Service Provision Factors that Affect the Health and Wellbeing of People Living in a Lower SES Environment: The Perspective of Service Providers

Abstract

Inequalities in health and wellbeing within low socioeconomic (SES) environments are well documented. Factors inherent to the health care system itself, such as inaccessible, inflexible or inappropriate service provision, contribute to the poorer health status of residents of low SES areas. This paper explores the issues of service provision in low SES areas, documenting the perceptions of service providers about the service needs of residents, in order to understand the systemic factors that negatively impact on health and wellbeing. A total of 54 health and welfare service providers from two adjacent low SES suburbs within regional Victoria were interviewed using qualitative research methods. Key findings indicate that successful navigation of health care services by residents within these low SES environments is being impeded by issues of access, a lack of appropriate early intervention options or measures, and general resident disempowerment. Central to the improvement of service provision is the need for services to become economically, geographically and culturally accessible. In particular, the importance of community involvement in health planning and health promoting services must be reflected in the ethos of service provision.