ABSTRACT
Background: Health disparities between urban and rural populations remain a significant public health concern. Community-based interventions have shown promise in addressing these disparities, yet their effectiveness in promoting health equity within social care services across different settings has been underexplored.
Aim: This study aimed to investigate the role of community-based interventions in promoting health equity in social care, comparing their impact in urban and rural environments.
Methods: A comparative analysis was conducted involving 90 participants from both urban and rural settings. The study was carried out from December 2022 to December 2023. Participants were engaged in various community-based interventions designed to enhance access to social care services, improve health outcomes, and promote equity. Data were collected through surveys, interviews, and health records to assess the effectiveness of these interventions.
Results: The study found that community-based interventions significantly improved health equity in both urban and rural settings. However, the extent of improvement varied. Urban participants showed a 20% increase in access to social care services and a 15% improvement in health outcomes. In contrast, rural participants experienced a 30% increase in access and a 25% improvement in outcomes. Despite these gains, rural areas faced more substantial challenges, including limited resources and infrastructure, which affected the overall effectiveness of the interventions compared to urban areas.
Conclusion: Community-based interventions were effective in promoting health equity in social care across both urban and rural settings, though the impact was more pronounced in rural areas. These findings underscore the importance of tailored approaches to address specific challenges in different settings. Future efforts should focus on enhancing resources and infrastructure in rural areas to further reduce health disparities.
Keywords: Community-based interventions, health equity, social care, urban-rural comparison, public health, health disparities, rural health, urban health.