Assessment of Health Needs in Rural America: A Comparison of Amish and Non-Amish Families

This study examines a state-sponsored initiative to identify the primary health needsin rural areas so that the appropriateness of existing programs and services could bedetermined, and the development of new ones could be planned. Data were collectedthrough a survey of 200 families, 50 of whom were Amish. Relatively few differencesexisted between Amish and non-Amish families on health status and use of biomedicalservices; however, Amish families reported more behavioral risk factors and usedmore alternative therapies. Benefits from this assessment and planning process wereincreased public awareness about county health problems, and increased cooperationbetween the formal biomedical care system and the Amish community