This study investigates and identifies the barriers preventing access to public health care services for women living in rural villages of Samoa. One hundred one women ages 20 years and older participated in personal interviews. The interviews probed the women's use of traditional medicine, their sociocultural status, their perception of the quality of services, and the affordability and availability of health care services. The results indicate that a limited knowledge of available services, the utilization of traditional medicine, the high cost of prescription drugs, and younger age are barriers to the use of public health care services. The findings also reveal that older age, a high fertility rate, and a low education level contribute to a greater number of illnesses. Implications for improving the infrastructure of the public health care system and increasing communication between traditional healers and the public health care system are discussed.