Social Services in Rural Healthcare: Addressing Unique Challenges and Opportunities
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- Category: Vol. 83, December 2015
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Social Services in Rural Healthcare: Addressing Unique Challenges and Opportunities
Abstract
Aim: This study aims to address the challenges and oppor-tunities in rural healthcare, focusing on the global shortage of healthcare personnel, particularly in developing regions. Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conduct-ed, examining scholarly and gray literature on rural healthcare, access, and policy in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Key areas of focus included health workforce supply, access to primary healthcare services, sustainable rural healthcare models, and policy implications. Results: The findings reveal a significant shortage of healthcare workers in rural areas, leading to poorer health out-comes compared to urban populations. The study highlights the importance of community-oriented primary care and the need for investments in health workforce education and training. So-cial workers play a critical role in engaging communities, advo-cating for policy changes, coordinating services, and providing supportive assistance. Conclusion: Addressing the healthcare workforce shortage in rural areas requires a multifaceted approach. Investments in education and training, community engagement, policy advoca-cy, and service coordination are essential for creating a sustain-able and equitable healthcare system. Horizontal programming, emphasizing comprehensive primary care, offers a promising solution for improving population health and achieving univer-sal health coverage.