Factors responsible for healthcare avoidance among rural adults in the Eastern Region of North Carolina.

Among avoidant individuals, those with a chronic illness, who could benefit most from continuity of healthcare, are 3-times more likely to avoid healthcare due to cost, complexity, and privacy. The perceived value of healthcare is also associated with complexity- and privacy-related healthcare avoidance. Utilizing alternative methods of healthcare delivery, such as telemedicine and free or reduced cost mobile health clinics, could improve continuity of medical care for rural residents.