Access to Transportation and Health Care Utilization in a Rural Region

Abstract

Further research must address the transportation behavior related to health care and the factors that influence this behavior. This information will inform policy alternatives to address geographic barriers to health care in rural communities.

Keeping Them in “STYLE”: Finding, Linking, and Retaining Young HIV-Positive Black and Latino Men Who Have Sex with Men in Care

“…52,53 Patients in this study traveled a substantial distance for their HIV medical care, which is not uncommon for those living in rural settings accessing services associated with stigmatizing diseases like HIV, substance abuse, or mental health. This problem was likely accentuated by the low availability of public transportation systems and record high gas prices seen in our state during the course of the study.…”

O tempo de viagem da população rural aos serviços de saúde mapeado em sistemas de informação geográfica (SIG)

“…O entendimento da mobilidade e acessibilidade em áreas ruralizadas se faz sobre o trinômio distância-tempo-custo, esta é uma questão que se sobressai em diversos estudos sobre o assunto (Shannon;Bashshur;Metzner, 1969;Thouez;Bodson;Joseph, 1988;Higgs;White, 1997;Nemet;Bailey, 2000;Martin et al, 2002;Brabyn;Barnett, 2004;Arcury et al, 2005). Aqui, o enfoque é para a rede de rodovias rurais como promotora de condições ótimas de viagem, e esse aspecto se reflete na compreensão da mobilidade das populações no campo e, consequentemente, em seu acesso aos serviços de saúde.…”

Predictors of lifestyle behaviors, trust of health care provider, and utilization of health services among adolescents living in a rural area.

“…It is known that adolescents living in rural areas are more likely than urban and suburban adolescents to engage in risk-taking behaviors (Atav & Spencer, 2002, p. 1092, to have less access to quality health services (Elliott & Larson, 2004;Nasim, Fernander, Townsend, Corona, & Belgrave, 2011;Niemira, 2010;Thomas, 2010), and demonstrate lower rates of health services utilization (Arcury, Preisser, Gesler, & Powers, 2005;Garside, Ayres, Owen, Pearson, & Roizen, 2002). This combination of factors may result in life-long health consequences.…”

“…People living in rural areas have additional barriers to utilization of health services such as lack of public transportation, long distances to travel, and scarcity of HCPs (Arcury et al, 2005;Nelson, 2008). General practice or family practice HCPs are frequently the only option available in rural communities (Geyman, Norris, & Hart, 2001).…”

“…People living in rural areas have significant barriers to utilization of health services (Aday, Quill, & Reyes-Gibby, 2010) such as lack of transportation, long distances to travel, unpredictable road conditions, and scarcity of HCPs (Arcury et al, 2005;Bushy, 2012;Nelson, 2008). Rural areas are defined by a small population in a broad geographical area (Klugman, 2008a), which means people living in rural areas have longer distances to travel to utilize health care.…”