Rural Health System Resources
BY RURAL PEOPLE FOR RURAL PEOPLE
Engaging rural communities to incorporate social determinants in developing strategies to improve access to health care in the Missouri Bootheel counties
Authors
Shrestha A, Stamatakis K, Ballard J, Burgess A, Baker E.
Description
The purpose of this study in Missouri in the United States was to engage community members and representatives of different sectors in a participatory strategy development process to identify social and organisational determinants of accessing health care, collectively prioritise identified issues, and develop strategies for change.
Why is this useful for rural and remote people?
Participants in the study identified several individual-, social-, community-, and organisation-level barriers to accessing health care, including cost, lack of transportation, lack of information about services, lack of coordinated care, lack of trust, and racism and classism in local healthcare systems. The study provides rural and remote people with ideas about how the community can use surveys and workshops to build a better understanding of what lack of access to health and social care means for individuals. Both the aggregate data, and individual stories, can be powerful in advocating for greater investment in rural and remote health and communities.
Suggested Citation
http://Shrestha A, Stamatakis K, Ballard J, Burgess A, Baker E. Engaging rural communities to incorporate social determinants in developing strategies to improve access to health care in the Missouri Bootheel counties . Rural and Remote Health 2023; 23: 7678.
at