Poverty

Current Projects

• "Older, Sicker, Poorer": A Scoping Review of the Literature That Contributes to This Narrative on Rural Americans
  The investigators will conduct a scoping review of peer-reviewed literature to explore the contributive evidence that rural Americans are older, sicker, and poorer. The project will provide historical and context-setting perspectives on the factors that have led to this description and the extent to which it still holds true. The project will also identify literature gaps to inform future research.
  Research center: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
  Topics: Aging, Poverty, Rural statistics and demographics
  
• Environmental Influences on Child Health: A Snapshot of Children's Health in the United States
  The environment in which a child grows up strongly influences their health in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Using data for 2022 and 2023 from five national data sets, this project will provide a comprehensive update on rural-urban differences in child health in the United States.
  Research center: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
  Topics: Children and adolescents, Chronic diseases and conditions, Healthcare access, Obesity, Oral health, Poverty, Public health, Social determinants of health
  
• Examining the Costs Associated With Dental Restorative Services in the Absence of Preventive Services Among Pediatric Medicaid Beneficiaries by Rurality
  This project will examine the costs associated with pediatric dental restorative services in the absence of preventive services. This study focuses on children with Medicaid who have historically been less likely to receive preventive dental care with subsequent impacts on pain, infections, and overall development.
  Research center: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
  Topics: Children and adolescents, Health promotion and disease prevention, Medicaid and CHIP, Oral health, Poverty, Public health, Social determinants of health
  
• Geographic and Socio-Demographic Correlates of Medical Debt Among Rural Residents
  Medical debt is widespread and impacts financial well-being and access to care. While research suggests that medical debt is higher among rural residents compared to urban residents, more work is needed to conclusively demonstrate rural/urban differences in medical debt and within-rural risk factors for greater medical debt by geography and socio-demographic characteristics.
  Research center: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
  Topics: Healthcare access, Poverty, Public health, Rural statistics and demographics, Social determinants of health
  
• Identifying High-Need Counties for Resource Planning
  The primary aim of this project is to use data examining health care infrastructure, chronic disease prevalence, and the socioeconomic environment to create a metric for classifying rural counties based on needs and resources.
  Research center: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
  Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Diabetes, Healthcare access, Maternal health, Obesity, Oral health, Physicians, Poverty, Public health, Rural statistics and demographics, Social determinants of health, Uninsured and underinsured, Workforce
  
• Review of Current Research on Rural/Urban Differences in Social Drivers of Health
  Social drivers of health are social, economic, and community variables that influence health outcomes. This project will synthesize the extant literature on rural/urban differences in the social drivers of health, culminating in a comprehensive report that includes a summary of information gaps and further research needs.
  Research center: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
  Topics: Healthcare access, Poverty, Quality, Social determinants of health, Uninsured and underinsured
  
• Rural Poverty and Health: A Chartbook
  This chartbook will use nationally representative surveys and county-level data to provide a comprehensive overview of the health and well-being of rural Americans living in poverty.
  Research center: Maine Rural Health Research Center
  Topics: Health services, Healthcare access, Poverty, Rural statistics and demographics
  
• Rural-Urban Differences in Food-Store Access and Food Security
  This study will inform rural community members and policy makers about access to food supply and food security that can help guide the development and implementation of relevant interventions.
  Research center: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
  Topics: Health promotion and disease prevention, Poverty, Public health, Social determinants of health, Transportation