Purpose/Aims: The aim of this study was to understand the health issues of a rural Southeastern Arizona border community. More specifically, this study used community assessment with ethnographic principles to: 1) Conduct a community assessment centered on definitions of health, access to care, quality of care, and health needs in a rural Southeastern Arizona border community; and 2) Compared the findings of this study to previous studies, models, and theories of rural nursing and rural health.Background: It is important to understand that each community has a unique set of health priorities that are dictated by these factors; making every rural community different. Much of the work that has been done in rural America has been performed in the Midwest, Southeast, or Northern states. There is limited information regarding Arizona or even Southern US border communities and whether previous work can be generalized to areas that have not been studied.Sample and Methodology: This study utilized community assessment with ethnographic underpinnings through the use of focus groups, key informant interviews, participant observation, and secondary data analysis of existing community data. Sampling for the focus groups and key informants was purposive. Focus groups included: 1) participants who use local health services and 2) participants who do not.Analysis: Lincoln and Guba's (1985) guidelines for rigor in qualitative studies was utilized. Thematic analysis and thick description were used to analyze data. Theoretical triangulation was performed between individual, group, and community level data with theoretical linkages made to community capacity theory and rural nursing key concepts.Implications and Conclusions: The location of this project, rural Arizona community, near the US-Mexico border, posed an interesting contrast to the proposed concepts widely being used today. From this study, healthcare leaders in this community are better equipped to provide relevant, high-quality, and safe services; but an informed community emerged that has an interest in promoting the health and well-being of the community as a whole.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:arizona.edu/oai:arizona.openrepository.com:10150/194342 |
| Date | January 2009 |
| Creators | Bennett, Amanda Dawn |
| Contributors | Reel, Sally, Reel, Sally, Abraham, Ivo, Michaels, Cathy |
| Publisher | The University of Arizona. |
| Source Sets | University of Arizona |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text, Electronic Dissertation |
| Rights | Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. |
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