The PRC-RH works to incorporate the complexity and strength of rural areas in all our work.
Team members:
- UIowa: PRC-RH Center and Core Project faculty and staff, Rima Afifi, Heidi Haines
- Partners:
- Publication: CDC Prevention Research Program and Office of Rural Health, University of Iowa College of Public Health, and West Virginia University (former PRC 2029-2024)
- Podcast: Midwestern Public Health Training Center, UI Injury Prevention Research Center, Iowa’s Center for Agricultural Safety and Health, Environmental Health Sciences Research Center, Healthier Workforce Center of the Midwest, Heartland Center for Occupational Health & Safety, Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health, Rural Policy Research Institute
Project dates: 2021-current
Funding sources: UI PRC-RH
Project tags: Rural, Micropolitan, Health equity
Details
Description
Addressing public health needs in rural areas requires a shift away from stereotypes associated with rural people and places to a focus on the complexity and strength of rural communities. We work to incorporate and develop this perspective in work across the PRC-RH. For example, we worked with other researchers and community partners to create a podcast that highlights the realities of rural life. We also published a paper that explains this paradigm shift and how to conduct participatory community research to promote partnerships and improve health in rural communities.
Resources, Media, & Publications
Resources:
Rural Health Podcast In this podcast, hear from people in various communities about their experiences and perspectives on rural life, employment, and health.
Publications:
- Afifi RA, Parker EA, Dino G, Hall DM, Ulin B. Reimagining Rural: Shifting Paradigms about Health and Well-Being in Rural USA. Annu Rev Public Health. 2021 Dec 15. Doi: 10.1146/annurev-publhealth-052020-123413PMID 34910581.
This publication is also featured on The Rural Health Information "What is Rural Health? Guide"
- Novak NL, Baquero B, Askelson N, Diers, L, Dunn B, Haines H, Afifi R, Parker EA. (2020). Health equity in midsize rural communities: challenges and opportunities in a changing rural America. Editorial. American Journal of Public Health; 110(9):1342-1343. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2020.305824.
- Gilbert PA, Laroche HH, Wallace RB, Parker EA, Curry SJ. Extending Work on Rural Health Disparities: A Commentary on Matthews and Colleagues' Report. J Rural Health. 2018 Mar;34(2):119-121. doi: 10.1111/jrh.12241. Epub 2017 Apr 11. PMID: 28397970.
Presentations:
- Afifi, R. (2022) NIH Rural Health Seminar-Improving Rural Health through Research Dissemination and Implementation. NIH Rural Health Seminar 2022. Nov. 17, 2022 (Panelist)
- Afifi, R. (2022) Reimagining Rural: Shifting Paradigms about Health & Well-Being in the Rural Wisconsin. Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin annual conference. Wisconsin Dells, WI. Aug, 2022
Invited panelist: Jim Kim (keynote), panelists: Rima Afifi, Alma Brunson, Ben Pohl. Community Conversation about Mental Health, Muscatine Iowa. Muscatine, Iowa. Oct. 10, 2024. https://muscatine.com/events/community-conversation-about-mental-health/
Panel Presentation: House D (Chair), Ulin B, Akintobi T, Hoffman L, Nagel J, Afifi R. How do Funders, Researchers, and Community Partners Share in Decision-making to Increase the Relevance, Rigor, and Reach of Prevention Research? Society for Prevention Research Annual Meeting. Washington DC. May 28-31, 2024.
Schafer C, Anthony J, Afifi R. Attainable housing: An effective yet under-addressed upstream health intervention. Oral presentation at the Public Health Conference of Iowa. March 26-27, 2024, Des Moines, Iowa. (all presenting)