Barriers to preventive health services for minority households in the rural south

Abstract

Health values, behaviors, and status are shaped by place of residence, region, race, and socio-economic status, among other social factors. Consequently, this article examines barriers to preventive health services for lower-income blacks in five rural counties in Georgia. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected through 281 household, 51 community leader, and six focus group interviews. Female respondents who had been pregnant were most likely to have received pregnancy-related services and all respondents least likely to have received vision and dental screenings. Six of the seven types of services inquired about were most likely to have been received in a private practice setting. Primary barriers to preventive service utilization included ability to pay, perception of need, service availability, accessibility of services, and the perception of racism. The relationship between structural and nonstructural barriers, their impact on preventive service utilization, and research recommendations also were developed and presented.