Showing papers on "Rural area published in 2000"
TL;DR: In this paper, rural development is analyzed as a multi-level, multi-actor and multi-faceted process rooted in historical traditions that represents at all levels a fundamental rupture with the modernization project.
Abstract: Both in practice and policy a new model of rural development is emerging. This paper reflects the discussions in the impact research programme and suggests that at the level of associated theory also a fundamental shift is taking place. The modernization paradigm that once dominated policy, practice and theory is being replaced by a new rural development paradigm. Rural development is analyzed as a multi-level, multi-actor and multi-facetted process rooted in historical traditions that represents at all levels a fundamental rupture with the modernization project. The range of new quality products, services and forms of cost reduction that together comprise rural development are understood as a response by farm families to both the eroding economic base of their enterprises and to the new needs and expectations European society has of the rural areas. Rural development therefore is largely an autonomous, self-driven process and in its further unfolding agriculture will continue to play a key role, although it is a role that may well change. This article provides an introduction to the nine papers of this ‘special issue’ and the many reconfiguration processes embodied in rural development that they address.in rural development
918 citations
TL;DR: Rural and urban women seem to face different barriers and enablers to LTPA, and have a different pattern of determinants, thus providing useful information for designing more targeted interventions.
Abstract: STUDY OBJECTIVE Determinants of leisure time physical activity (LTPA) in rural middle aged and older women of diverse racial and ethnic groups are not well understood. This study examined: (1) urban-rural differences in LTPA by sociodemographic factors, (2) urban-rural differences in LTPA determinants, and (3) the pattern of relations between LTPA determinants and LTPA. DESIGN A modified version of the sampling plan of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS) was used. Zip codes were selected with 20% or more of each of the following race/ethnic groups: African American, American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN), and Hispanic. A comparison group of white women were also surveyed using standard BRFSS techniques. PARTICIPANTS Rural (n=1242) and urban (n=1096) women aged 40 years and older from the US Women9s Determinants Study. MAIN RESULTS Rural women, especially Southern and less educated women, were more sedentary than urban women. Rural women reported more personal barriers to LTPA, cited caregiving duties as their top barrier (compared with lack of time for urban women), and had greater body mass indices. Rural women were less likely to report sidewalks, streetlights, high crime, access to facilities, and frequently seeing others exercise in their neighbourhood. Multivariate correlates of sedentary behaviour in rural women were AI/AN and African American race, older age, less education, lack of enjoyable scenery, not frequently seeing others exercise, greater barriers, and less social support (p CONCLUSIONS Rural and urban women seem to face different barriers and enablers to LTPA, and have a different pattern of determinants, thus providing useful information for designing more targeted interventions.
691 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors argue that rural development strategies must take heed of network forms in both domains and that rural policy should be recast in network terms, and propose two main bundles of networks: vertical and horizontal networks.
666 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined goals pertaining to start-up, operations, the family, and ultimate disposition of the enterprise by family and owner-operated businesses in the rural tourism and hospitality sectors.
567 citations
TL;DR: It is feasible to approximate both household wealth and expenditures in rural African settings without dramatically lengthening questionnaires that have a primary focus on health outcomes.
Abstract: STUDY OBJECTIVE To test the validity of proxy measures of household wealth and income that can be readily implemented in health surveys in rural Africa. DESIGN Data are drawn from four different integrated household surveys. The assumptions underlying the choice of wealth proxy are described, and correlations with the true value are assessed in two different settings. The expenditure proxy is developed and then tested for replicability in two independent datasets representing the same population. SETTING Rural areas of Mali, Malawi, and Cote d9Ivoire (two national surveys). PARTICIPANTS Random sample of rural households in each setting (n=275, 707, 910, and 856, respectively). MAIN RESULTS In both Mali and Malawi, the wealth proxy correlated highly ( r ⩾0.74) with the more complex monetary value method. For rural areas of Cote d9Ivoire, it was possible to generate a list of just 10 expenditure items, the values of which when summed correlated highly with expenditures on all items combined ( r =0.74, development dataset, r =0.72, validation dataset). Total household expenditure is an accepted alternative to household income in developing country settings. CONCLUSIONS It is feasible to approximate both household wealth and expenditures in rural African settings without dramatically lengthening questionnaires that have a primary focus on health outcomes.
444 citations
TL;DR: Although the results confirm the idea that increased distance from provider does reduce utilization, they strongly suggest that distance to provider is a surrogate for location in a richer web of relations between residents and their local communities.
