Analysis: Profile of a Rural Health Community in Stanthorpe, Australia

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the health profile of a rural community, specifically focusing on Stanthorpe, Australia. It delves into various aspects impacting the community's well-being, including geographical isolation, rural locale characteristics, health responses to environmental factors, and the broader health systems in place. The report also examines social structures, power dynamics, and their influence on health outcomes. It highlights challenges such as limited access to healthcare, socio-economic disparities, and the need for improved infrastructure and services. The analysis underscores the importance of addressing these issues through government intervention, community initiatives, and innovative healthcare strategies to improve the overall health and well-being of the rural population.

Profile of a Rural
Health Community

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Identifying Rural health community...........................................................................................1
Rural frameworks........................................................................................................................1
Geographical isolation............................................................................................................1
Rural Locale...........................................................................................................................2
Health responses.....................................................................................................................2
Broader health systems...........................................................................................................3
Broader social structures........................................................................................................4
Power......................................................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
The rural health state of the population of the country is experiencing a major turnaround
as the government is regularly intervening to improve the access towards basic health services
so that standards of health are improved in the rural communities. It is a known fact the poverty
in the rural regions of the country are higher than that of cities (Edelman, (2017). This feature
directly creates an impact on the level of health services which are availed by people in
backward regions. This assignment aims to apply aims to understand several frameworks of the
health in the community. The various issues which contribute to the health of the community will
be understood along with the means to strengthen the same.
MAIN BODY
Rural health community identifies status of health of people who are residing in the rural
regions of the country. It has been seen that over one-third of the population of the country
resides in rural regions of the country. The main source of people for such people relies on the
farming and have always been victim of distinct social and economic circumstances when
compared with rest of the country. Definition for rural health confines with difficulties which are
faced by them in order to lead a healthy and poverty free lifestyle. The economic and social
circumstances of the people are emphasized. WHO defines healthy as a person who is proficient
on physical, social and mental facets.
Identifying Rural health community
The rural which is taken into consideration is the Stanthrope. It is a town situated in the
south-east part of the country. The population of this area stands around 5000 people. This
locality was believed to be discovered in the year 1872. This rural area was gazetted in the
beginning of 20th century. There is a wonderful geological formations mostly covered by
Sundown and Girraween national parks.
Rural frameworks
There are six concepts which are taken into consideration while understanding framework of a
rural health community which are as follows:
Geographical isolation
Geographic isolation is referred to as separation of species and population from the rest
of the people. There can be variety of reasons for isolation of the people from the remaining
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population such as physical barriers such as distance, mountain range or separated by a stream of
water (Keane, S., & et. al., (2011). Stanthrope is located on south-east corner of the country is
presently isolated from the rest of the population. Stanthrope possess a connectivity through a
train line, however there are no passenger services trains which are operating on that track. The
public airport of which is being looked after the regional council carries no scheduled services
for this isolated population. This issue of connectivity have become a major challenge for this
population as they are deprived of basic health and social care facilities in this region. The
nearest urban city to this rural town is approximately 139 miles away which is Brisbane. This
geographical location goes by the name of Granite belt due to presence of high amount of granite
in the area. As mentioned earlier this seclusion of this town directly impacts the amount of
healthcare services offered to these people. The Queensland government have announced a
transport and roads investment programme to remove the geographical constraint between metro
cities and rural towns. The government should emphasise on the frequency of buses and trains to
these areas so that they are connected to major cities.
Rural Locale
Stanthorpe is an a rural town in the eastern part of Australia. This locality is known to
encompass around a population of 5000 people. Referring again that it is a town which is
approximately 3 hour drive from Brisbane. This town is one of the nearest mega city from the
rural locale. This belt is famous for its wine and granite production and have been doing their
work since their inception. This township is situated at 700 m above sea level and have
occasionally experiences snowfall. The people in this area still carries a traditional approach and
have not evolved as compared to urban population. However there is no data available on the
people who are looking for medical assistance. There are approximately 4.7% of the people who
are unemployed. The national parks and granite belt are among the major tourist attraction of this
area which is underutilised due to its lack of connectivity from the urban areas. Therefore the
only manner through which this locality can be uplifted is provision of ideal connectivity and
promotion of the major attraction of the area. This will ensure that more and more people visit
this place and provide them a source of income to enhance their living standards.
Health responses
Health responses are defined to the alterations in health according to the change in
environmental circumstances. The rural township is located at approx 700 metres above sea level
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due to which is often experiences severe changes in the climate. The average temperature for this
region stands at 0.9 degrees. This climate is one of the major reason for wine vegetation in the
area which is renowned throughout the country. The major diseases which are encountered by
this population are the coronary health diseases, stroke, depression and lung cancer. The major
cause of the same are the higher level of alcohol consumption, smoking, poor nutrition and
physical inactivity. All these factors are supported by poor socio-economic circumstances and
lack of awareness relation to the mental health. The health structures of health systems ensure
that these problems are catered with in best possible manner (Zhao and et. al., (2012). The rate at
which people are falling in the hands of diseases are beyond the control of the healthcare
structures in the area. To add fuel to the fire they were only place for 40 patients in the hospital
which was way less than required. There is a need for expansion of services in terms of hospitals
