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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Population health

A Scoping Review of Policies to Encourage Breastfeeding, Healthy Eating, and Physical Activity among Rural People and Places in the United States
Scoping review of 122 studies, reports, and theses on breastfeeding, healthy eating, and physical activity policy, systems, and environment change initiatives in rural areas. Analyzes source design, objectives, setting, focus, results, and more. Summarizes research findings and discusses data collection and sharing for rural initiatives.
Author(s): M. Renée Umstattd Meyer, Bailey Houghtaling, Marilyn E. Wende, et al.
Citation: BMC Public Health, 24, 2160
Date: 08/2024
Type: Document
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Notes from the Field: Prevalence of Previous Dengue Virus Infection Among Children and Adolescents Aged 7–16 Years — American Samoa, September–October 2023
Results of a serosurvey of 887 students in American Samoa who were tested for dengue immunoglobulin G. Information on prevalence of previous dengue virus infection among school-age children and adolescents was needed to guide decisions on dengue vaccine implementation.
Author(s): Sandra Kiplagat, Noelle Tavale, Adam Konrote, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 73(31), 686-688
Date: 08/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Palliative Care for Patients with Heart Failure and Family Caregivers in Rural Appalachia: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Evaluates FamPALcare, a telephone coaching intervention for family caregivers who provide palliative care to patients with heart failure (HF) in rural Appalachia. Provides data on patients' HF-related physical health and depression/anxiety, caregivers' caregiving burden and depression/anxiety, and intervention helpfulness at 3 and 6 months.
Author(s): Ubolrat Piamjariyakul, Angel Smothers, Kesheng Wang, et al.
Citation: BMC Palliative Care, 23, 199
Date: 08/2024
Type: Document
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Home Environment Factors Associated with Child BMI Changes During COVID-19 Pandemic
Examines the relationship between childhood obesity and home environments during the COVID-19 pandemic. Observes body mass index (BMI) records and Family Nutrition and Physical Activity (FNPA) screenings from a predominantly rural health system in Pennsylvania.
Author(s): Carolyn F. McCabe, G. Craig Wood, Gregory J. Welk, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 21, 84
Date: 08/2024
Type: Document
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The Effect of Proximity to Grocery Stores and the Pandemic on Parents' and Youths' Perceptions of Eating Habits in Predominately African American Rural Communities
Surveyed 203 youth and parents to determine the impact of grocery store access on eating habits, health, and exercise habits in 3 African American rural communities. Compares results between parents with and without grocery store access as well as between parents and youth. Discusses the impact of COVID-19 on eating habits and exercise.
Author(s): Amanda Williams, Sharlene D. Newman
Citation: Frontiers in Nutrition, 11
Date: 08/2024
Type: Document
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Adolescent Pregnancy: Federal Prevention Programs
Provides an overview of four federally funded programs that focus on adolescent pregnancy prevention: the Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) program, the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP), the Title V Sexual Risk Avoidance Education program, and the General Departmental (GD) Sexual Risk Avoidance Education program. Features a breakdown of each program and an evaluation of their activities and efficacy. Discusses which programs operate in rural areas.
Date: 08/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Suicide Prevention in Tennessee: 2023 Annual Report
Summarizes suicide surveillance and programmatic data collected by the Tennessee Department of Health. Identifies strategies and best practices for the prevention of deaths by suicide. Features statistics including rates of suicide among residents of rural Tennessee counties from 2018-2022
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Tennessee Department of Health
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Rural Health Equity in HHS Region 7
Presentation slides that provide highlights related to rural health equity in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Region 7, which consists of Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, and Kansas. Discusses issues such as COVID-19 health equity funding, housing, farmworker and immigrant health, maternal healthcare access, and more.
Author(s): Whitney Zahnd
Date: 07/2024
Type: Presentation Slides
Sponsoring organization: Iowa College of Public Health
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The 2021–2022 Study of Family and Staff Experiences in American Indian and Alaska Native Head Start FACES Programs: Fall 2021 Data Tables and Study Design
Analyzes 18 Region XI programs and reported data from American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) Head Start children, parents, and teachers. Provides information on issues such as children's home environments, social-emotional learning skills, disabilities and physical health, and teacher and child characteristics.
Author(s): Myley Laurent, Tatiana Santiago, Katie Gonzalez, et al.
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Children and Families
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Structural Determinants of Health: Hospitals' Unequal Capital Investments Drive Health Inequities
Examines hospitals' capital investments as a structural factor influencing disparities in patient safety and quality of care at hospitals in the United States. Analyzes topics including hospital economics, federal policy, funding, hospital infrastructure, and more. See Section 5 in particular for discussion of rural hospitals.
Author(s): Eileen Appelbaum, Emma Curchin, Rosemary Batt
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR)
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