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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Population health

Rooted in Resilience: Investing in Rural Futures: Empowering Rural and Tribal Communities Through Partnership, Advocacy, and Action - RCAP's Fiscal Year 2024 Impact Report
Details the accomplishments of the Rural Community Assistance Partnership Incorporated (RCAP) in FY 2024. Highlights RCAP's programs and partnerships supporting infrastructure and community development in rural and tribal areas, including drinking water, wastewater, and solid waste initiatives.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: Rural Community Assistance Partnership
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In Support of Caregivers: Key Accomplishments of Lifespan Respite Program Grantees
Highlights the work of state grantees in the Lifespan Respite Care Program. Discusses 8 key accomplishments related to collaboration, accessibility, affordability, using data, workforce, innovation, sustainability, and outreach. Discusses rural throughout.
Author(s): Susan Janko Summers
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center
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Indian Health Service Program Evaluation Services: Community Opioid Intervention Pilot Projects Aggregate Report 2021-2024
Report evaluates the Indian Health Service's Community Opioid Intervention Pilot Project aimed at addressing opioid use disorder in tribal communities. Collects and evaluates data from grantees after the program's first 3 years, April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2024. Explores grantees' progress in building organizational capacity, community and educational events, and professional trainings, among other measures.
Additional links: Infographic
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: Indian Health Service
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Sexualized Drug Use Factors among Rural Sexual Minority Men
Presents a study identifying factors that correspond to sexualized drug use, or substance use immediately before or during sex, for rural sexual minority men. Highlights risk factors of sexualized drug use, such as HIV infection, and details corresponding demographic and behavioral characteristics.
Author(s): Christopher Owens, Benjamin N. Montemayor
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(1), e12917
Date: 2025
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2024 Alaska Scorecard: Key Issues Impacting Alaska Mental Health Trust Beneficiaries
Report explores mental health data for the state of Alaska and compares rates to national data and to a state-level baseline. Details data by indicator, such as healthcare access, economic and social well-being, and suicide prevention, among other measures.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority
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Addressing Workforce Challenges Across the Behavioral Health Continuum of Care: Proceedings of a Workshop
Summary of presentations and discussions from a July 2024 public workshop to address workforce needs and challenges related to behavioral healthcare. Includes discussions of telepsychiatry collaborative care to improve rural access and capacity, and recruiting and retaining Native American healthcare providers in behavioral health settings.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Board on Health Care Services
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Association Between Obesogenic Environments and Childhood Overweight/Obesity Across the United States: Differences by Rurality
Examines the impact of environmental factors on childhood obesity in rural areas. Utilizes the Childhood Obesogenic Environment Index (COEI) to analyze statistical differences in rural versus urban counties in the U.S. Discusses the relationship of COEI variables and childhood overweight/obesity rates.
Author(s): Kara Davis, Demetrius A. Abshire, Courtney Monroe, Caroline Rudisill, Andrew T. Kaczynski
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2)
Date: 2025
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Facilitators and Barriers to Implementing the Diabetes Prevention Program in Rural Church Settings: A Qualitative Study Using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research
Analyzes the effectiveness of implementing a Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) in a rural church setting in Georgia. Utilizes feedback from interviews with church leaders and lifestyle coaches to discuss facilitators, such as academic partnerships and evidence-based programming, as well as barriers, such as transportation, childcare issues, prohibitive health problems, and more.
Author(s): Smita Rawal, Caleb A. Snead, Frantz D. Soiro, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2)
Date: 2025
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Drive Time to Care and Retention in HIV Care: Rural–Urban Differences Among Medicaid Enrollees in the United States South
Presents a study on the role geography plays in HIV care retention and maintenance. Draws data from Medicaid enrollees in 13 southern states including the District of Columbia and compares patient drive times to care in rural and urban areas. Breaks down data by county social determinants of health, healthcare supply, and HIV prevalence, as well as patient characteristics.
Author(s): April D. Kimmel, Rose S. Bono, Zhongzhe Pan, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(1), e12877
Date: 2025
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Home Health Utilization in the Veterans Health Administration: Are there Rural and Urban Differences?
Examines home health usage and access among veterans in rural and urban areas. Utilizes 2019-2021 Veterans Health Administration (VA) data to analyze rural versus urban home health use, with data broken down by patient sociodemographic variables as well as number of visits.
Author(s): Heather Davila, Bradely Mayfield, Michelle A. Mengeling, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(1), e12865
Date: 2025
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