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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Poverty

Rural–Urban Disparities in Health Access Factors Over Time: Implications for Cancer Prevention and Health Equity in the Midwest
Examines environmental and socioeconomic factors in rural and urban counties to understand differences in cancer burden and healthcare access. Analyzes 123 counties in Kansas and Missouri from 2009 to 2017 for health equity factors such as primary care provider availability, lack of insurance, unemployment, and childhood poverty. Includes rural versus urban cancer mortality rates in Kansas from 2008-2017.
Author(s): Jordan Baker, Hope Krebill, Hanluen Kuo, et al.
Citation: Health Equity, 6(1), 382-389.
Date: 05/2022
Type: Document
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Association Between Rural Hospital Service Changes and Community Demographics
Investigates possible differences in service availability by local demographics and examines the association between proportion of a rural community belonging to an Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality-identified priority population and local hospital service changes. Features statistics on changes in healthcare service availability in nonmetro hospitals from 2011-2017, with breakdowns by areas with greater or smaller percentage of the population that is Hispanic/Latino, Black, aged 65 or greater, or in poverty. Also includes statistics on changes in availability of 8 types of services in nonmetro hospitals from 2011-2017.
Author(s): Tyler L. Malone, Kathleen Knocke, George H. Pink, et al.
Date: 05/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Better Results: What Does it Take to Build Capacity in Rural and Native Nations Communities?
Blog post discussing technical assistance and organizational capacity to support rural and tribal economic and community development based on insights from the Thrive Rural Open Field session. Covers strategies related to building community trust, developing community-centered strategies for capacity building, and technical assistance that includes collaboration with communities. Offers links to additional information and funding resources.
Author(s): Clifford Devin Deaton
Date: 05/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Aspen Institute
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Food Insecurity in Southwest Virginia
Policy brief exploring the intersectionality between food insecurity and socioeconomic status as well as COVID-19 impacts in Southwest Virginia (SWVA), a primarily-rural area with the highest food insecurity and lowest socioeconomic status in Virginia. Highlights the seriousness and complexity of food insecurity in SWVA and the need for future research. Features statistics comparing food insecurity rates and median household income in Grayson County and Loudoun County, and the relationship between labor force and unemployment rate between 2016-2022.
Author(s): Sety Abooali
Date: 05/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Virginia State Office of Rural Health
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Differences in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Participation among Oklahoma Counties
Examines Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation among income-eligible residents in Oklahoma. Includes data on age, race, gender, and rurality of participants, among other factors.
Author(s): Mckenzie Carvalho, Amy Hagerman, Phil Kenkel, Dave Shideler
Citation: Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 11(3), 229-239
Date: 05/2022
Type: Document
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The Justice Gap: The Unmet Civil Legal Needs of Low-Income Americans
Reports on civil legal needs experienced by low-income Americans who do not seek professional legal help and the paths they take when facing civil legal problems. Includes information on legal needs related to healthcare access and other issues that impact health, such as housing and COVID-19. Provides details for specific groups, including rural residents, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, parents of children under 18, and domestic violence survivors.
Additional links: Executive Summary, Full Report, Special Focus Rural
Date: 04/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Legal Services Corporation
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2022 County Health Rankings National Findings Report
Analyzes county-level health disparities by examining health factors and outcomes throughout the U.S. Covers living wages, gender pay gap, childcare costs, school funding, and more. Discusses impacts of COVID-19, key findings, and calls to action to improve community health outcomes.
Date: 04/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
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Promoting Healthy Futures: Afterschool Provides the Supports Parents Want for Children's Well-Being
Discusses the impact of afterschool programs related to opportunities for physical activity, nutritious food options, decrease in risky behaviors, and more, based on 31,055 households participating in the America After 3PM survey. Includes charts of survey responses by community type, including race/ethnicity, low-income, and rural, suburban, and urban.
Date: 04/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Afterschool Alliance, America After 3PM Health & Wellness
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The Persistence of Poverty in Rural America
Examines persistent poverty counties in rural America that struggle with food insecurity, healthcare access, and housing. Includes U.S. maps that show high-poverty counties in 2000, 2010, and 2020.
Date: 04/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Housing Assistance Council
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Enduring Cancer Disparities by Persistent Poverty, Rurality, and Race: 1990-1992 to 2014-2018
Examines overall cancer mortality in the U.S. by county characteristics such as persistent poverty and rural versus urban location, as well as by isolating race as a potential determinant. Utilizes 1990-1992 and 2014-2018 National Death Index data to analyze how health disparities in cancer mortality have changed over time.
Author(s): Jennifer L. Moss, Casey N. Pinto, Shobha Srinivasan, Kathleen A. Cronin, Robert T. Croyle
Citation: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 114(6), 829-836
Date: 03/2022
Type: Document
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