Rural Health Disparities – Resources

Rural-Urban Differences in Cancer Incidence and Trends in the United States
Examines the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries' public use dataset to compare rural and urban population-based cancer incidence rates from 2009-2013 and trends from 1995-2013. Explores factors associated with rural cancer disparities, including demographic, geographic, and socioeconomic characteristics as well as exposure to carcinogens, like tobacco and HPV.
Author(s): Whitney E. Zahnd, Aimee S. James, Wiley D. Jenkins, et al.
Citation: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 27(11), 1265-1274
Date: 11/2018
Type: Document
view details

Suicide Mortality in the United States, 1999-2017
Reports on trends in suicide mortality from 1999 through 2017. Includes data by urbanization level of the decedent's county of residence, with information for metropolitan, micropolitan, and noncore counties.
Author(s): Holly Hedegaard, Sally C. Curtin, Margaret Warner
Date: 11/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
view details

Update: Rural/Urban Disparities in Pneumococcal Vaccine Service Delivery Among the Fee-for-Service Medicare Population, 2012-2015
Updated report on a study to identify disparities in vaccine provision to people ages 65 and over, and to assess the impact of pharmacies as alternate site providers in rural areas. Revised version specifically assesses the uptake of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, in response to the revised vaccination recommendations issued in 2014. Includes statistics on pneumococcal vaccine services provided by fee-for-service pharmacies and primary care providers, with breakdowns by rural and urban frequency, and state-level maps with rate of service delivery per eligible population, using 2014 and 2015 data.
Author(s): Joseph C. Vanghelof, Aric Schadler, Patricia R. Freeman, Jeffery C. Talbert
Date: 11/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
view details

Urban-Rural Differences in Aerobic Physical Activity, Muscle Strengthening Exercise, and Screen-time Sedentary Behavior
Highlights a study of physical activity (PA) among rural and urban residents. Compares rates of aerobic PA, muscle strengthening PA, and sedentary behavior in rural and urban areas.
Author(s): Michael C. Robertson, Jaejoon Song, Wendell C. Taylor, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 34(4), 401-410
Date: 09/2018
Type: Document
view details

A Portfolio Analysis of Culturally Tailored Trials to Address Health and Healthcare Disparities
Examines the cultural tailoring strategies used in behavioral health trials among racial and ethnic minorities, rural populations, people with low socioeconomic status, individuals with disabilities, people with low health literacy, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities to improve quality of healthcare and reduce health disparities.
Author(s): Marisa Torres-Ruiz, Kaitlynn Robinson-Ector, Dionna Attinson, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(9), 1859
Date: 09/2018
Type: Document
view details

The Rise of the Current Mortality Pattern of the United States, 1890–1930
Uses nationwide data to examine patterns and rural/urban differences in mortality from 1890-1930, with a focus on the 1918 influenza pandemic and the shift in leading causes of death from infectious disease to degenerative disease. Includes death rates per 100,000 people, with data broken down by rurality and disease type, including infectious disease, influenza, influenza and pneumonia, and degenerative disease.
Author(s): Hiroshi Maeda
Citation: American Journal of Epidemiology, 187(4), 639-646
Date: 04/2018
Type: Document
view details

Achieving Rural Health Equity and Well-Being: Proceedings of a Workshop
Proceedings of a workshop designed to explore impacts of economic issues, immigration, and racial inequities in healthcare in rural communities and to learn about asset-based approaches to addressing these challenges. Features statistics including average life expectancy at birth from 1969-2009 with breakdowns by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, U.S. maps showing levels of poverty and employment, and a chart showing numbers of rural hospital closures from 2005-2017.
Additional links: Read Online
Date: 03/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Health and Medicine Division (HMD), National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
view details

Urban-Rural County and State Differences in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease — United States, 2015
Examines rural-urban chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) disparities. Compares age-adjusted COPD prevalence, Medicare hospitalizations for COPD, and mortality for rural, micropolitan, and metropolitan residents. Also includes state-level data on the percentage rural residents and age-adjusted estimates of selected COPD measures.
Author(s): Janet B. Croft, Anne G. Wheaton, Yong Liu, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 67(7), 205-211
Date: 02/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
view details

Differences Between Rural and Urban Areas in Mortality Rates for the Leading Causes of Infant Death: United States, 2013–2015
Examines mortality rates for the five leading causes of infant, neonatal, and postneonatal death for rural, small and medium urban, and large urban counties, based on location of the mother's residence. Causes examined are congenital malformations, low birthweight, sudden infant death syndrome, maternal complications, and unintentional injuries.
Additional links: Questions for the Author, NCHStats blog
Author(s): Danielle M. Ely, Donna L. Hoyert
Date: 02/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
view details

Exploring Strategies to Improve Health and Equity in Rural Communities
Identifies the strengths and assets of rural communities, key partners, change agents, and opportunities to leverage assets to improve rural health and equity through a national forum of over 400 national and regional cross-sector stakeholders. Findings were organized into 4 categories: individual assets, organizational assets, community assets, and cultural assets. Includes discussion on challenges and opportunities for action for each asset category.
Additional links: Leveraging Culture and History to Improve Health and Equity in Rural Communities, Recommendations for Philanthropies and Government Agencies to Improve Health and Equity in Rural Communities, Supporting Change Agents Across Sectors to Improve Health and Equity in Rural Communities
Author(s): Michael Meit
Date: 02/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
view details