Rural Health
Resources by Type: Document
Associations Between Income and Coping Strategies among Households at Risk of Food Insecurity in a High Cost-of-Living Region
Surveys 1,021 food insecure adults in a rural, high cost of living region of Colorado to explore the associations between receiving charitable food and making economic tradeoffs for basic needs including medicine, housing, utilities, childcare, education, and transportation. Highlights trends within different ranges of the 2022 federal poverty level.
Author(s): Ana Altares, Laura L. Bellows, Rebecca Cleary, Carrie Chennault, Megan P. Mueller
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 4(4)
Date: 04/2026
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Surveys 1,021 food insecure adults in a rural, high cost of living region of Colorado to explore the associations between receiving charitable food and making economic tradeoffs for basic needs including medicine, housing, utilities, childcare, education, and transportation. Highlights trends within different ranges of the 2022 federal poverty level.
Author(s): Ana Altares, Laura L. Bellows, Rebecca Cleary, Carrie Chennault, Megan P. Mueller
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 4(4)
Date: 04/2026
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Early Evaluation of the Rural Emergency Hospital Program
Results of a study conducted January 2023 to December 2025, to assess differences between hospitals that converted to Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) status and eligible rural hospitals that did not. Includes statistics on the financial performance of the hospitals before and after conversion, and hospital features and services provided, with breakdowns by REH or non-REH status.
Author(s): Mitchell Mead, Nina M. Clark, Janice C. Probst, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(4), e269217
Date: 04/2026
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Results of a study conducted January 2023 to December 2025, to assess differences between hospitals that converted to Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) status and eligible rural hospitals that did not. Includes statistics on the financial performance of the hospitals before and after conversion, and hospital features and services provided, with breakdowns by REH or non-REH status.
Author(s): Mitchell Mead, Nina M. Clark, Janice C. Probst, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(4), e269217
Date: 04/2026
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Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Nursing Home Residents and Health Care Personnel — United States, 2024–25 Influenza Season
Reports on influenza vaccination during the 2024–25 influenza season for nursing home residents and healthcare workers. Provides pooled influenza coverage data by facility for nursing home residents and for nursing home personnel, with data by urbanicity for metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore areas.
Author(s): Jeneita M. Bell, Kira Barbre, Lu Meng, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(15), 195-201
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Reports on influenza vaccination during the 2024–25 influenza season for nursing home residents and healthcare workers. Provides pooled influenza coverage data by facility for nursing home residents and for nursing home personnel, with data by urbanicity for metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore areas.
Author(s): Jeneita M. Bell, Kira Barbre, Lu Meng, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 75(15), 195-201
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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H5N1 Focus Groups with Dairy and Poultry Workers Summary Report: May - September 2025
Summarizes focus group discussions among dairy and poultry workers about their knowledge of H5N1, hygienic and biosecurity practices on dairy farms, and barriers to healthcare access.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Farmworker Health
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Summarizes focus group discussions among dairy and poultry workers about their knowledge of H5N1, hygienic and biosecurity practices on dairy farms, and barriers to healthcare access.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Farmworker Health
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Collaborating for Transportation Access in Rural Communities
Features the nonprofit Feonix – Mobility Rising and its work to support Waupaca County Catch a Ride in Wisconsin and the Transportation Rx program in South Texas. Shares how these programs work to improve transportation in their communities so people can more easily access healthcare, employment, and other needs.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Features the nonprofit Feonix – Mobility Rising and its work to support Waupaca County Catch a Ride in Wisconsin and the Transportation Rx program in South Texas. Shares how these programs work to improve transportation in their communities so people can more easily access healthcare, employment, and other needs.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Seat Belt Use in North Dakota: June 2025
Provides estimated seat belt use across North Dakota according to county, vehicle occupant, region, vehicle type, road type, and driver demographics. Utilizing sampling methodology of 14,319 drivers and 2,262 right front-seat passengers during June 2025 to provide data on seat belt use and inform public safety efforts.
Author(s): Jaclyn Andersen, Kimberly Vachal
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute
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Provides estimated seat belt use across North Dakota according to county, vehicle occupant, region, vehicle type, road type, and driver demographics. Utilizing sampling methodology of 14,319 drivers and 2,262 right front-seat passengers during June 2025 to provide data on seat belt use and inform public safety efforts.
Author(s): Jaclyn Andersen, Kimberly Vachal
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute
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Social Determinants of Sleep Health Inequities Among Rural Appalachian Adults
Evaluates the sociodemographic characteristics, health behaviors, and psychosocial factors of 327 rural Appalachian adults to identify associations with insufficient sleep duration, insomnia, and obstructive sleep apnea risk.
Author(s): Mairead E. Moloney, Emily Slade, Joon Chung
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(4)
Date: 04/2026
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Evaluates the sociodemographic characteristics, health behaviors, and psychosocial factors of 327 rural Appalachian adults to identify associations with insufficient sleep duration, insomnia, and obstructive sleep apnea risk.
Author(s): Mairead E. Moloney, Emily Slade, Joon Chung
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(4)
Date: 04/2026
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Rural-Urban Variation in Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Access among Commercially Insured Children and Adolescents
Details a study on the geographic factors that affect access to treatment for youth and adolescents, aged 0-17, with an opioid use disorder (OUD) and covered by commercial insurance in 2019. Discusses the effects of rurality, provider type, travel burden, and residing in a county without a clinician with a DEA waiver, among other measures.
Author(s): C. Holly A. Andrilla, Lisa A. Garberson, Sara C. Woolcock, Janessa M. Graves
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Details a study on the geographic factors that affect access to treatment for youth and adolescents, aged 0-17, with an opioid use disorder (OUD) and covered by commercial insurance in 2019. Discusses the effects of rurality, provider type, travel burden, and residing in a county without a clinician with a DEA waiver, among other measures.
Author(s): C. Holly A. Andrilla, Lisa A. Garberson, Sara C. Woolcock, Janessa M. Graves
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Exploring Systemic Challenges in the Western North Carolina Dental Safety Net: A Qualitative Analysis
Describes experiences of individuals working within the western North Carolina dental safety net, to identify barriers and strategies required to strengthen delivery of oral health care in high-need rural areas. Based on interviews with 17 oral health stakeholders between June-August 2024.
Author(s): Blaire Mirmow, Bill Milner, Nadia Laniado
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 8(1), 42-59.
Date: 04/2026
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Describes experiences of individuals working within the western North Carolina dental safety net, to identify barriers and strategies required to strengthen delivery of oral health care in high-need rural areas. Based on interviews with 17 oral health stakeholders between June-August 2024.
Author(s): Blaire Mirmow, Bill Milner, Nadia Laniado
Citation: Journal of Appalachian Health, 8(1), 42-59.
Date: 04/2026
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Review of Current Research Describing the Influence of Non-Health Care Drivers of Health in Rural and Urban Populations
Summarizes recent research in social determinants of health and associated health conditions in rural and urban populations. Identifies gaps in the literature relevant to rural health, and highlights findings relevant to rural and urban economic stability, education access and quality, neighborhood and built environment, and other social and community contexts.
Author(s): Katie Youngen, Julia Cecil, Tyrone F. Borders
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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Summarizes recent research in social determinants of health and associated health conditions in rural and urban populations. Identifies gaps in the literature relevant to rural health, and highlights findings relevant to rural and urban economic stability, education access and quality, neighborhood and built environment, and other social and community contexts.
Author(s): Katie Youngen, Julia Cecil, Tyrone F. Borders
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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