Coping with the cost of care

Abstract

This study examined health service access and coping strategies for 281 lower income minority households in rural Georgia. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected through household interviews. It was found that over half the households could not always afford care. The article describes a typology of coping strategies and the interrelated dynamics of the role performance model of health, perception of need, and pragmatic poverty. It also presents a model of health utilization and discusses implications for practitioners.