Health issues for people in rural and remote areas

Abstract

This chapter examines: # definitions of 'rural'; # the incidence of chronic illness and mental illness in rural and remote Australia; # issues surrounding the delivery of rural health care for those experiencing illness; and # the role of rural nurses. In this large land, it will not surprise you to learn that people living outside metropolitan areas often experience life in quite different ways from city dwellers. The vast distances in rural Australia, plus the differences in living conditions, lifestyle and culture between city and country mean that health care for rural people needs to be considered within the context of rural life. That is, nurses and other health care professionals need to learn much more about rural life and rural communities, and appreciate the particular difficulties that confront rural people dealing with health problems, as well as the benefits of rural living and rural communities that help people get through difficult times. In this chapter, we will explore these issues by considering the Brown family's experiences with illness.