Brutal neglect: Australian rural women's access to health services.
Access to health services in rural Australia has been particularly problematic because of the vast geographical areas and the sparse population distribution across the inland. The focus on health servicing has been very much on primary health care with most attention being giving to the distribution of doctors in rural Australia. This study takes a closer look at rural health servicing through the eyes of women in rural Australia. Drawing on a survey of 820 women, the study revealed that a focus on primary health care may be resulting in a lack of attention to women's health in areas, such as maternity models of care, domestic violence and mental health. The study also reveals the disquiet of Australian rural women at the poor state of health services.
Alston
Margaret
M
Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia. malston@csu.edu.au
Allan
Julaine
J
Dietsch
Elaine
E
Wilkinson
Jane
J
Shankar
Janki
J
Osburn
Lynelle
L
Bell
Karen
K
Muenstermann
Ingrid
I
Georgias
Dimi
D
Moore
Elizabeth
E
Jennett
Christine
C
Ritter
Leonora
L
Gibson
Rosalind
R
Grantley
Jenny
J
Wallace
Joy
J
Harris
Jillene
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012960:Socioenvironmental Therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014932:Women's Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*