Abstract
Since the 1990s, many Hispanics have been relocating to the rural South and their permanency (although beneficial to the economy) poses new challenges at the institutional level. One area of major concern is the adequate provision of health care. Our article evaluates the socioeconomic, cultural, and geographic/transportation barriers that Hispanic residents face when seeking primary health care services in Toombs County, Georgia. Data were acquired through personal interviews with Hispanic residents, local health professionals, and key community informants by using a combination of opportunity sampling and a snowball approach. Results indicate that the local health system and the county as a whole have not yet fully adapted to the health needs of Hispanic migrants. There was a consensus among all respondents that language and communication issues were the primary barriers to accessing health care.
Recommended Citation
Vitale, Michele, and Conner Bailey. 2012. "Assessing Barriers to Health Care Services for Hispanic Residents in Rural Georgia." Journal of Rural Social Sciences, 27(3): Article 2. Available at: https://egrove.olemiss.edu/jrss/vol27/iss3/2
Publication Date
12-31-2012
