Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document
The Obesity-Related Chronic Disease Index (ORCDi), a Novel Composite Metric to Quantify ORCD Burden: An Ecological Study Across U.S. Census Tracts
Analyzes obesity-related conditions across U.S. census-tracts to develop and validate the obesity-related chronic disease index (ORCDi), a metric used to quantify obesity burden at the community level. Utilizes Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) PLACES 2024 data to analyze health conditions across social vulnerability indices (SVIs) and rural-urban commuting area (RUCA) codes. Discusses the utility of ORCDi as a measure in health research to analyze ORCD burden in various communities.
Author(s): Md Roungu Ahmmada, Fazlay Faruqueb, Xiaoli Zhang
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, 61, 101547
Date: 09/2026
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Analyzes obesity-related conditions across U.S. census-tracts to develop and validate the obesity-related chronic disease index (ORCDi), a metric used to quantify obesity burden at the community level. Utilizes Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) PLACES 2024 data to analyze health conditions across social vulnerability indices (SVIs) and rural-urban commuting area (RUCA) codes. Discusses the utility of ORCDi as a measure in health research to analyze ORCD burden in various communities.
Author(s): Md Roungu Ahmmada, Fazlay Faruqueb, Xiaoli Zhang
Citation: The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, 61, 101547
Date: 09/2026
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Young Adult Urbanicity, Late Midlife Neighborhood Disadvantage, and Cognitive Functioning in Community-Dwelling Older Men
Examines the impact of geography and neighborhood socioeconomics on cognitive function in older men. Analyzes data of cognitive performance from 881 community-dwelling men with additional breakdowns according to demographic variables, rural versus urban location, and area disadvantage index (ADI).
Author(s): Rongxiang Tang, Asad Beck, Daniel E Gustavson, et al.
Citation: The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 81(8)
Date: 08/2026
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Examines the impact of geography and neighborhood socioeconomics on cognitive function in older men. Analyzes data of cognitive performance from 881 community-dwelling men with additional breakdowns according to demographic variables, rural versus urban location, and area disadvantage index (ADI).
Author(s): Rongxiang Tang, Asad Beck, Daniel E Gustavson, et al.
Citation: The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 81(8)
Date: 08/2026
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Early Evidence of Geographic Variation in Medicare Participation among Newly Eligible Mental Health Providers Following the 2024 Coverage Expansion
Explores the effect that Medicare's expansion of coverage to marriage and family therapists (MFTs) and mental health counselors (MHCs) has had on the rural mental health workforce. Highlights the rate of participation among rural MFTs and MHCs in Medicare from 2022 to 2024 and compares rates to metro counties.
Author(s): Janessa M. Graves, Natalia V. Oster, Lisa A. Garberson, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70180
Date: 07/2026
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Explores the effect that Medicare's expansion of coverage to marriage and family therapists (MFTs) and mental health counselors (MHCs) has had on the rural mental health workforce. Highlights the rate of participation among rural MFTs and MHCs in Medicare from 2022 to 2024 and compares rates to metro counties.
Author(s): Janessa M. Graves, Natalia V. Oster, Lisa A. Garberson, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70180
Date: 07/2026
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Food Banks in the United States: Systems, USDA Programs, and Participation
Provides information on charitable food assistance systems in the United States and the households that utilize them. Includes data on food pantry programs, services, and participation, including use and knowledge of food pantries in metro versus nonmetro areas.
Author(s): Laura J. Hales, Anne T. Byrne, Laura Tiehen, et al.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Provides information on charitable food assistance systems in the United States and the households that utilize them. Includes data on food pantry programs, services, and participation, including use and knowledge of food pantries in metro versus nonmetro areas.
