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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health Disparities – Resources

Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Health Disparities.

Disparities in Obesity Among Rural and Urban Residents in a Health Disparate Region
Reports on a community-based study to measure and compare the current levels of obesity and associated lifestyle behaviors of physical activity and diets of fruits and vegetables among rural and urban residents in south central Virginia and north central North Carolina.
Author(s): Jennie L Hill, Wen You, Jamie M Zoellner
Citation: BMC Public Health, 2014(14), 1051
Date: 10/2014
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The 2014 Update of the Rural-Urban Chartbook
Updates information presented in Health, United States, 2001: With Urban and Rural Health Chartbook. Highlights current trends and disparities across different levels of metro and nonmetropolitan counties, including population characteristics; health-related behaviors and risk factors; mortality rates; healthcare access and use; mental health measures; and other health measures such as teen birth rates, tooth loss, and activity limitations due to chronic disease. Individual data tables are available in an Excel file.
Author(s): Michael Meit, Alana Knudson, Tess Gilbert, et al.
Date: 10/2014
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Reform Policy Research Center
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Geographic Variation in Potentially Preventable Hospitalizations for Acute and Chronic Conditions, 2005-2011
Examines potentially preventable hospitalizations for adults from 2005 to 2011. Includes data for acute and chronic conditions by location of patient residence for large and small metropolitan, micropolitan, and remote rural areas.
Author(s): Celeste M. Torio , Roxanne M. Andrews
Date: 09/2014
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
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Widening Rural–Urban Disparities in All-Cause Mortality and Mortality from Major Causes of Death in the USA, 1969–2009
Examines U.S. mortality rates between 1969 and 2009 to identify growth or reduction of mortality disparities between rural and urban settings. Addresses the impact or race/ethnicity, gender, and poverty.
Author(s): Gopal K. Singh, Mohammad Siahpush
Citation: Journal of Urban Health, 91(2), 272-292
Date: 04/2014
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Urban-Rural Differences in Coronary Heart Disease Mortality in the United States: 1999-2009
Describes the trends and magnitude of variations in death rates, with statistical breakdowns by age group, sex, race, geographical region, urbanization level, and year. Examines possible contributing factors for the disparities, including physical activity levels, access to healthcare, socioeconomic status, and education level.
Author(s): Ambar Kulshreshtha, Abhinav Goyal, Kaustubh Dabhadkar, Emir Veledar, Viola Vaccarino
Citation: Public Health Reports, 129(1), 19-29
Date: 01/2014
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Ancel Keys Lecture: Adventures (and Misadventures) in Understanding (and Reducing) Disparities in Stroke Mortality
Discusses the racial and geographic disparities in stroke mortality in the U.S. with a goal of determining which intervention methods will best reduce disparities.
Author(s): George Howard
Citation: Stroke, 44(11), 3254-3259
Date: 11/2013
Sponsoring organization: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
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Rural Residence and Cancer Outcomes in the US: Issues and Challenges
Analyzes the current literature regarding outcomes of cancer patients who live in rural locations. Discusses several methods of defining rural.
Author(s): Ashley Meilleur, S.V. Subramanian, Jesse J. Plascak, et al.
Citation: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 22(10), 1657-1667
Date: 10/2013
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Rural-Urban Disparities in Quality of Life among Patients with COPD
Compares the health status of rural and urban patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and identifies the factors associated with differences in two different locations.
Author(s): Bradford E. Jackson, David B. Coultas, Sumihiro Suzuki, Karan P. Singh, Sejong Bae
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 29(1), 62-69
Date: 08/2013
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All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality Among US Youth: Socioeconomic and Rural-Urban Disparities and International Patterns
Analyzes the socioeconomic and rural-urban disparities in all-cause mortality and mortality from leading causes of death, including homicide, suicide, unintentional injuries, and HIV/AIDS, among U.S. youth aged 15–24.
Author(s): Gopal K. Singh, Romuladus E. Azuine, Mohammad Siahpush, Michael D. Kogan
Citation: Journal of Urban Health, 90(3), 388-405
Date: 06/2013
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Rural Women's Health
Provides information and statistics on the state of women's health in rural America and how legislation and national trends can affect women's health.
Author(s): Kevin J. Bennett, John E. Lopes Jr., Kathleen Spencer, Saskia van Hecke
Date: 01/2013
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Last Updated: 3/21/2025