ESSAY : Rural Communities

Overview of disparity/vulnerable population (rural community)

Rural communities in most parts of the world are characterised by scarce populations, poverty, illiteracy, inadequate medical care systems and strict observation of cultural practices. When compared to the general population, rural area residents face more disease-causing elements in their environment, high mortality rate and more suffering from illnesses. Illiteracy and continuous practice of adverse cultural behaviours expose individuals to health problems in the rural settings unlike in urban centres. People cannot realise a possible disease-causing factor in the environment and create a timely measure to prevent its occurrence.

Geographical isolation, low economic status, and limited job opportunities also lower the ability to access quality health care services in rural areas. According to studies in rural communities, the residents are poor, old with few medical practitioners to care for them. The fact that rural residents are less likely to have health care insurance coverage from employers exposes them to more suffering from illnesses since most of them are unemployed Cultural practices also affect the methods and types of healthcare services in rural communities. Most individuals resist pharmacological treatment when they sense a form of cultural practice violation in the administration process. This gives healthcare providers’ difficult moments to first educate the community…