The Prevention Research Center for Rural Health (PRC-RH) has successfully renewed its grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to continue efforts to address health disparities and improve well-being in Midwestern rural communities. The PRC-RH will receive $1 million per year for the next five years.

Based at the University of Iowa College of Public Health, the PRC-RH focuses on the social, structural, and environmental factors affecting health in rural areas. Despite rural regions covering 97% of U.S. land and housing 19% of the population, they face severe health challenges and inadequate funding. While rural communities are centers of culture, innovation, and beauty, rural residents unfortunately also experience higher rates of the top ten causes of death, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.

“For 22 years, PRC-RH has conducted community-centered prevention research in Iowa’s micropolitan and rural areas, addressing drivers of chronic disease in populations that are underserved,” says Rima Afifi, PRC-RH director and professor of community and behavioral health. “We are thrilled to continue this strong record of impact in Iowa communities.”

A major focus of PRC-RH in this funding cycle is improving health outcomes for LGBTQIA+ individuals, who face higher risks of cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cardiovascular issues. Rural LGBTQIA+ populations are particularly at risk due to stigma and discrimination, which can increase tobacco use.

The PRC-RH’s new core research project involves collaboration with state and community partners to identify effective strategies for increasing Tobacco Quitline usage among LGBTQIA+ young adults. Mark Vander Weg, professor and head of the Department of Community and Behavioral Health, and Aaron Seaman, assistant professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at the UI Carver College of Medicine, will co-lead the project.

Vander Weg notes that despite overall declines in cigarette smoking, LGBTQIA+ young adults still face significant tobacco-related health issues. “Effective treatments are available, but accessible and supportive care for the LGBTQIA+ community is often lacking,” he says. “We’re excited to work with LGBTQIA+ young adults and Quitline Iowa to develop tailored tobacco cessation services and reduce health disparities in Iowa’s rural communities.”

Seaman adds, “The CDC’s support is a tremendous opportunity to partner with LGBTQIA+ and rural communities to increase access to tobacco cessation resources. This prevention work is crucial for reducing the incidence of cancers like oral cavity/oropharyngeal and lung cancer, which are notably high in Iowa.”

According to Seaman, the team is looking forward to these collaborations that will amplify the change-making power these communities have and the important work they are already doing. “For this project, we look to support the strength, self-advocacy, and creativity of Iowa’s LGBTQIA+ young adults and broader communities to address the risks of tobacco use,” he says.

PRC-RH Deputy Director Heidi Haines says additional goals for this funding period include enhancing prevention research through community partnerships, supporting and uplifting public health workforce efforts, providing targeted training, developing strategies for rural Iowa with a focus on health equity, and collaborating with other Prevention Research Centers and organizations to enhance collective health equity efforts.

“Our focus on community engagement and community-based participatory research since 2002 has been key to developing equitable partnerships, which are essential to building lasting change,” Haines says. “I am so honored and excited to continue this work.”