The power of place: space and time in women's and community health centres in South Australia

• Published in: Social science & medicine (1982) Vol. 50; no. 12; pp. 1863 - 1875
• Main Authors: Warin, Megan, Baum, Frances, Kalucy, Elizabeth, Murray, Charlie, Veale, Bronwyn
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2000; Elsevier; Pergamon Press Inc
• Series: Social Science & Medicine
• Subjects: Australia; Biological and medical sciences; Communities; Community; Community centers; Community Health Centers - organization & administration; Community health centres; Community members; Community Organizations; Community Services; Empowerment; Facility Design and Construction; Female; General aspects; Health; Health care; Health Care Services; Health centres; Health of place; Health services; Health Services Research; Health systems. Social services; Humans; Medical sciences; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Quality of Health Care; South Australia; Space and Time; Space-Time relationship; Spatial dimension; Temporal dimension; Time; Time and space; Women; Women's and community health centres; Women's and community health centres Community members Time and space Health of place Australia; Women's health; Women's Health Services - organization & administration; Women's Health Services - standards; Womens Health Care; Australia; Oceania; South Australia; Time and space; Women's and community health centres; Health of place; Australia; Community members; Human; Prevention; Health system; Evaluation; Health center; Health promotion; Female; Community health; Health service; Public health
• ISSN: 0277-9536; 1873-5347
• DOI: 10.1016/S0277-9536(99)00423-2

This paper focuses on the importance of time and space in an Australian medical setting. It draws on research findings from a one year project that aimed to explore community perspectives of, and experiences of medical services in three South Australian women's and community health centres. Both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection and analysis were used in order to address these objectives. A significant finding was the way in which participants described the organisation and experience of time and space in these centres and how this impacted on their health and well being and that of the community. In analysing these spatio-temporal dimensions and the underlying philosophical structures of women's and community health centres, this paper argues that experiences associated with space and time have a positive effect on health status by: diminishing barriers to health services, improving quality of care, increasing community participation, providing safe places for social interaction and strengthening people's sense of belonging or attachment to a particular community and place. Based on these findings, the authors conclude that the spatio-temporal dimensions of health care provision have empowering and positive impacts on a community's health, a significant finding that has implications for the maintenance and future funding of this style of health service.