Rural Health Research Gateway

Rural statistics and demographics

Publications

Alphabetical list. You can also view by publication date.

  • Assisted Living In Rural America: Results from a National Survey
    Date: 08 / 2003
    Author(s): Catherine Hawes, Charles D. Phillips, Scott Holan, Michael Sherman
    Research center: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
    Topics: Long term care, Rural statistics and demographics
    Provides descriptive information on the assisted living industry in metropolitan and rural areas. Results indicate that assisted living was largely a private-pay form of long-term care and was more common in metropolitan than rural areas. Findings suggest that assisted living, as currently structured, will make only a marginal contribution to meeting the needs of frail elders living in rural areas.
  • Changing Rural Populations and Impact on Public Policy
    Date: 10 / 2002
    Author(s): Keith Mueller, Michael D. Shambaugh-Miller
    Research center: Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
    Topics: Health policy, Rural statistics and demographics
    Population movement in rural areas and health policy issues
  • Chartbook: Dental Health and Access to Care among Rural Children: A National and State Portrait (Full Report)
    Date: 03 / 2008
    Author(s): Amy Brock Martin, Eric Wang, Janice Probst, Nathan Hale, and Andrew Johnson
    Research center: South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
    Topics: Children, Dental health, Health disparities, Rural statistics and demographics
    Although children's dental health in the U.S. has improved over recent decades, a subset of children continues to suffer dental disease severe enough to constitute a public health problem. This Chartbook examines dental health status, use of preventive services, and dental insurance among rural and urban children. The Chartbook provides information specific to rural children, and in particular rural minority children, not available in similar detail from other sources. This information can be used at the state level for program planning and assessment.
  • Community-Level Risk Factors for Depression Hospitalizations
    Date: 09 / 2005
    Author(s): John Fortney, Gerard Rushton, Scott Wood, Lixun Zhang, Kathryn Rost
    Research center: WICHE Center for Rural Mental Health Research
    Topics: Mental health, Rural statistics and demographics
    Report Number: Working Paper
    Examines the association between depression hospitalization rates and community-level socio-demographic, economic, and health care system characteristics.
  • Community-Level Risk Factors for Depression Hospitalizations (Fact Sheet)
    Date: 09 / 2005
    Author(s): John Fortney, Gerard Rushton, Scott Wood, Lixun Zhang, Stan Xu, Fran Dong, Kathryn Rost
    Research center: WICHE Center for Rural Mental Health Research
    Topics: Mental health, Rural statistics and demographics
    Overview of findings from a study to identify community-level risk factors for depression hospitalizations and geographic areas with elevated hospitalization rates.
  • Differences Between Newly Admitted Nursing Home Residents in Rural and Nonrural Areas in a National Sample
    Date: 2006
    Author(s): Jane Nelson Bolin, Charles D Phillips, Catherine Hawes
    Research center: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
    Topics: Long term care, Rural statistics and demographics
    Citation: Gerontologist, 46(1), 33-41
    This research investigates whether differences in acuity are a function of differences in resident payer status and occur for both individuals admitted for short stays, with Medicare as payer, and those needing chronic care. Results of the analyses indicated that non-Medicare residents admitted to rural nursing facilities have lower acuity scores than non-Medicare residents admitted to metropolitan nursing homes. Individuals admitted under Medicare were similar in rural and urban areas.
  • Distribution of Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities Across the Rural – Urban Continuum
    Date: 10 / 2007
    Author(s): Jennifer D. Lenardson, John A. Gale
    Research center: Maine Rural Health Research Center
    Topics: Health disparities, Health services, Rural statistics and demographics, Substance abuse
    Report Number: Working Paper No. 35
    Considering recent growth in substance abuse among rural populations and the documented scarcity of rural health resources, this study examines the distribution of substance abuse treatment services across the continuum of rural and urban counties, identifying the type and intensity of services provided. Using the 2004 National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services linked to the 2003 Rural-Urban Continuum Codes, we found few substance abuse treatment facilities operating outside of urban and rural adjacent areas and limited availability of intensive services across rural areas. This situation is particularly striking for opioid treatment programs, which are nearly absent in rural areas. The narrow range of services available in rural areas may preclude an individualized treatment approach and long-term follow-up recommended by professional organizations and other experts. The greater proportion of rural-based facilities accepting public payers and providing discounted care may reflect higher rates of uninsurance and underinsurance.
