ESSAY 2

Differences in Access to Health Services in Rural and Urban Areas

     Rural health is the health of people living in rural areas, which are often farther from health centers and other health services than people living in the city. In rural area; The excess of the elderly population, low level of education, social insecurity, poverty and difficulty in accessing health services are evident. 

     The elderly population generally lives in rural areas. Lower cost of living, cleaner air and being away from crowds are some of the various factors for choosing to live in the countryside, but rural people have difficulty accessing healthcare.  

     The vast majority of people living in rural areas with limited access to health care do not have health insurance because many rural medical centers are closing. 

 

     People living in rural areas are at higher risk of death due to diseases such as cancer, diabetes, blood pressure, heart diseases, stroke, respiratory tract, than people living in cities. Also, people living in rural areas are more likely to have more than one disease than people living in other areas. It is seen that health problems such as obesity, diabetes and hypertension, which are seen at a higher rate in the elderly population, are more common in rural areas.  

     Health barriers in rural areas; The inadequacy of health personnel and health services, barriers to accessing health services, inaccessibility to transportation means, telephone services and social assistance services, unpredictable travel and weather conditions, procedures related to health services, health personnel's inability to understand the needs of incoming people are language and cultural barriers. 

    In order to facilitate the access of the elderly, who are especially disadvantaged in rural areas, to health services, different health care models are being developed and used in many countries.