Skip to main content
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Population health

Distance as a Barrier to HIV Testing Among Sexual and Gender Minority Populations in the Rural Southern US: A Cross-Sectional Study
Explores the role distance plays in access to HIV testing for gay, transgender, and gender non-conforming people in the rural southern U.S. Breaks down data by age, race, and distance traveled to receive care, among other measures.
Author(s): Alyssa Clausen, Rob B Stephenson, Patrick S Sullivan, et al.
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 23(4), 8227
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
view details
Understanding Rural-Urban Differences in Veterans' Internet Access Use, and Patient Preferences for Telemedicine
Report breaks down differences in internet access, use, and opinions about telehealth for rural and urban veterans. Bases findings on interviews with eligible veterans and highlights veterans' experiences with telehealth.
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Veterans Health Administration's Office of Rural Health
view details
Bridging the Rural–Urban Health-Care Divide Through Community Research Partnerships
Highlights a health equity program that partners researchers with a remote indigenous community. Discusses the Siamit program in a remote, predominately Iñupiat, region of Alaska that partners with Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital working to advance health equity.
Author(s): Lucas Trout, Margaret Smith, Linda Joule, Stuart Harris
Citation: Nature
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
view details
Cross-sectional Population-Based Estimates of a Rural-Urban Disparity in Prevalence of Long COVID Among Michigan Adults With Polymerase Chain Reaction-Confirmed COVID-19, 2020–2022
Explores the potential correlation between rurality and experiencing long COVID. Uses the Michigan COVID-19 Recovery Surveillance Study to compare COVID recovery times in rural and urban areas. Breaks down data by age, socioeconomic status, and access to healthcare, among other measures.
Author(s): Colleen L. MacCallum-Bridges, Jana L. Hirschtick, Kristi L. Allgood, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
view details
2023 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report
Report highlights the rate of suicide among veterans and the VA's role in suicide prevention. Discusses the causes of veteran suicide, the effect the COVID-19 pandemic has had on suicide rates, and the steps the VA is taking for suicide prevention. Breaks down rates of suicide by gender, contact with the VHA, and rurality, among other factors.
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
view details
Impact of Geography and Rurality on Preconception Health Status in the United States
Examines preconception health risk and disparities in women aged 18 to 44 years according to health factors, health behaviors, and sociodemographics. Utilizes 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data to assess for preconception health risk with results broken down by race, age, education, insurance status, income, rural versus urban, and regional location.
Author(s): Madison D. Haiman, Catherine Cubbin
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 20
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
view details
Rural Health and Well-Being
A two-part recorded webinar that first discusses social well-being in rural areas and suggested policy and programmatic interventions to improve well-being. Also provides information on the community-based participatory research Health Equity for Rural Mothers and Families Project (HER), which advocates for health equity for pregnant women and new mothers in rural North Carolina.
Additional links: Part 1 Slides, Part 2 Slides
Author(s): Carrie Henning-Smith, Sarah E. (Betsy) Bledsoe
Date: 11/2023
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: North Central Regional Center for Rural Development
view details
The U.S. Playbook to Address Social Determinants of Health
Provides an overview of social determinants of health (SDOH) and the links between SDOH and health outcomes. Describes federal actions to date to address SDOH and outlines a set of framework actions that federal agencies are undertaking to support health by improving the social circumstances of individuals and communities. Highlights federal programs, toolkits, and guidance that front-line workers and organizations can use to improve the delivery of health and social services. Includes rural and tribal references throughout.
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: The White House
view details
RCORP: Helping Meet Rural Needs
Video series featuring the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy's Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP), a multi-year initiative that funds a range of grant programs to help rural communities treat and prevent opioid use disorder. RCORP grantees share how they have used this funding to address the needs of their communities.
Date: 11/2023
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
view details
Advancing Health Equity in Rural, Tribal, and Geographically Isolated Communities: FY2023 Year in Review
Summarizes Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) activities in fiscal year 2023 to advance health equity for people living in rural, tribal, and geographically isolated communities. Covers six priority focus areas: applying a community-informed geographic lens; increasing the collection and use of standardized data; strengthening and supporting healthcare professionals; optimizing medical and communication technology; expanding access to comprehensive healthcare coverage, benefits, and services and supports; and driving innovation and value-based care.
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
view details