Perspectives of Community Health Center Employees on Public Bus Transportation in Rural Hawai'i County

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Transportation Studies
• Rural Sociology

Background:

• Rural communities often lack adequate public transportation, creating barriers to essential services.
• Understanding user experiences is key to developing equitable rural transportation solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore community health center employees' perspectives on the public bus system in rural Hawai'i Island.
• To identify barriers and facilitators to public transportation use in a rural context.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study using a community-engaged research approach.
• Thematic analysis of interviews with 10 community health center employees (April-July 2023).

Main Results:

• Most participants found the bus system unreliable and inconvenient.
• Key barriers included unpredictable schedules, safety concerns at bus stops, and general inconvenience.
• Participants highlighted the need for reliable transportation for patients accessing healthcare, pharmacies, and grocery stores.

Conclusions:

• Public transportation in rural areas faces significant challenges impacting accessibility.
• Addressing transportation as a social determinant of health is vital for rural community well-being.
• Transportation providers should invest in infrastructure to meet rural population needs.