Opportunities for Heath Promotion and Disease Prevention in Rural Areas

Rural programs are well positioned to implement successful health promotion and disease prevention strategies, despite facing challenges such as chronic disease, poverty, lower educational attainment, and access to transportation, among others. Successful health promotion programs will identify and draw upon community strengths. These strengths may help rural communities to overcome barriers to implementing health promotion and disease prevention programs. Examples of rural strengths include:

• Strong social networks and connections
• Emphasis on relationships with family and neighbors
• Supportive communities
• Common shared values and collective interest in improving health
• Smaller scale and scope of programs, which may accelerate opportunity
• Willingness and confidence to confront challenges
• Centralized communication channels
• Creativity and devotion to achieving success