Infant mortality rates in the USA are highest among Black Americans, yet there are considerable differences between regions of the country. Infant mortality among Blacks is highest in the Midwest and lowest in the West and Northeast. To examine the state and county-level factors that might explain these patterns, researcher Ashley Hirai of MCHB collaborated on a study published in PLOS ONE that was led by Veni Kandasamy, a former HRSA fellow now at John Hopkins University.

The study looked at many factors. When taken together, those factors explained one-third of the regional differences. Factors that “protected” Black infants—or in other words, were associated with lower infant mortality—included: being born in a state with higher levels of Black-White marriage rates (proxy for social integration); being born in a state with higher maternal and child health funding per capita; and, being born in a county with higher levels of Black household income.

To learn more, find the full article in PLOS ONE or contact Ashley Hirai.

The opioid epidemic continues to have a devastating impact in rural areas disproportionately affected by a lack of infrastructure to provide treatment for opioid use disorders (OUDs). Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), often the hubs of local systems of care, can play an important role in addressing OUDs. Using a substance use framework developed for the Flex Monitoring Team’s earlier study of CAH substance use strategies, this brief highlights strategies adopted by CAHs to combat opioid use in their communities. It also identifies resources that State Flex Programs can use to support CAHs with this challenging population health issue.

The report may accessed here or on the Flex Monitoring Team website.

The National Association and County & City Health Officials (NACCHO) published their “2019 National Profile of Local Health Departments.” The purpose of the study is to develop a comprehensive and accurate description of local health department infrastructure and practice. The data are used to inform public health policy at the local, state, and federal levels and can support projects to improve local public health practice. Data are also used in universities to educate the future public health workforce about local health departments and by researchers to address questions about public health practice.

Click here to view the report.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health’s Bureau of Family Health (BFH) conducted its Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant (MCHSBG) Five-Year Needs and Capacity Assessment. This assessment helped the BFH and the PA Title V program to evaluate the health status of women and mothers, infants, children, adolescents and children and youth with special health care needs in Pennsylvania, engage stakeholders and service recipients, and identify priorities that will inform Title V-funded work over the next funding cycle from 2021 to 2025. A report describing the planning, implementation, and results of the 2020 Title V Five-Year Needs and Capacity Assessment is now available.

Click here to view the report.

New NOSORH issue brief examines the definitions of population health and health equity for rural stakeholders, and offers examples of successful rural strategies.

In recent years, the terms “population health” and “health equity” have often been used interchangeably by some rural stakeholders. This issue brief aims to examine the differences between the two terms, and offers successful examples of rural population health and health equity activities by State Offices of Rural Health (SORH) and their partners. The brief also offers suggestions on how rural health stakeholders can get started in population health and health equity efforts at the state and local levels.

With support from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, NOSORH developed this issue brief for SORH and other rural health stakeholders as a means of ensuring unified definitions and approaches to population health and health equity by rural stakeholders.

Looking for more?

Check out the Resources by Topic and Position Statements sections of the NOSORH website.

Fiscal Challenges and Anticipated Changes to Kentucky’s Population Health System

Jeffrey Howard, University of Louisville

Perspective on Substance-Abuse Recovery Ecosystem from the Appalachian Regional Commission Federal Co-Chair

Tim Thomas, Appalachian Regional Commission

Appalachian Regional Commission Recovery Ecosystem Background and Overview

Kostas Skordas & Andrew Howard, Appalachian Regional Commission

Research Articles

Geographic Variation in the Structure of Kentucky’s Population Health Systems: An Urban, Rural, and Appalachian Comparison

Rachel Hogg-Graham, Angela Carman, Glen P. Mays, and Pierre Martin Dominique Zephyr

Parental Impact on Child Physical Activity and Sedentary Time in Appalachian North Carolina

Allison V. Farrell, Richard W. Christiana, Rebecca A. Battista, and J. Joy James

Preventive Care and Chronic Disease Management: Comparison of Appalachian and Non-Appalachian Community Health Centers in the United States

Julie P. Marcinek, Alek Sripipatana, and Sue C. Lin

Consumption of Added Sugars by Rural Residents of Southwest Virginia

Maryam Yuhas, Valisa Hedrick, and Jamie Zoellner

Review & Special Articles

Preface: Experiencing Cancer in Appalachian Kentucky

Michele Ellison and Robin C. Vanderpool

Experiencing Cancer in Appalachian Kentucky

Melanie McComsey, David Ahern, Robin C. Vanderpool, Timothy W. Mullett, Ming-Yuan Chih, Meghan Johnson, Michele Ellison, Karen Onyeije, Bradford W. Hesse, and Eliah Aronoff-Spencer

Responding to Appalachian Voices: Steps in Developing Substance-Use Recovery Ecosystems

Bruce Behringer

Listening to Voices in Appalachia: Gathering Wisdom from the Field About Substance-Abuse Recovery Ecosystems

Bruce Behringer

The 2020 edition of the KIDS COUNT® Data Book, released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, shows Pennsylvania ranks 20th for overall child well-being.

The report uses 16 indicators across four domains to rank each state. Pennsylvania now ranks 26^th in the family and community domain, 23^rd in economic well-being, 19^th in health, and 7^th in education.

Learn more about Pennsylvania’s rankings or get additional information on the Data Book here.