E181 - "It's just extremely complicated to talk to someone who doesn't understand" Barriers to accessing healthcare in female farmers in Georgia
Time: 05:00 PM - 05:50 PMTopics: Women's Health, Quality of Life
Poster Number: E181
Background: Farming is consistently ranked as one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States, and research has found that farmers utilize healthcare resources less frequently than their non-farming counterparts. A better understanding of barriers to engaging with healthcare that exist within the farming community is crucial, particularly among female farmers, who represent an increasing proportion of domestic agriculture producers. There is limited research exploring the lived experience of female farmers, and they may face unique barriers to engaging with healthcare resources compared to their male counterparts. A better understanding of the challenges female farmers face when trying to engage with healthcare resources can help researchers and practitioners alike in the development of novel solutions to support the health and wellbeing of female farmers. Methods: Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with farmers living in 18 counties across the state of Georgia (n=32). A combination of inductive and deductive coding was used to conduct thematic analysis on interview transcripts, and responses were compared based on gender. Results: Female respondents consistently identified long distances from resources, time constraints, concerns about the cost of care, feeling disconnected from healthcare providers, and a deficit of specialized care as barriers to engaging with healthcare. Respondents also described poor prior experiences with healthcare providers, stigma, pride, and under prioritization of personal health as significant barriers. Female respondents indicated that male farmers were more likely to face cultural barriers to healthcare engagement, where formal healthcare challenges were more pronounced barriers for female producers. Conclusion: Farmers identified both structural and cultural barriers to engaging with resources to support mental and physical health. Respondents consistently identified telehealth and concierge doctor services as critical touchpoints for healthcare access in rural areas, indicating that these may effectively fill gaps in traditional healthcare delivery models that would otherwise prevent farmers from engaging with care.
Keywords: Women's health, Worksite healthAuthors and Affliiates
Co-Author: Christina Proctor, MPH, PhD, University of Georgia College of Public Health, Department of Health Promotion and BehaviorCo-Author: Chase Reece, BSHP, University of Georgia College of Public Health, Department of Health Promotion and Behavior
Co-Author: Lauren Griffeth, PhD, University of Georgia Office of Learning and Organizational Development
E181 - "It's just extremely complicated to talk to someone who doesn't understand" Barriers to accessing healthcare in female farmers in Georgia
Category
Scientific > Poster/Paper/Live Research Spotlight