367 citations
TL;DR: Earlier obesity trends in Brazil entirely agree with what has been described for both developed and developing countries where reliable secular trend information exists, but the 1989–1997 trend of a substantial reduction in the prevalence of obesity among upper income urban women is unique in a developing country and up to now has only been detected in Scandinavian populations.
Abstract: Objective: To describe secular trends in obesity in various settings and socio-economic groups of the adult population of Brazil. Methods: Trend analysis of the prevalence of obesity in adults aged over 20 y (body mass index ≥30.0 kg/m2) applied to anthropometric and socio-economic data collected by three comparable household surveys undertaken in the two most populated Brazilian regions in 1975 (n=95, 062), 1989 (n=15, 585) and 1997 (n=10, 680). Results: While previous trends (1975–1989) showed increasing obesity prevalence for all population groups except for men in rural areas, recent trends (1989–1997) have pointed to a much more complex picture where increases in obesity tend to be more intense in men than in women, in rural than in urban settings and in poorer than in richer families. Particularly notable was the fact that, in the recent period, obesity was actually reduced for women belonging to the upper income groups, especially in urban settings. Conclusion: Earlier obesity trends in Brazil entirely agree with what has been described for both developed and developing countries where reliable secular trend information exists, but the 1989–1997 trend of a substantial reduction in the prevalence of obesity among upper income urban women (12.8–9.2%, or a 28% reduction), is unique in a developing country and, indeed, up to now has only been detected in Scandinavian populations. It is speculated that this declining obesity trend may be a result of an intense mass media work focused on combating a sedentary life style and promoting better food habits. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2000) 54, 342–346
361 citations
Book•
15 May 2000
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors show that despite the hardships they faced during the agricultural crisis of the 1980s, these children, whose lives we follow from the 7th grade to after high school graduation, proved to be remarkably successful, both academically and socially.
Abstract: A century ago, most Americans had ties to the land. Now only one in fifty is engaged in farming and little more than a fourth live in rural communities. Though not new, this exodus from the land represents one of the great social movements of our age and is also symptomatic of an unparalleled transformation of our society. In "Children of the Land", the authors ask whether traditional observations about farm families - strong intergenerational ties, productive roles for youth in work and social leadership, dedicated parents and a network of positive engagement in church, school and community life - apply to 300 Iowa children who have grown up with some tie to the land. The answer, as this study shows, is a resounding yes. In spite of the hardships they faced during the agricultural crisis of the 1980s, these children, whose lives we follow from the 7th grade to after high school graduation, proved to be remarkably successful, both academically and socially. A moving testament to the distinctly positive lifestyle of Iowa families with connections to the land, this book also suggests important routes to success for youths in other high risk settings.
321 citations
TL;DR: Food variety and dietary diversity seem to be associated with nutritional status of children in heterogeneous communities, as data from urban areas showed, while in rural areas, however, this association could not be shown.
Abstract: Objective The purpose of this study was to analyse the associations between the food variety score (FVS), dietary diversity score (DDS) and nutritional status of children, and to assess the associations between FVS, DDS and socioeconomic status (SES) on a household level. The study also assessed urban and rural differences in FVS and DDS. Design Cross-sectional studies in 1994/95, including a simplified food frequency questionnaire on food items used in the household the previous day. A socioeconomic score was generated, based on possessions in the households. Weight and height were measured for all children aged 6-59 months in the households, and anthropometric indices were generated. Subjects and setting Three hundred and twenty-nine urban and 488 rural households with 526 urban and 1789 rural children aged 6-59 months in Koutiala County, Sikasso Region, Mali. Results Children from urban households with a low FVS or DDS had a doubled risk (OR>2) for being stunted and underweight. Those relations were not found in the rural area. There was an association between SES and both FVS and DDS on the household level in both areas. The FVS and DDS in urban households with the lowest SES were higher than the FVS and DDS among the rural households with the highest SES. Conclusions Food variety and dietary diversity seem to be associated with nutritional status (weight/age and height/age) of children in heterogeneous communities, as our data from urban areas showed. In rural areas, however, this association could not be shown. Socioeconomic factors seem to be important determinants for FVS and DDS both in urban and rural areas. FVS and DDS are useful variables in assessing the nutritional situation of households, particular in urban areas.
