THE EFFECTIVENESS OF COMMUNITY NURSING INTERVENTIONS IN IMPROVING ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE IN RURAL AREAS OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW
https://doi.org/10.26594/edunursing.v10i1%20(April-Agustus).6628
Keywords:
community nursing intervention, healthcare access, rural population, developing countries, systematic literature reviewAbstract
Introduction: Access to health services in rural areas of developing countries still faces various multidimensional challenges, including geographical limitations, the distribution of health workers, and social and cultural factors within the community. These conditions highlight the need for an intervention approach that focuses not only on clinical aspects but also community empowerment. This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of community nursing interventions in improving access to healthcare services in rural areas of developing countries. Method: The method used is a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. The literature search was conducted through the Scopus database using a combination of keywords related to community nursing interventions and access to healthcare services, with a publication range of 2021–2026. From an initial search yielding 331 articles, 20 articles meeting the inclusion criteria were identified and analyzed further. Results: the study results indicate that effective community nursing interventions are multidimensional, encompassing health education, participatory approaches, the use of community health workers, and socio-cultural-based approaches. Discussion: The primary outcomes identified include improved health literacy, behavioral changes, increased service utilization, as well as several clinical and psychosocial indicators. Additionally, factors supporting the success of interventions include community participation, trust in services, and cross-sectoral collaboration, while barriers include facility limitations, geographical barriers, and socioeconomic determinants. These findings indicate that community nursing interventions play a strategic role in bridging gaps in access to health services. Conclusion: The conclusion of this study emphasizes that improving access to healthcare services in rural areas requires a holistic, contextual, and community-based approach. This study contributes to strengthening the role of community nursing as a vital component of the healthcare system and serves as a foundation for the development of evidence-based interventions in the future.
Keywords: community nursing intervention, healthcare access, rural population, developing countries, systematic literature review
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