Whither Rural Health? Reviewing a Decade of Progress in Rural Health

Abstract

The problems associated with rural and remote health have been widely recognised by health workers, rural communities and health professions for some time. Yet it has only been in the past decade that any concerted effort has been made to address rural health issues. Today the state of health in rural Australia remains less than optimal. The tenth anniversary of the Australian Journal of Rural Health provides the opportunity to reflect on what progress has been achieved over the past decade, to recognise those factors that have contributed most to the implementation of policies designed to address the health needs of rural and remote Australians, and to discuss outstanding impediments and barriers to resolving rural health issues.

Does health service utilisation vary by remoteness? South Australian population data and the Accessibility and Remoteness Index of Australia

“…27 Of note, no significant difference was evident in the selfreported low use (1-5 visits) of primary health care ser vices across ARIA categories, despite the fact that access and utilisation to health services is reported to decrease with increasing rurality. 1,28 Our findings support those from an earlier population survey conducted in South Australia, and similar conclusions have been reached in other Westernised countries. 7,29,30 It may be that utilisation levels in more remote areas are 'adequate' while those in more accessible areas reflect 'over use', possibly related to ease of access.…”

Trends in private dental service provision in major city and other Australian locations

“…16 A range of health and health service differences has been identified by location in Australia. 17 For example, life expectancies were highest in major cities and lowest in very remote areas.…”

Funding for rural health research from the Australian Research Council: A missed opportunity?

“…16 The University Departments of Rural Health and Rural Clinical Schools have played a significant role in building Australia's rural health research capacity. 17,18 It might be reasonable to conclude, then, that research track record is less of an issue now than it might have previously been. On the other hand, it appears that a substantial proportion of rural health research is published in the Australian Journal of Rural Health and the electronic journal Rural and Remote Health.…”