Access and utilization of health services by British Columbia's rural Aboriginal population

PURPOSE: To provide a picture of the access and use of health services by Aboriginal British Columbians living in both reserve and off-reserve communities. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: This project represents a collaborative effort between the University of British Columbia and multiple Aboriginal community partners. Between June and November 2003, 267 face-to-face interviews were conducted with Aboriginal persons in seven rural community organizations across the province. FINDINGS: This paper reports on the results of a survey of 267 Aboriginal clients. It was found that a substantial number of survey respondents accessed health services provided by an Aboriginal person. Although most respondents felt that services were available, they also identified a number of concerns. These revolved around the need to travel for services, as well as a lack of access to more specialized services. A number of self-reported barriers to service were also identified. These findings have several policy implications and will be useful to service planners. RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS: Several questions for additional research were identified including the need to establish an inventory of service problem areas and investigating service and benefit policy and community awareness issues. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: This paper provides policy makers with knowledge on the rural Aboriginal population, a population that has faced long standing problems in accessing appropriate health services.