Women in rural areas are suffering from an inability to access health and social services, according to a Central Queensland University rural health researcher.

With the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health (ALSWH) having just released brief results of a 10-year study among 40 000 women across the country, researcher and lecturer in health studies, Sansnee Jirojwong, believes some of the findings have major implications to women in Australian rural and regional areas.

“One of the key implications presented by the study is that women are unable to gain access to health and social services.

“The lack of gender specific services and inadequate and high turn-over rate of health professionals have contributed to the low use of health services among the women,” Ms Jirojwong explained.

She also believes the current social and economic climate has played its part in the demise of these services.

“The economic decline of primary agricultural products, the declining number of rural populations, inadequate human resources to maintain agricultural industries, perceived long-term drought and the impact of globalisation will have a long-term impact on rural people – women and men.” Ms Jirojwong believes comprehensive and long term plans are needed to address the health and social issues among women in rural areas.

--ENDS-- For interviews contact Sansnee Jirojwong, Senior Lecturer School of Nursing & Health Studies, Central Queensland University on 4930 6317, mobile 0427 733 004 or email s.jirojwong@cqu.edu.au .