  • Distribution of Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities Across the Rural – Urban Continuum (Research & Policy Brief No. 35B)
    Date: 02 / 2008
    Author(s): Jennifer D. Lenardson, John A. Gale
    Research center: Maine Rural Health Research Center
    Topics: Health disparities, Health services, Rural statistics and demographics, Substance abuse
    This Research & Policy Brief highlights findings from a recent study examining the distribution of substance abuse treatment facilities in rural and urban counties and identifying the type and intensity of services provided. Key findings include:
    • Access to substance abuse treatment is limited in rural areas by fewer treatment beds.
    • Less populated rural areas contain a small proportion of facilities offering a range of core services and varying levels of outpatient and intensive services.
    • Opiod treatment programs are nearly absent in rural areas.
  • Effects of Uninsurance during the Preceding 10 Years on Health Status among Rural Working Age Adults
    Date: 09 / 2005
    Author(s): Janice C. Probst, Charity G. Moore, M. Paige Powell, William Pearson, Amy Brock Martin
    Research center: South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
    Topics: Health insurance and the uninsured, Rural statistics and demographics
    In a population just reaching age 40, continuous health insurance coverage across the preceding 8 to 10 years was not associated with better self-perceived health than interrupted coverage. However, continuous insurance coverage was significantly related to better mental health, with the effect persisting in multivariable analysis controlling for residence, race, and demographic characteristics. Rural residents reaching age 40 in 1998 or 2000 were less likely to have been continuously insured between 1989-2000 than were their urban peers.
  • Influence of Rural Residence on the Use of Preventative Health Care Services
    Date: 11 / 2000
    Author(s): Michelle M. Casey, Kathleen Thiede Call, Jill Klingner
    Research center: Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
    Topics: Health promotion and disease prevention, Rural statistics and demographics
    Report Number: Working Paper No. 34
    Study of the utilization of specific preventive health care services by rural women and men, and to assess the impact of rural residence, the availability of health care providers and technology, demographic factors, and health insurance status on the likelihood of obtaining the following preventive health care services: blood pressure screening, cholesterol screening, colon cancer screening, Pap smears, mammograms, flu shots, and pneumonia vaccinations.
  • Metropolitan, Urban and Rural Commuting Areas: Toward a Better Depiction of the U.S. Settlement System
    Date: 1999
    Author(s): Richard Morrill, John Cromartie,L Gary Hart
    Research center: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
    Topic: Rural statistics and demographics
    Citation: Urban Geography, 20(8), 727-748
    Discontent with the current definition of metropolitan areas and the lack of differentiation within nonmetropolitan territory provided the incentive for the research presented here. Census tracts rather than counties were used as the building blocks for assignment of tracts, not just to metropolitan areas, but also to larger towns (10,000 to 49,999) and to smaller urban places (2,500 to 9,999). The analysis used 1990 census-defined urbanized areas and tract-to-tract commuter flows. Results include a modest shift of population from metropolitan to nonmetropolitan, as well as a significant reduction in the areal size of metropolitan areas, disaggregation of many areas, and frequent reconfiguration to a more realistic settlement form.
  • Minorities in Rural America: An Overview of Population Characteristics
    Date: 01 / 2002
    Author(s): Janice C. Probst, Michael E. Samuels, Kristen P. Jespersen, Karin Willert, R. Suzanne Swann, Joshua A. McDuffie
    Research center: South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
    Topics: Minority health, Rural statistics and demographics
    Presents an overview of demographic and economic statistics pertaining to rural minority populations and addresses the following questions: Where do rural minorities live? How is the rural minority population distributed across ages and sexes? What is the economic structure of rural, minority communities? What health resources are available in rural, minority communities? Findings pertaining to each minority group are presented in separate chapters. Based on the findings, the authors make several recommendations regarding issues ranging from program participation to infrastructure to research.
