Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2021
Keywords
rural, public health, infectious diseases, HIV, hepatitis C, qualitative research, MRHRC
Publication Title
Journal of Health and Human Services Administration, Symposium on Rural Health Challenges
Abstract
Rural areas of the United States may be vulnerable to an HIV or hepatitis C (HCV) outbreak among persons who inject drugs. Researchers at the University of Southern Maine’s Rural Health Research Center examined the capacity of rural public health systems to prepare for, identify, control, and respond to an HIV or HCV outbreak. Through semi-structured interviews with 36 state and local public health professionals from six rural states, we sought to understand the challenges related to HIV, HCV, and serving rural persons who inject drugs and to identify strategies to address those challenges. Challenges limiting the public health capacity of rural areas included inadequate funding, insufficient staffing, and limited healthcare infrastructure. Promising strategies for providing prevention, disease surveillance, and treatment services in rural areas included the use of mobile treatment units, telemedicine approaches, and community education initiatives to overcome resistance to evidence-based harm reduction programs.
This qualitative research is a companion study to a quantitative analysis that categorized 20 states as potentially at risk for an HIV or HCV outbreak based on a composite burden of opioid use, and HIV and HCV indicators (Lendardson et al., 2021).
Funding Organization
HRSA-Federal Office of Rural Health Policy
Grant Number
#U1CRH03716
Recommended Citation
Elbaum Williamson, M., Pearson, K., Burgess, A., Lenardson, J., & Ziller, E. (2021). Voices From the Field: A Qualitative Study of the Challenges and Promising Practices of Rural Public Health in Addressing HIV and Hepatitis C. Journal of Health and Human Services Administration. Symposium Issue on Rural Health Challenges, 44(2), 114-136. https://doi.org/10.37808/jhhsa.44.2.2
Included in
Health Policy Commons, Health Services Research Commons, Infectious Disease Commons, Other Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration Commons, Public Policy Commons
Comments
(e-pub ahead of print. Online version August 15, 2021)
A webinar on this study was held on April 21, 2020.