Implementing primary prevention programs for adolescents in rural environments

Lifestyle behaviors generally are established during adolescence and these habits can increase or decrease a person's chance for a healthful and productive life. Thus, it is important that primary prevention and health promotion begin during those early years. A number of deterrents to the use of health promoting programs are identified but for rural residents there may be other barriers associated with demographic, social, geographic, cultural, economic, educational and political factors. Those environmental factors must be considered when planning, implementing and evaluating programs. In turn, provider-community partnerships are an effective strategy to provide services in rural communities within the constraints of limited resources.