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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Rural-urban differences

Food Choices and Store Proximity
Examines household food purchases for those living in low-income, low-access (LILA) areas, with a comparison of rural LILA and urban LILA households. Compares purchases in 14 major food groups that vary in dietary quality. See Tables 6-8 for rural-specific information.
Additional links: Report Summary
Author(s): Ilya Rahkovsky, Samantha Snyder
Date: 09/2015
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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The Supplemental Poverty Measure: 2014
Provides estimates of poverty for the official poverty measure and the supplemental poverty measure, which takes into account government programs that support low-income families. Tables 2 and 5 provide data for metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas.
Author(s): Kathleen Short
Date: 09/2015
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2014
Provides statistics on health insurance coverage in 2014 and also focuses on changes between 2013 and 2014. Table 5 lists statistics for metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. Based on data from the 2015 Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement.
Author(s): Jessica C. Smith, Carla Medalia
Date: 09/2015
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Income and Poverty in the United States: 2014
Reports on income levels and the number of people in poverty for 2013 and 2014, along with the percent change from 2013 to 2014. Includes statistics for metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas (see Table 1 and Table 3). Based on data from the 2015 Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement, which had redesigned questions related to income. Tables D-1 and D-2 provides metro/nonmetro data for the traditional 2013 and redesigned 2013 income and poverty measures.
Author(s): Carmen DeNavas-Walt, Bernadette D. Proctor
Date: 09/2015
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Household Food Security in the United States in 2014
Reports on household food security, food expenditures, and use of federal food and nutrition assistance programs in 2014. Includes food insecurity statistics for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas.
Additional links: Report Summary
Author(s): Alisha Coleman-Jensen, Matthew Rabbitt, Christian Gregory, Anita Singh
Date: 09/2015
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Foundation Giving to Rural Areas in the United States Is Disproportionately Low
Provides an overview of grantmaking trends for rural and urban areas from 2010 to 2015. Includes data on the purpose and dollar value of grants from large foundations to rural and urban organizations.
Author(s): John Pender
Citation: Amber Waves
Date: 08/2015
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Do Sex Differences Exist in Rates of Falls and Fractures in Hutterite, Rural, and Nonrural Populations, Aged 20 to 66 Years?
Examines whether sex and rurality differences exist in fall and fracture rates among Hutterites, rural non-Hutterites, and urban non-Hutterites, based on data from the South Dakota Rural Bone Health Study. Includes information on population characteristics by sex and group, covering weight, height, grip strength, activity level, osteoarthritis, falls, and fractures.
Author(s): Lee Weidauer, Teresa Binkley, Tianna Beare, et al.
Citation: Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, 473(8), 2514-2520
Date: 08/2015
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Decreased Cancer Mortality-to-Incidence Ratios with Increased Accessibility of Federally Qualified Health Centers
Explores associations between access, for example one or more facilities, to Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and cancer mortality-to-incidence ratios in every county in the United States using 2006-2010 data from the National Cancer Institute State Cancer Profile. Examines breast, cervical, prostate, and colorectal cancer. Data is broken down by cancer type, rural versus urban, Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) designation, and race.
Author(s): Swann Arp Adams, Seul Ki Choi, Leepao Khang, et al.
Citation: Journal of Community Health, 40(4), 633-641
Date: 08/2015
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Not Near Enough: Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Access to Nearby Behavioral Health Care and Primary Care
Analyzes the association of integrated behavioral health and primary care services with communities in rural areas and communities with higher percentages of African American and Hispanic people to gain a better understanding of the disparities in access to integrated care.
Author(s): Lynn M. VanderWielen, Emma C. Gilchrist, Molly A. Nowels, et al.
Citation: Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 26(3) 1032–1047
Date: 08/2015
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Assessing Rural-Urban Nurse Practitioner Supply and Distribution in 12 States Using Available Data Sources
A policy brief comparing the distribution of nurse practitioners (NPs) in rural and urban areas through the analysis of license records and the National Provider Identifier (NPI) data from 12 states.
Author(s): Susan M. Skillman,Gina Keppel, Mark P. Doescher, et al.
Date: 08/2015
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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