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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Racial and ethnic groups

Inequities in Availability of Evidence-Based Birth Supports to Improve Perinatal Health for Socially Vulnerable Rural Residents
Examines the social risk factors rural residents face related to maternal and infant mortality. Utilizes data from 285 rural hospitals across the United States that have inpatient birthing centers to measure the availability of maternal and postpartum supports such as breastfeeding support groups, nurse home visiting, childbirth education classes, and more. Evaluates each hospital's social vulnerability index (SVI) on the county-level to determine the level of birth support inequities in rural areas and for residents who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).
Author(s): Bridget Basile Ibrahim, Julia D. Interrante, Alyssa H. Fritz, Mariana S. Tuttle, Katy Backes Kozhimannil
Citation: Children, 9(7), 1077
Date: 07/2022
Type: Document
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Life Expectancy Loss Among Native Americans During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Results of a study providing estimates of loss of life expectancy in 2020 and 2021 relative to 2019 for the Native American population. Features statistics including ratio of Native American to White mortality rates in 2020 and 2021, estimates of life expectancy and losses in life expectancy for the Native American population from 2019-2021, and life expectancy at birth and at age 65 with breakdowns by race.
Author(s): Noreen Goldman, Theresa Andrasfay
Citation: Demographic Research, 47(9), 233-246
Date: 07/2022
Type: Document
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Improving Access to Oral Health Care for Tribal Populations in Oklahoma
Report discusses tribal oral healthcare access for American Indian communities in Oklahoma. Highlights the oral health disparities across the Indian Health Service (IHS) system and explores barriers to oral healthcare access for the federally-recognized tribes in the state.
Author(s): Allie Atkeson
Date: 07/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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Engaging Tribal Populations to Improve Oral Health Care Access in Arizona
Report discusses tribal oral healthcare and proposes strategies to improve access for American Indian communities in Arizona. Highlights the federally-recognized tribes in the state and details the status of oral healthcare in the Indian Health Service (IHS) system.
Author(s): Ella Roth, Allie Atkeson
Date: 07/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
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Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities: Federal Programs Provide Support for Preventing Falls, but Program Reach is Limited
Provides an overview of nine federal programs designed to provide evidence-based falls prevention, home assessments, or home modifications for older adults and adults with disabilities. Explores what federal agencies know about how these programs affect participants' health and to what extent agencies coordinate their efforts and provide consumer information. Includes data on the estimated percentage of falls among adults with disabilities by demographic characteristics and identifies programs serving rural communities.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 07/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Health Workforce Issues in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) Populations
Rapid response policy brief providing an overview of the Indian Health Service (IHS), and discussing tribally-operated health services and access to health services and insurance outside of tribal or IHS networks. Describes the representation of AI/AN populations within the healthcare workforce and offers recommendations and strategies to strengthen the health workforce providing care for AI/AN populations.
Author(s): Natalia V. Oster, Susan M. Skillman, Bianca K. Frogner
Date: 07/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: UW Center for Health Workforce Studies
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Northern Navajo Medical Center Delivers Care Directly to Patients Experiencing Homelessness
Video details a program initiated by the Northern Navajo Medical Center in Shiprock, New Mexico, that provides treatment to people experiencing homelessness on the Navajo reservation. Discusses the mobile clinic's goals and the services it provides, such as physical exams, vaccinations, and other acute and chronic conditions.
Date: 07/2022
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Indian Health Service
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Increased Rates of Death from Unintentional Injury among Non-Hispanic White, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Non-Metropolitan Communities
Examines the rate of fatal and nonfatal injuries in non-metropolitan and metropolitan areas, and the association with race/ethnicity. Uses information from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey public use datafile for 2018. Features statistics including estimated rate of nonfatal unintentional injuries among people seeking treatment at hospitals, deaths from unintentional injuries, and age-adjusted death rates for all causes of unintentional injury from 2014-2018, with breakdowns by metropolitan and non-metropolitan location.
Author(s): Lindsey R. Hammerslag, Jeffery Talbert, Tyrone F. Borders
Date: 07/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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Rural Household Food Insecurity among Latino Immigrants during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Investigates impacts of COVID-19 on food insecurity among Latino immigrant families in rural areas of California. Utilizes interviews from 31 participants to examine barriers to food access including transportation, school closures, and lack of convenience. Discusses mitigation efforts related to food insecurity such as government and charitable programs.
Author(s): Denise Diaz Payán, Fabiola Perez-Lua, Sidra Goldman-Mellor, Maria-Elena De Trinidad Young
Citation: Nutrients, 14(13)
Date: 07/2022
Type: Document
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How Increased Funding Can Advance the Mission of the Indian Health Service to Improve Health Outcomes for American Indians and Alaska Natives
Provides an overview of health and healthcare disparities experienced by American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations. Describes the role of the federal government in financing and providing healthcare services to these populations. Discusses how enhanced funding could help further the Indian Health Service's mission to ensure that tribal communities have access to high-quality healthcare services.
Date: 07/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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