  • Minorities in Rural America: Appendix A Description of Method and Supporting Tables Tables Ordered by Chapter
    Date: 2002
    Author(s): Janice C. Probst, Michael E. Samuels, Kristen P. Jespersen, Karin Willert, R. Suzanne Swann, Joshua A. McDuffie
    Research center: South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
    Topics: Minority health, Rural statistics and demographics
    Appendix of a report that gives an overview of demographic and economic statistics pertaining to rural minority populations.
  • Minorities in Rural America: Appendix B Map Supplement
    Date: 2002
    Author(s): Janice C. Probst, Michael E. Samuels, Kristen P. Jespersen, Karin Willert, R. Suzanne Swann, Joshua A. McDuffie
    Research center: South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
    Topics: Minority health, Rural statistics and demographics
    Appendix to report on overview of demographic and economic statistics pertaining to rural minority populations. Maps.
  • Minorities in Rural America: Appendix C Economic Patterns in Non-Metro America
    Date: 2002
    Author(s): Janice C. Probst, Michael E. Samuels, Kristen P. Jespersen, Karin Willert, R. Suzanne Swann, Joshua A. McDuffie
    Research center: South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
    Topics: Minority health, Rural statistics and demographics
    Appendix to report on an overview of demographic and economic statistics pertaining to rural minority populations. Focuses on economic status and health services infrastructure.
  • Nursing Homes In Rural And Urban Areas, 2001
    Date: 06 / 2004
    Author(s): Charles D. Phillips, Catherine Hawes, Malgorzata Leyk Williams
    Research center: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
    Topics: Long term care, Quality, Rural statistics and demographics
    Chart book providing descriptive data on the entire population of longer-stay nursing home residents in the country in calendar year 2001 and categorizing them according to the rurality of the nursing home in which they receive care in an effort to address questions related to residents' characteristics and quality of care.
  • Obesity Prevalence In Rural Counties: A National Study
    Date: 01 / 2004
    Author(s): J. Elizabeth Jackson, Mark P. Doescher, Anthony F. Jerant, L. Gary Hart
    Research center: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
    Topics: Health promotion and disease prevention, Obesity, Rural statistics and demographics
    Report Number: Working Paper No. 87
    Using a random-digit telephone survey of adults aged 18 and older residing in states participating in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System in 1994-96 and 2000-2001, researchers found that the prevalence of obesity was 23 percent for rural adults and 20.5 percent for urban adults. This finding represents increases of 4.8 percent and 5.5 percent, respectively. The highest obesity prevalence occurred in rural counties of Mississippi, Texas, and Louisiana. Only Rhode Island and Colorado had rural counties that met the Healthy People 2010 goal of a maximum of 15 percent obese for adults. Report available on request.
  • Out-Of-Pocket Health Spending And The Rural Underinsured
    Date: 2006
    Author(s): Erika C. Ziller, Andrew F. Coburn, Anush E. Yousefian
    Research center: Maine Rural Health Research Center
    Topics: Health insurance and the uninsured, Rural statistics and demographics
    Citation: Health Affairs, 25(6), 1688-1699
    Estimates underinsurance rates among privately insured rural residents and the characteristics associated with rural underinsurance.
  • Perinatal and Infant Health Among Rural and Urban American Indians/Alaska Natives
    Date: 09 / 2002
    Author(s): Laura-Mae Baldwin, David C. Grossman, Susan Casey, Walter Hollow, Jonathan R. Sugarman, William L. Freeman, L. Gary Hart
    Research center: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
    Topics: American Indians and Alaska Natives, Children, Maternal and child health, Rural statistics and demographics
    Citation: American Journal of Public Health, 92(9), 1491-1497
    Provides a national profile of rural and urban American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) maternal and infant health.
  • Rural Issues Related to Comparative Effectiveness Research and Dissemination (Policy Brief)
    Date: 06 / 2009
    Author(s): Ira Moscovice, Michelle Casey
    Research center: Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center
    Topics: Health policy, Rural statistics and demographics
    Comparative effectiveness research, which compares the costs and benefits of different treatments for specific diseases or conditions, has the potential to improve the quality and reduce the costs of health care. This brief describes strategies for expanding clinical research in rural environments; implementing practice guidelines in rural settings; and improving access to current evidence-based information for rural health professionals and patients.
