Rural Health Disparities – Resources

Increases in Acute Hepatitis B Virus Infections - Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia, 2006-2013
Reports on increased rates of hepatitis B infections in three Appalachian states, particularly among injection drug users and in non-urban areas.
Author(s): Aaron M. Harris, Kashif Iqbal, Sarah Schillie, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 65(3), 47-50
Date: 01/2016
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Aging Well in the 21st Century: Strategic Directions for Research on Aging
Outlines the priorities of the National Institute on Aging (NIA). Goal F focuses on improving the health status of older adults in diverse populations, including rural older adults.
Date: 2016
Sponsoring organization: National Institute on Aging
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Mortality and Life Expectancy in Rural America: Connecting the Health and Human Service Safety Nets to Improve Health Outcomes over the Life Course
Policy brief describing the driving forces behind rural health disparities in Appalachian Kentucky. Offers nationally relevant recommendations for addressing these challenges. Discusses rural and urban differences in life expectancy and mortality rates, and other significant factors including behavioral health, substance abuse, population health, trauma care, and transportation.
Date: 10/2015
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Unequal Lives: The State of Black Women and Families in the Rural South
Analyzes the health and well-being of low-income Black women in nine rural counties across Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. Identifies barriers to success and economic security, including poverty, low educational attainment, and inadequate access to public infrastructure, healthcare, and more. Includes statistics and demographics for each of the states and counties included in the study.
Date: 07/2015
Sponsoring organization: Southern Rural Black Women's Initiative
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Disparities in Colorectal Cancer Treatment Delay Within Appalachia – The Role of For-Profit Hospitals
Discusses the timeliness of colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment in rural hospitals of the Appalachian regions of Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina. Study uses data from the 2006-2008 Central Cancer Registry (CCR) as well as Medicare claims to identify delays between diagnosis and treatment in healthcare facilities with various funding models.
Author(s): Eric E. Seiber, Fabian Camacho, Muhammad Fazal Zeeshan, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 31(4), 382-391
Date: 05/2015
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The Health and Well-Being of Children in Rural Areas: A Portrait of the Nation 2011–2012
Describes data from the National Survey of Children's Health demonstrating the health and well-being of children, as well as the family environment and the characteristics of the community that affect rural children and their families.
Date: 04/2015
Sponsoring organization: Maternal and Child Health Bureau
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Reducing Cancer Screening Disparities in Medicare Beneficiaries Through Cancer Patient Navigation
Features a study of an intervention to counter the cancer screening disparities of Native Hawaiian, Asian, and Pacific Islander Medicare beneficiaries in rural Hawaii. Breaks down data by race, age, and comorbidity, among other factors.
Author(s): Kathryn L. Braun, William L. Thomas Jr, Jermy‐Leigh B. Domingo, et al.
Citation: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 63(2), 365-370
Date: 02/2015
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QuickStats: Percentage of Adults Aged ≥45 Years with Selected Diagnosed Chronic Conditions, by Number of Conditions and Urban/Rural Classification - National Health Interview Survey, 2013
Chart showing the percentage of adults 45 and older with zero, one, or two or more chronic conditions, for rural areas, urban areas, and the U.S. overall.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 63(53), 1247
Date: 01/2015
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New England Regional Health Equity Profile & Call to Action
Report of the New England Regional Health Equity Council, identifying disparities in health among racial, ethnic, and disability populations and suggesting pathways for health equity. Includes statistics broken down by race/ethnicity, disability status, gender, age, and urban/rural status.
Author(s): C.E. Drum, K.G. Phillips, K. Chiu
Date: 2015
Sponsoring organizations: National Partnership for Action to End Health Disparities, New England Regional Health Equity Council
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The Role of Medicare and the Indian Health Service for American Indians and Alaska Natives: Health, Access and Coverage
Examines the health, healthcare access, income, and education disparities that exist within the Native American and Alaskan Native population, as well as the roles of Medicare and the Indian Health Service (IHS) in addressing these disparities.
Author(s): Cristina Boccuti, Christina Swoope, Samantha Artiga
Date: 12/2014
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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