Underserved and Socially Disadvantaged Groups and Linkages with Health and Health Care Differentials by Kronenfeld Jennie Jacobs;

Author:Kronenfeld, Jennie Jacobs;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Emerald Publishing Limited
Published: 2019-07-22T00:00:00+00:00

CONCLUSION

We have illustrated the social structures of Riverside and how residents of this small community saw their own community. We found that some common characteristics in rural communities had important implications on dealing with the HCV and that it was important to give attention to the contextual interplay of the community perception, reception, and treatment of the disease. We also showed that the mechanism of a close-tied rural community tended to be a hindrance to the constructing a supportive environment for those impacted by the Hepatitis C. In order to care more effectively and accurately for the people affected by the disease, it was crucial to fully understand the local dynamics. People’s perception of the disease as well as the behavioral tendencies had a rather immediate and direct impact on those with Hepatitis C seeking support from the community. Gossip and rumors tended to be shared more freely and rapidly among the members in small communities, which tended to have greater impact on one’s personal life in a rural area. The lack of anonymity and confidentiality combined with the preexisting prejudicial climate in the community seemed to be closely linked with a total lack of support groups. The patients were not the only ones affected by it but their family members also had to face extra burdens when they sought help. The leaders of the community openly idealized and romanticized their rural living in general. They ironically also appeared to actively turn a blind eye to the increasing need of addressing HCV in the community. This issue was exacerbated in part by the sense of powerlessness among the disadvantaged to initiate change such as organizing new support groups.

While we found that the close-knit rural community might not indicate an ideal supportive place for all, due to its rural characteristics, we could have a strategic approach to improve the effectiveness of intervention efforts to better treat HCVs. This could be accomplished through utilizing one of the most crucial social institutions in small rural communities: the churches. Systematically targeted programs to help start an inter-church support group in rural areas can have a significant contribution to encouraging the community’s participation as a whole rather than initiatives through other major venues such as hospitals and government agencies. We argue that using the authority and respect that clergy at local churches hold is a great asset to develop a more supportive environment in rural communities.

This study is a case study rather than multi-site, qualitative research as the data are collected from one rural community. Although describing a single social setting provides in-depth description, generalizability to other settings is always a limitation. The study sample is small, and thus, the distribution of age, gender, income, and residential length are somewhat polarized. Although we were able to talk to many church members, only two individuals whose occupations were involved with a church participated in this study. Further study is needed to assess the feasibility of creating inter-church support organizations by surveying the various churches in a rural community.

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