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Rural Health Disparities – Resources

Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Health Disparities.

Minority Health and Health Disparities Strategic Plan 2021–2025
Planning document presenting goals to address health disparities through scientific research, activities that sustain research, and outreach efforts. Describes health disparity populations, including racial and ethnic minority, rural, less privileged socioeconomic status (SES), and sexual and gender minorities (SGM) populations. Outlines plans to implement research projects and activities, and discusses Leap Forward priority areas that will advance research methods in minority health and health disparities.
Date: 03/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), National Institutes of Health
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Rural-Urban Disparities in All-cause Mortality among Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries, 2004–17
Examines the change in all-cause mortality rates among low-income Medicare beneficiaries dually-enrolled Medicaid between 2004 and 2017. Compares rates between rural and urban beneficiaries by age, ethnicity, insurance type, and census region.
Author(s): Emefah Loccoh, Karen E. Joynt Maddox, Jiaman Xu, et al.
Citation: Health Affairs, 40(2), 289-296
Date: 02/2021
Type: Document
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The Intersection of Rural Residence and Minority Race/Ethnicity in Cancer Disparities in the United States
Examines differences in cancer rates and outcomes according to individuals' rural residence and race/ethnicity. Discusses the role racism and social determinants of health play in cancer disparities. Includes cancer incidence and mortality rates by racial/ethnic groups and rural versus urban location.
Author(s): Whitney E. Zahnd, Cathryn Murphy, Marie Knoll, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(4), 1384
Date: 02/2021
Type: Document
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Rural Community Engagement for Health Disparities Research: The Unique Role of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
Explores the potential of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HCBUs) to help reduce health disparities in rural communities of color. Highlights the Research with Care project, a collaboration between the North Carolina Central University and rural Halifax County, N.C. and discusses the expounding health disparities faced by people of color in rural areas, including COVID-19.
Author(s): Lorraine C. Taylor, Charity S. Watkins, Hannah Chesterton, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(1), 64
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
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Caring for Miners During the Coronavirus Disease‐2019 (COVID‐19) Pandemic
Highlights the particular vulnerabilities of miners in the Southwestern U.S. to COVID-19. Discusses preexisting conditions, such as COPD, as well as issues related to access to care.
Author(s): Akshay Sood, Charles Pollard, Kyla Le Suer, Kevin Vlahovich, Jolene Walker
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(1), 165-168
Date: 01/2021
Type: Document
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Healthy People 2020 Progress by Population Group
Provides charts and data tables that represent the final status of progress toward Healthy People 2020 target attainments by population group as part of the Healthy People 2020 Final Review. Breaks down progress in specific topic areas for various groupings, including geographic location, which provides rural and urban comparisons, as well as sex, race/ethnicity, educational attainment, family income, and disability status.
Date: 2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics
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Special Issue: Physical Activity Promotion for Reducing Health Disparities in Rural Communities
Collection of articles examining health disparities and physical activities in rural areas.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Date: 2021
Type: Document
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Advancing Maternal Health Equity and Reducing Maternal Mortality: Proceedings of a Workshop
Reports on a workshop that examined maternal health in the U.S. in order to support communities and healthcare systems in reducing maternal morbidity and mortality. Addresses maternal health inequities facing rural and tribal communities.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice
Date: 2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Health Disparities Report 2021
Report examining health disparity trends based on data from America's Health Rankings reports. Offers reports by state and discusses disparities related to social and economic factors, physical environment, clinical care, behaviors, and health outcomes. Most state reports offer data comparisons by metro and non-metro residence.
Additional links: Executive Brief, State Summaries
Date: 2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: United Health Foundation
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The Future of Nursing 2020-2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity
Series of essays exploring how nurses can work to reduce health disparities and promote equity, while keeping costs at bay, using technology, and maintaining patient- and family-focused care into 2030. Includes sections on social determinants of health and nurses' role in disaster preparedness and public health emergency response. Provides rural references throughout.
Additional links: Read Online
Author(s): Committee on the Future of Nursing 2020-2030
Date: 2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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Last Updated: 6/27/2024