and staff so that above mentioned diseases can be countered with. It is essential to keep in mind
the economic circumstances of the people while referring them to the specialists. The inability to
cope with the medical treatment have resulted in higher level of medical emergencies. The
Queensland hospital should take into consideration expansion of hospitals and community care
centres. The Stanthorpe hospitals are considering amalgamation so that crucial needs are catered
first. They needs to be treated with highest level of dignity and respect while providing them
with medical care.
Broader health systems
There are variety of services offered on grounds of health parameters. The main services
include general medicine, surgery, aged care and emergency services. The health system for
people in Stanthorpe include a Queensland hospital which is a government oriented entity. This
hospital ensures that medical needs of people are catered with in an ideal manner. This hospital
experiences regular visits from specialists such as general surgeon, obstetrician and
gynaecologist. This is done to provided specialised treatment to the people within their reach.
Along with the Queensland Hospital, medical structure of Stanthorpe include Community health
care services and rural generalist in the locale. The term rural generalist ideally refers to the
doctor who is located in the rural areas. In addition to the above mentioned facilities there are
also provision of child care facilities to ensure children are brought up in the ideal manner. The
employees working in distinct health structures are well trained and are able to handle the
provided tasks. The Queensland hospital also offers opportunity to the students to place them in
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the rural areas (Stanthorpe Hospital to go ahead with proposed changes, 2016). The above
mentioned factors works well with the rural locale and serve their medical needs in the best
possible manner. However there is challenges which are encountered by medical systems as
there is less preference for doctors to render their services in locale as it is geographically
isolation. There is still less presence of specialist and more of physicians who are not able to
serve in the best manner. The people residing in these areas often face shortage of medicines due
to their irregular supply. There is a big need for state to ensure that the medical necessities are
provided in the right manner through presence of doctors and prescriptions in all the segments.
There is also a need to employ financial resources as well so that medical equipment and
infrastructure is up to date.
Broader social structures
Social structure is defined to a manner in which various components of society interact
with each other (Odhiambo and et. al., (2012). The major relationships which are considered in a
social structure are interaction between parents and children, students with their teachers and
finally patients with their doctors. The social structure of the town comprises of approximately
5400 people. Out of which 47.7% are male population and women stands at a exceptional 52.3%.
the English population is highest in the area comprising of 28.3%. The social structure of public
health comprises of manner in which interaction between society and medical problems which
are encountered by them. It has been identified that this segment of population is vulnerable to
the medical issues pertaining in the environment. There are various factors in the structure of the
society which carries an impact on the medical circumstances encountered by them. The
structural factors are dynamic and formed by the individuals living in the society and should not
be perceived as natural (Scott and et. al., (2012). The major factors which carry the power to
influence the social structure of people of Stanthorpe are Woking conditions, economic
capabilities, access to healthcare services and standards of lifestyle practised by them. Therefore
it is now comparatively easy to identify the shortcoming in the social structure and try to
manipulate for the good of the rural population. Factors such as poor economic circumstances,
lack of awareness and risky behaviour are amongst the top challenges to ideal situation of health
for the poor people. It is depicted from the difference in stature of health between people residing
in the urban areas with rural population. Therefore to deplete the rate of diseases it is essential to
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provide rural public with education and financial assistance which can play a big role in uplifting
the standard of living of this population.
Power
It is referred to be social element in life which ensures that the circumstances and
condition in terms of health are improved (Stanhope and Lancaster, (2015). This can be taken
into consideration by the individual and authorities to alter the scenario in terms of health. It
point out of the capacity of introducing change within healthcare segment. The council carries
the power to look after various segments of the rural public including health. They can
overcomes the major barriers which are experienced by the health sectors such as lack of funds,
risky behaviours and other global forces. It is the influences of the power through which
concerned authorities can develop and promote innovative measures through which medical
circumstances can be improved. It also assist in moulding the behaviour of the community
towards a better future by inculcating best efforts of the health professionals. The formulation of
norms and practices are carried out with the help of power which ultimately leads to construction
of a ideal healthcare system which supports and promotes growth of the rural population of the
Stanthorpe.
CONCLUSION
It can be comprehended from the above report that there are variety of issues which are
suffered by rural population of Stanthorpe. It is evident that rural locale carries a significant
impact on the state of health in towns. There are variety of problems which are encountered by
the population of the rural population of the Australian region. There is an state of interrelation
among the major factors such as social, economic and political which carries an impact on the
rural health framework. The frameworks which is taken into consideration consist of factors such
as geographical isolation, social relations, rural locale, broader health systems, social structure s
and finally power. It is essential for every individual, community and organisation to contribute
at an ideal rate so that better results in terms of health are ascertained. The change in the health
and social care segment for Stanthorpe requires efforts of local residents, health professionals
and council members. Therefore it is essential to form broader health systems which ensure that
better medical assistance are offered to public.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journal
Edelman, C. L. (2017). Health Promotion Throughout the Life Span-E-Book. Elsevier Health
Sciences.
Keane, S., & et. al., (2011). Survey of the rural allied health workforce in New South Wales to
inform recruitment and retention. Australian Journal of Rural Health. 19(1). 38-44.
Odhiambo, F. O., & et. al., (2012). Profile: the KEMRI/CDC health and demographic
surveillance system—Western Kenya. International journal of epidemiology. 41(4).
977-987.
Scott, J. A. G., & et. al., (2012). Profile: the Kilifi health and demographic surveillance system
(KHDSS). International journal of epidemiology. 41(3). 650-657.
Stanhope, M., & Lancaster, J. (2015). Public Health Nursing-E-Book: Population-Centered
Health Care in the Community. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Zhao, Y., & et. al., (2012). Cohort profile: The China health and retirement longitudinal study
(CHARLS). International journal of epidemiology. 43(1). 61-68.
Online
Stanthorpe Hospital to go ahead with proposed changes. 2016. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.qt.com.au/news/stanthorpe-hospital-go-ahead-proposed-changes/
3050249/>.
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