emma C. Lewis, Deyaun L. Villarreal, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 23, 49
Date: 03/2026
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Assessing Healthcare Access among Residents in Rural Eastern San Diego County: A Qualitative Study
Examines patient healthcare experiences, healthcare access, and public health infrastructure in rural Eastern San Diego County. Utilizes interview data from 24 residents and discusses issues such as geographical isolation, financial constraints, transportation issues, administrative burdens, limited access to rural aging health programming, and public health infrastructure.
Author(s): Loretta Sosa Ortiz, Pamela Padilla, Gina Chung, et al.
Citation: BMC Primary Care, 27, 149
Date: 03/2026
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Examines patient healthcare experiences, healthcare access, and public health infrastructure in rural Eastern San Diego County. Utilizes interview data from 24 residents and discusses issues such as geographical isolation, financial constraints, transportation issues, administrative burdens, limited access to rural aging health programming, and public health infrastructure.
Author(s): Loretta Sosa Ortiz, Pamela Padilla, Gina Chung, et al.
Citation: BMC Primary Care, 27, 149
Date: 03/2026
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Resolving Wastewater Treatment Challenges in Small Communities
Manual providing guidance on wastewater challenges and wastewater system evaluation, planning, and implementation in small and rural communities.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Community Assistance Partnership
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Manual providing guidance on wastewater challenges and wastewater system evaluation, planning, and implementation in small and rural communities.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Community Assistance Partnership
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Regional Partnership Program: A Community-Led Approach
Discusses the role of voluntary regional partnerships in supporting small and rural water and wastewater systems, highlights priority topics and challenges in rural water systems, presents data on water system inventory and health violations by size of population served, and provides federal policy recommendations to support regional partnerships.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organizations: National Rural Water Association, Rural Community Assistance Partnership
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Discusses the role of voluntary regional partnerships in supporting small and rural water and wastewater systems, highlights priority topics and challenges in rural water systems, presents data on water system inventory and health violations by size of population served, and provides federal policy recommendations to support regional partnerships.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organizations: National Rural Water Association, Rural Community Assistance Partnership
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Cancer in Iowa 2026
Provides data on cancer incidence, characteristics, and survival in Iowa. Provides county-level estimates of new cancers, cancer deaths, and those living with cancer as of 2026. Features a section on how cancer impacts Iowa's farming population and related issues of agricultural health, drinking water quality, and pesticide use.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Iowa Cancer Registry
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Provides data on cancer incidence, characteristics, and survival in Iowa. Provides county-level estimates of new cancers, cancer deaths, and those living with cancer as of 2026. Features a section on how cancer impacts Iowa's farming population and related issues of agricultural health, drinking water quality, and pesticide use.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: Iowa Cancer Registry
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Wastewater Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 in Rural Kentucky, 2021–2023
Examines results from SARS-CoV-2 wastewater testing in majority rural Eastern Kentucky counties. Analyzes 818 wastewater samples to provide information on COVID-19 incidence from 2021 to 2023. Discusses how wastewater surveillance in rural communities can assist in describing disease levels.
Author(s): James W. Keck, Reuben Adatorwovor, Ann Noble, et al.
Citation: Viruses, 18(3), 282
Date: 02/2026
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Examines results from SARS-CoV-2 wastewater testing in majority rural Eastern Kentucky counties. Analyzes 818 wastewater samples to provide information on COVID-19 incidence from 2021 to 2023. Discusses how wastewater surveillance in rural communities can assist in describing disease levels.
Author(s): James W. Keck, Reuben Adatorwovor, Ann Noble, et al.
Citation: Viruses, 18(3), 282
Date: 02/2026
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Perceived Water Safety and Elevated Liver Enzymes in Rural West Virginia: Links between Drinking Water, Beverage Habits, and Liver Health
Analyzes associations between perceived home tap water quality, liver enzyme levels, and other clinical indicators among 272 adults in rural West Virginia. Discusses how perceived environmental health and access to affordable filtration may influence health outcomes in rural, Appalachian areas.
Author(s): Joanna Bailey, Terezia Lilly, Adam D. Baus
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 26(1)
Date: 02/2026
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Analyzes associations between perceived home tap water quality, liver enzyme levels, and other clinical indicators among 272 adults in rural West Virginia. Discusses how perceived environmental health and access to affordable filtration may influence health outcomes in rural, Appalachian areas.
Author(s): Joanna Bailey, Terezia Lilly, Adam D. Baus
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 26(1)
Date: 02/2026
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Meeting the Health Needs of Rural America: A Report of the Aspen Health Strategy Group
Presents a model for addressing rural health disparities and encouraging accessible, sustainable healthcare access through community-centered policy, investment, and healthcare delivery. Discusses topics related to health policy, funding, community development, infrastructure, preventive care, and more.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Aspen Institute
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Presents a model for addressing rural health disparities and encouraging accessible, sustainable healthcare access through community-centered policy, investment, and healthcare delivery. Discusses topics related to health policy, funding, community development, infrastructure, preventive care, and more.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Aspen Institute
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The Universal Service Fund and Related FCC Broadband Programs: Overview and Considerations for Congress
Provides an overview of the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Universal Service Fund (USF) and its four programs: the High Cost Program, Lifeline Program, Schools and Libraries Program, and Rural Health Care Program. Outlines considerations for Congress for each program. Describes legislation introduced in the 119th Congress that would impact the USF programs.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides an overview of the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Universal Service Fund (USF) and its four programs: the High Cost Program, Lifeline Program, Schools and Libraries Program, and Rural Health Care Program. Outlines considerations for Congress for each program. Describes legislation introduced in the 119th Congress that would impact the USF programs.
Date: 01/2026
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Transportation Planning in Non-Metropolitan/Rural Areas 2026
Discusses transportation planning in rural and nonmetro areas, exploring the ongoing roles of state departments of transportation (DOTs), regional planning entities (RPEs), and Regional Transportation Planning Organizations (RTPOs) to collaborate and focus on rural planning. Provides a literature review, survey data from transportation planning entities, and case studies.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): National Cooperative Highway Research Program
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organizations: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Transportation Research Board
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Discusses transportation planning in rural and nonmetro areas, exploring the ongoing roles of state departments of transportation (DOTs), regional planning entities (RPEs), and Regional Transportation Planning Organizations (RTPOs) to collaborate and focus on rural planning. Provides a literature review, survey data from transportation planning entities, and case studies.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): National Cooperative Highway Research Program
Date: 2026
Sponsoring organizations: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Transportation Research Board
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