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Violence and Abuse in Rural America – Resources

Selected recent or important resources focusing on Violence and Abuse in Rural America.

Rural/Urban Differences in Rates and Predictors of Intimate Partner Violence and Abuse Screening among Pregnant and Postpartum United States Residents
Examines rates, predictors, and screening of perinatal intimate partner violence (IPV) victims after giving birth. Utilizes national data from the 2016-2020 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) to analyze rural versus urban IPV according to demographic variables, comorbidities, screening rates, and more.
Author(s): Katy Backes Kozhimannil, Emily C. Sheffield, Alyssa H. Fritz, et al.
Citation: Health Services Research, 59(2), e14212
Date: 04/2024
Type: Document
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Intimate Partner Violence in Rural Communities: Perspectives from Key Informant Interviews
Policy brief discusses the challenges faces by victims and survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) seeking support services in rural communities. Bases findings on interviews with staff members from IPV victim support and advocacy organizations and highlights areas for organizations to improve support services for rural IPV victims and survivors.
Author(s): Alyssa H. Fritz, Emily C. Sheffield, Phoebe L. Chastain, et al.
Date: 03/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Racial/Ethnic Differences in Experiences of Intimate Partner Violence and Postpartum Abuse Screening Among Rural US Residents who Gave Birth 2016-2020
Describes rates of self-reported intimate partner violence among rural residents before or during pregnancy, and the frequency by which different racial or ethnic groups are not screened for abuse after giving birth. Uses 2016-2020 data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), a population-based surveillance survey. Features statistics with breakdowns by race or ethnicity.
Author(s): Emily C. Sheffield, Alyssa H. Fritz, Katy Backes Kozhimannil
Date: 03/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Firearm Access and Gun Violence Exposure Among American Indian or Alaska Native and Black Adults
Results of a survey of 3,542 American Indian or Alaska Native and Black adults conducted in April and May 2023, to examine distributions of firearm access, firearm storage, firearm carrying, and gun violence exposure. Features statistics with breakdowns by metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas.
Author(s): Michael D. Anestis, Jayna Moceri-Brooks, Devon Ziminski, R. Thurman Barnes, Daniel Semenza
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 7(3), e240073
Date: 03/2024
Type: Document
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Child Maltreatment 2022
Reports on rates of children receiving child protective services, children who died of abuse and neglect, and children who are victims of maltreatment, using data collected from the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS). Offers information on availability and access to child protective services at the state and territory level, including how some counties respond to child abuse and neglect screenings, referrals, and the provision of services. Includes data broken down by race/ethnicity as well as discussions specific to rural and tribal areas.
Date: 01/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Culture is Prevention: A Strength Based, Culturally Grounded Journey Toward Prevention, Intervention, and Healing
Provides an overview on the Administration for Children and Families' (ACF) plan to address the crisis of missing or murdered indigenous people (MMIP). Discusses historical context and the social determinants of health (SDOH) that impact Native American/Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations. Outlines culturally aware practices to support the public health pillars of prevention, intervention, healing, and delivery of ACF programs.
Date: 10/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Children and Families
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Demonstration Grants to Strengthen the Response to Victims of Human Trafficking in Native Communities (VHT-NC) Program: Interim Report
Provides an overview of Victims of Human Trafficking in Native Communities (VHT-NC) projects that aim to provide culturally responsive and trauma informed support to Native American people who have experienced human trafficking. Discusses the evaluation process of VHT-NC projects with a focus on understanding human trafficking within the VHT-NC communities (including rural and tribal); project design, structure, and partnerships; outreach to victims and identification approaches; case management and service delivery; and community training.
Author(s): Elizabeth Tibaduiza, Christina Melander, Rebecca Pfeffer, Ada Melton, Rita Martinez
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Administration for Children and Families, American Indian Development Associates, RTI International
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Homicides Among Infants in the United States, 2017–2020
Report details the rate of infant homicides from 2017-2020. Highlights the factors that correlate with infant homicide such as the age of mother, access to prenatal care, level of education, and rurality, among other factors.
Author(s): Isabelle Horon, Anne K. Driscoll
Citation: National Vital Statistics Reports, 72(9)
Date: 07/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Emergency Department Preparedness to Care for Sexual Assault Survivors: A Nationwide Study
Surveys 315 sexual assault (SA) advocates to determine emergency department staff preparedness and available resources for SA survivors. Discusses rural and urban access to sexual assault nurse examiners and implications for quality of care.
Author(s): Kristen Chalmers, Meredith Hollender, Liam Spurr, et al.
Citation: Western Journal of Emergency Medicine: Integrating Emergency Care with Population Health, 24(3)
Date: 05/2023
Type: Document
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Effect of the Communities That Care Prevention System on Adolescent Handgun Carrying: A Cluster-Randomized Clinical Trial
Analyzes the impact of Communities That Care (CTC), a community-based behavioral health intervention system, in reducing adolescent handgun carrying in rural areas. Examines survey data from 4,407 youth from 2003 to 2011 living in various rural communities and states in grades 5 through 12 and their likelihood to carry handguns.
Author(s): Ali Rowhani-Rahbar, Sabrina Oesterle, Emma L. Gause, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 6(4)
Date: 04/2023
Type: Document
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Additional resources are available related to this guide. See the full list of resources by topic for:


Last Updated: 3/25/2024