Author(s): Laura J. Hales, Anne T. Byrne, Laura Tiehen, et al.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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The Effect of Rural Versus Urban Residence on Risk of Unplanned Readmission and Death in Older Veterans Discharged From VA Hospitals
Examines the relationship among geography, readmission, and mortality rates of older veterans discharged from hospital to home. Examines 2023 readmission rates of 99,557 veterans discharged from Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals with data broken down according to sociodemographics, admission characteristics, health status, drive time to nearest VA facility, mortality, and rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Joanne K. Daggy, Anthony J. Perkins, Katie Ross-Driscoll, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70183
Date: 07/2026
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Examines the relationship among geography, readmission, and mortality rates of older veterans discharged from hospital to home. Examines 2023 readmission rates of 99,557 veterans discharged from Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals with data broken down according to sociodemographics, admission characteristics, health status, drive time to nearest VA facility, mortality, and rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Joanne K. Daggy, Anthony J. Perkins, Katie Ross-Driscoll, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70183
Date: 07/2026
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Early Estimates of Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities and Fatality Rate by Sub-Categories in 2025
Presents projections of traffic fatalities and the fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in 2025. Includes data for rural versus urban roads, among other measures. Compares 2024 fatality data to 2025 rates by month for a number of indicators, including rural areas.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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Presents projections of traffic fatalities and the fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in 2025. Includes data for rural versus urban roads, among other measures. Compares 2024 fatality data to 2025 rates by month for a number of indicators, including rural areas.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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Traffic Safety Facts, 2024 Data: Motorcycles
National data on fatal and nonfatal traffic crashes involving two- and three-wheeled motorcycles, off-road motorcycles, mopeds, motor scooters, mini bikes, and pocket bikes. Features statistics from 2015-2024 with breakdowns including fatality and injury rates, age group and day of the week, engine size, speeding involvement, previous driving record of driver, alcohol-impaired driver fatality rate, blood alcohol concentrations of riders, helmet use and state, and rural or urban location.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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National data on fatal and nonfatal traffic crashes involving two- and three-wheeled motorcycles, off-road motorcycles, mopeds, motor scooters, mini bikes, and pocket bikes. Features statistics from 2015-2024 with breakdowns including fatality and injury rates, age group and day of the week, engine size, speeding involvement, previous driving record of driver, alcohol-impaired driver fatality rate, blood alcohol concentrations of riders, helmet use and state, and rural or urban location.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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Traffic Safety Facts, 2024 Data: Speeding
Contains information on speeding-related and non-speeding-related fatal and non-fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes. Features statistics on rates of injury and death, sex and age group of speeding drivers, previous 5-year driving records of speeding drivers, alcohol involvement, time of day and weekday or weekend, roadway surface condition, and roadway function class, with breakdowns including interstate rural and non-interstate rural.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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Contains information on speeding-related and non-speeding-related fatal and non-fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes. Features statistics on rates of injury and death, sex and age group of speeding drivers, previous 5-year driving records of speeding drivers, alcohol involvement, time of day and weekday or weekend, roadway surface condition, and roadway function class, with breakdowns including interstate rural and non-interstate rural.
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
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Alpha-gal Immunoglobulin E Seroprevalence Among Blood Donors — 10 States, 2024–2025
Reports on prevalence of alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), an allergy to meat and dairy due to tick bites, based on blood donor samples collected during 2024–2025 from 10 states. Includes data for rural, suburban, and urban locations.
Author(s): Eleanor F. Saunders, Marissa L. Taylor, Emma S. Jones, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(25), 315-321
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Reports on prevalence of alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), an allergy to meat and dairy due to tick bites, based on blood donor samples collected during 2024–2025 from 10 states. Includes data for rural, suburban, and urban locations.
Author(s): Eleanor F. Saunders, Marissa L. Taylor, Emma S. Jones, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(25), 315-321
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Improving Childhood Immunization Access in Rural Washington Through School-Based Partnerships
Discusses Washington State's Northeast Tri County Health District (NETCHD) efforts to address low rates of childhood immunization within Ferry, Stevens, and Pen Oreille counties via partnerships with schools, public communication, immunization clinics, and other forms of outreach.
Author(s): Rae Lamp
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of County and City Health Officials
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Discusses Washington State's Northeast Tri County Health District (NETCHD) efforts to address low rates of childhood immunization within Ferry, Stevens, and Pen Oreille counties via partnerships with schools, public communication, immunization clinics, and other forms of outreach.
Author(s): Rae Lamp
Date: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Association of County and City Health Officials
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