  • Rural Minority Children (Fact Sheet)
    Date: 2003
    Research center: South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
    Topics: Children, Health insurance and the uninsured, Minority health, Rural statistics and demographics
    Fact sheet providing data on rural minority children's health insurance coverage, health care use, poverty and education.
  • Rural Minority Elders (Fact Sheet)
    Date: 2003
    Research center: South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
    Topics: Aging, Health insurance and the uninsured, Minority health, Rural statistics and demographics
    Fact sheet providing data on health status, health insurance coverage, education and income of rural elders.
  • Rural Minority Working Age Adults (Fact Sheet)
    Date: 2003
    Research center: South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
    Topics: African Americans, Health insurance and the uninsured, Hispanics, Minority health, Rural statistics and demographics
    Holding demographic considerations equal, rural residents are less likely to report having health insurance than urban residents. African Americans, Hispanics and persons of other race are all less likely to be insured than whites. The factors placing rural minorities at risk for lacking insurance include low income and low education.
  • Rural Populations and Health Care Providers: A Map Book
    Date: 09 / 2002
    Author(s): Randy Randolph, Katherine Gaul, Rebecca Slifkin
    Research center: North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
    Topics: Rural statistics and demographics, Workforce
    Uses 2000 Census data to reassess and provide a visual picture of where rural people live, how the racial and ethnic nature of rural populations is changing, and whether the distribution of health care providers matches the population distribution.
  • State Profiles of Medicaid and SCHIP in Rural and Urban Areas
    Date: 08 / 2007
    Author(s): Jennifer King, Leslie Geiger, Pam Silberman, Rebecca Slifkin
    Research center: North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
    Topics: Medicaid and S-CHIP, Rural statistics and demographics
    Report Number: Final Report No. 91
    This final report is one component of a larger project that includes the development of web-based State Profiles of Medicaid and SCHIP in Rural and Urban Areas. The report provides national data comparing Medicaid enrollment and expenditures in rural and urban counties. A summary of these and other data found in the State Profiles is included.
  • State Updates on Medicare Advantage Enrollment
    Date: 12 / 2007
    Research center: Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
    Topics: Medicare Advantage (MA), Rural statistics and demographics
    Contains reports for each state with the number of persons enrolled in Medicare Advantage and prepaid plans in December 2005 and September 2007 in rural and urban areas.
  • Status and Future of Health Care Delivery in Rural Wyoming
    Date: 06 / 2007
    Research center: Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
    Topics: Health services, Rural statistics and demographics, Workforce
    Provides findings from an analysis of health care service delivery in rural Wyoming. Includes an overview of Wyoming's population and the health care service delivery system. Covers workforce recruitment and retention, the economic impact of the health care system, and other topics.
  • Utilization of Home Health Services Among Rural Medicare Beneficiaries Before and After the PPS
    Date: 08 / 2005
    Author(s): Janet P. Sutton
    Research center: Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
    Topics: Home health, Medicare Prospective Payment System (PPS), Rural statistics and demographics
    Describes a study conducted to gather information on the rural effects of the PPS, including whether the PPS contributed to changes in: (1) the demographic and clinical characteristics of home care users; (2) the likelihood of using each of six home care disciplines (aide, skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and medical social work); and (3) the intensity of services. A total of 99,367 home health episodes were represented in the two years of Medicare data examined. In both study years, urban residents accounted for three-quarters of episodes, while residents of large rural counties and those of remote rural counties accounted for approximately 21 percent and 3 percent of episodes, respectively. Findings suggest that the PPS has had a mixed effect on access to home care in rural counties. Study results indicated an association between implementation of the PPS and admitting home health diagnoses, utilization and intensity of home care episodes and, for the subset of home health users admitted from an acute hospital, readmission rates.

This web site includes content provided by and adapted from the Maine Rural Health Research Center, University of Southern Maine under a Cooperative Agreement with the University of North Dakota.