Primary health care in rural communities / 日本農村医学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

A survey concerning primary health care was taken in two mountainous villages (populations 8, 600 and 5, 400) in Shizuoka Prefecture and two farming and fishing villages (12, 000 and 7, 100) in Chiba Prefecture. In these four communities, the aged account for more than 17% of the population. The crude death rate is high. The rate of population growth is below zero. The infant mortality rate and the stillbirth rate are low.<BR>The major causes of death are malignant neoplasms, cerebrovascular diseases, and heart diseases. Pneumonia, accidents and suicide are above the national average. The annual revenue and expenditure of the national health insurance system are below the national average. Among the impatients, the rates of those suffering from mental disorder and circulatory diseases are high, while many cases of the outpatients are circulatory diseases.<BR>Medical institutions have difficulty in meeting with the demand of inhabitants. Some town cannot bear the burden of medical expenditures and gets into financial trouble. Health and Welfare services are inadequate due to the shortage of personnel. Health activities among inhabitants are in the doldrums. Clinics do not function as a provider of family medicine.<BR>These are the major findings of the survey. The establishment of primary health care is badly needed.