Abstract

Introduction: Health care delivery systems in rural areas face many challenges in meeting the needs of the community and unfortunately adequate attention have not been paid to resolve this problem. The aim of this study was to explore challenges of health care process in rural society of Iran according to health care providers' experience. 

Materials and methods: This is a qualitative study using content analysis method. According to purposive sampling17 health care providers were selected. Data were collected via semi-structured individual interviews and were analyzed using qualitative content analysis method.

Findings: Analysis of Data, eventually led to formation of one category as challenges of caring process in rural society. This challenge itself consists of different subcategories such as change in characteristics of rural society, increase in complexity of caring process, decrease in workforce efficiency and reduction in tendency of peoples’ taking care.

Conclusion: Due to changes in the caring process, health care systems should provide new health care models to face potential challenges in this area.