Work

Rural Public Health Landscape: Funding, Personnel, Expertise, Community Resources, and Barriers in Rural Settings

Year: 2023

Type: preprint

Abstract: Objectives To describe and understand the funding, personnel, expertise, community resources, and issues in rural settings by local public health departments post COVID-19. Methods Rural county health departments in ten states were sent a survey via web link in the Spring of 2021. 552 responses were collected with a 63% completion rate for all counties surveyed. Results Most counties utilized public health nurses, administrators, or community health professionals. Of these, 25% had formal education in public health and 10% had public health experience. 65% of respondents disagreed with having adequate funding, staff, and resources. 83% of counties reported working with nonprofits and 43% utilized volunteers. The top two issues in rural public health identified were mental health and substance use. Conclusions Rural county public health departments do not have the support needed to sustain or advance public health in their specific population. Policy implications This report gives insight into the needs of rural health in 2021 that can be used to guide policy and funding to support rural health’s specific needs.

Source: medRxiv

DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.27.23291769

Authors: Olivia Ellison, Vincent Silenzio

Institution: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Language: English

Topic: Public Health Policies and Education

Subfield: General Health Professions

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: U.S. Department of State, Texas Department of State Health Services