As a clinical nursing instructor working in a global health setting, you are creating a case study for your nursing students to help them better understand access to global healthcare. Based on a current global health problem, develop a case study scenario and two open-ended questions related to the scenario. Provide answers with rationales to the case study questions.
Case Study Scenario:
Maria is a 65-year-old woman from a rural village in a low-income country. She presents to a local clinic with complaints of several weeks of fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. Upon examination, the healthcare provider suspects she may have contracted tuberculosis (TB). However, due to limited resources and access to diagnostic tools, the clinic is unable to confirm the diagnosis.
Maria’s village is located far from the nearest hospital, and there is no reliable transportation available. The clinic does not have the resources or expertise to provide the necessary treatment for TB. A healthcare worker informs Maria that she will need to travel to the nearest city for further testing and treatment, but the cost of transportation and healthcare services is beyond her financial means.
Maria is a widow and lives alone in her mud-house. She has no close family members to support her financially or provide care. She relies on subsistence farming to sustain herself, barely meeting her basic needs. With her declining health, she is unable to work the fields, further exacerbating her financial instability.
Open-ended Question 1: How does Maria’s socioeconomic status impact her access to healthcare services?
Answer: Maria’s socioeconomic status plays a crucial role in her access to healthcare services. Being from a rural village in a low-income country, Maria faces multiple barriers to healthcare. The lack of financial resources makes it difficult for her to afford transportation to the city, where she can access appropriate diagnostic tools and treatment for TB. Additionally, her poverty limits her ability to pay for healthcare services, exacerbating the financial burden. The absence of close family members to provide support further compounds the issue. Without sufficient income or a support system, Maria struggles to access the healthcare she desperately needs.
Open-ended Question 2: How does the geographical location of Maria’s village impact her access to healthcare services?
Answer: The geographical location of Maria’s village significantly impacts her access to healthcare services. The village’s distance from the nearest hospital, combined with the lack of reliable transportation, poses a significant barrier. The clinic in Maria’s village lacks the necessary resources and expertise to provide the required diagnostic tools and treatment for TB. This situation forces Maria to travel to the nearest city, where these services are available. However, due to the remote location of her village and the absence of adequate transportation, accessing the city becomes a challenge. The cost of transportation and the distance she has to travel further hinder Maria’s ability to access healthcare services. Thus, the geographical remoteness of her village presents a significant obstacle to obtaining appropriate medical care.
Rationale for Answering the Questions:
Socioeconomic status is a crucial determinant of healthcare access. In Maria’s case, her poverty prevents her from affording transportation and healthcare services. The lack of income and familial support contribute to her financial instability, making it even more challenging for her to access necessary healthcare resources. This demonstrates how socioeconomic factors can create significant barriers to healthcare access.
Geographical location also plays a vital role in accessing healthcare services. Maria’s village’s remoteness from the nearest hospital, combined with the absence of reliable transportation, adds an additional layer of difficulty to her situation. The need to travel to the city for the required medical services becomes a challenging and costly endeavor. This example highlights how geography can adversely impact healthcare access, especially in resource-limited settings.