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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Population health

Pulmonary Health in Rural America: Cause and Impact of Work-Related Lung Diseases
Provides an overview of occupational lung diseases that impact rural areas related to agriculture, mining, healthcare, and other industries. Discusses asthma, lung cancer, black lung, and other work-related lung diseases. Includes information on prevention strategies, and highlights a personal protective equipment (PPE) management program at a rural Wisconsin Critical Access Hospital.
Author(s): Kay Miller Temple
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 10/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Despair as a Cause of Death: More Complex Than It First Appears
Describes studies showing urban-rural and racial/ethnic comparisons of premature deaths due to self-destructive behaviors and possible underlying social and economic factors in the communities.
Author(s): Ana V. Diez Roux
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 107(10), 1566-1567
Date: 10/2017
Type: Document
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The Epidemic of Despair Among White Americans: Trends in the Leading Causes of Premature Death, 1999–2015
Evaluates trends in cause-specific death rates for adults ages 25-64, from 1999-2001 and 2013-2015. Features statistics including cause of death, age, race, and urbanization level in the United States, with breakdowns by large urban, suburban, small/medium metropolitan, and rural areas.
Author(s): Elizabeth M. Stein, Keith P. Gennuso, Donna C. Ugboaja, Patrick L. Remington
Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 107(10), 1541-1547
Date: 10/2017
Type: Document
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Access To Obstetric Services In Rural Counties Still Declining, With 9 Percent Losing Services, 2004-14
Results of a study identifying gaps in the availability of hospital-based obstetric services in rural America, and providing evidence of disparities in local access to obstetric services in vulnerable rural communities. Includes statistics on percentages of rural counties by status of hospital obstetric services from 2004–14, with breakdowns by micropolitan or noncore location, and a county-level map with shadings indicating full closure, continuous services, or no services.
Author(s): Peiyin Hung, Carrie E. Henning-Smith, Michelle M. Casey, Katy B. Kozhimannil
Citation: Health Affairs, 36(9), 1663-1671
Date: 09/2017
Type: Document
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Agriculture and Health Sectors Collaborate in Addressing Population Health
An overview of the collaboration between the Cooperative Extension Service and the health sector in various states and the impact this collaboration has on population health through community-based efforts, including health and wellness and 4-H programs, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Describes a case study of a collaborative model in New Mexico.
Author(s): Arthur Kaufman, Jon Boren, Sonja Koukel, et al.
Citation: Annals of Family Medicine,15(5), 475-480
Date: 09/2017
Type: Document
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Exploring Rural Disparities in Medical Diagnoses among Veterans with Transgender-related Diagnoses Utilizing Veterans Health Administration Care
Presents a study on the differences in transgender-related diagnoses of veterans treated by the Veterans Health Administration in rural versus urban areas. Discusses medical conditions associated with transgender veterans, such as substance use and post-traumatic stress disorder, among others.
Author(s): Leigh A. Bukowski, John Blosnich, Jillian C. Shipherd, et al.
Citation: Medical Care, 55(9 Suppl2), S97-S103
Date: 09/2017
Type: Document
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Variations in Obesity Rates between US Counties: Impacts of Activity Access, Food Environments, and Settlement Patterns
Describes differences in obesity rates among U.S. counties based on rurality, region, poverty level, and ethnicity. Analyzes access to physical activity facilities, food environments, and settlement patterns, defined as residential density and car dependence, to determine potential explanations for geographic variations.
Author(s): Peter Congdon
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(9), 1023
Date: 09/2017
Type: Document
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Addressing Rural Health Challenges Head On
Describes challenges physicians encounter when practicing in rural and underserved areas of Missouri. Covers multiple issues including health professional shortages, limits of rural training opportunities, population health challenges, rural Missouri demographics, and more.
Author(s): Marci Nielsen, Darrin D'Agostino, Paula Gregory
Citation: Missouri Medicine, 114(5), 363-366
Date: 09/2017
Type: Document
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A Prospective Study of Cancer Risk among Agricultural Health Study Farm Spouses Associated with Personal Use of Organochlorine Insecticides
Highlights an investigation into the health effects of exposure to organochlorine pesticides for farmers and their spouses. Draws data from the Agricultural Health Study, which surveys agricultural workers in Iowa and North Carolina.
Author(s): Lydia M. Louis, Catherine C. Lerro, Melissa C. Friesen, et al.
Citation: Environmental Health, 16(1), 95
Date: 09/2017
Type: Document
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Rural Veterans' Dental Utilization, BRFSS, 2014
Highlight study on the dental utilization rates for rural veterans. Explores whether the rural veterans are more likely to experience negative oral health outcomes, such as missing teeth. Breaks down data by age, race, educational attainment, and rural versus urban location, among other factors.
Author(s): R. Constance Wiener, Chan Shen, Usha Sambamoorthi, Patricia A. Findley
Citation: Journal of Public Health Dentistry, 77(4), 383-392
Date: 09/2017
Type: Document
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