317 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examine the emergence of Farmers' Markets (FM) in the UK and suggest that FM represent a new type of "consumption space" within the contemporary British foodscape, one which may be read as a heterotopic convergence of localist, moral, ethical and environmental discourses, mediated by networks of producers, consumers and institutions.
Abstract: The aim of this paper is to begin to examine the emergence of Farmers’ Markets (FM)in the UK. It is suggested that FM represent a new type of ‘consumption space’ within the contemporary British foodscape, one which may be read as a heterotopic convergence of localist, moral, ethical and environmental discourses,mediated by networks of producers, consumers and institutions. Based on a preliminary analysis of some of the discourses employed by these actors,it is argued that FM can be understood simultaneously as ‘conservative’ and ‘alternative’ spaces. ‘Conservative’ in that they encapsulate a reactionary valorization of the local,linking localness to the ideas of quality, health and rurality, and ‘alternative’ in that they represent a diversifying rural economy arising in response to the difficulties being experienced by some uk farmers and a more general perception of a countryside under threat. Initial evidence from a pilot case study in Stratford-upon-Avon is used to support these suggestions and propose suggestions for future research.
307 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present an empirical analysis of public support to small-scale tourism enterprises in rural areas in Israel using the tools of cost effectiveness and cost benefit analysis, showing that public assistance for this type of activity is able to generate considerable returns.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors explore some of the ways in which children encounter the countryside through their own experiences, and re-examine the 'rural' from their own viewpoint, uncover an alternative geography of exclusion and disenfranchisement.
TL;DR: In this article, a study of innovation in rural small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in England over the 1991-96 period is presented, based on a survey of 330 firms drawn from 16 sectors and making a comparison between similar SMEs in remote and accessible rural areas.
Abstract: NORTH D. and SMALLBONE D. (2000) The innovativeness and growth of rural SMEs during the 1990s, Reg Studies 34 , 145‐157. The paper summarizes the results of a study of innovation in rural small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in England over the 1991‐96 period. It is based on a survey of 330 firms drawn from 16 sectors and makes a comparison between similar SMEs in remote and accessible rural areas. Using a multi-dimensional index of innovation, relatively little overall difference is found in the level of innovation between SMEs in the different areas. A remote rural location is shown to influence innovation in different aspects of the business in different ways. The most innovative firms are shown to be those that have achieved the fastest growth and best employment creation during the 1990s. NORTH D. et SMALLBONE D. (2000) L'innovation et la croissance des PME rurales pendant les annees 1990, Reg Studies 34 , 145‐157. Cet article cherche a faire le resume d'une etude sur l'innovation des PME rurale...
TL;DR: There is a high prevalence of hypertension in rural and urban areas of Tanzania, with low levels of detection, treatment and control, which demonstrates the need for cost-effective strategies for primary prevention, detection and treatment of hypertension and the growing public health challenge of non-communicable diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Abstract: ObjectiveTo describe the prevalence, detection, treatment and control of hypertension in an urban and rural area of Tanzania.DesignTwo linked cross-sectional population-based surveysSettingA middle-income urban district of Dar es Salaam (Ilala) and a village in the relatively prosperous rural area o
TL;DR: In this article, the need to design, implement, monitor and evaluate RFP development programs by taking sociocultural issues into account is stressed, especially in disadvantaged groups and less favoured areas of rural Africa.
Abstract: Throughout the African continent poultry keeping has been practised by village communities for many generations. These birds currently make up more than 80% of the continent's poultry flock. Rural family poultry (RFP) are a valuable asset to local populations as they contribute significantly to food security, poverty alleviation and the promotion of gender equality, especially in disadvantaged groups and less favoured areas of rural Africa. The paper stresses the need to design, implement, monitor and evaluate RFP development programmes by taking sociocultural issues into account.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors identify four paths out of poverty: exit, agricultural, pluriactive, and assistance, and show that rural incomes are explained by the asset position of households and the characteristics of the context where assets are used.
TL;DR: The rural health care system has changed dramatically over the past decade because of a general transformation of health care financing, the introduction of new technologies, and the clustering of health services into systems and networks.
Abstract: ▪ Abstract The rural health care system has changed dramatically over the past decade because of a general transformation of health care financing, the introduction of new technologies, and the clustering of health services into systems and networks. Despite these changes, resources for rural health systems remain relatively insufficient. Many rural communities continue to experience shortages of physicians, and the proportion of rural hospitals under financial stress is much greater than that of urban hospitals. The health care conditions of selected rural areas compare unfavorably with the rest of the nation. The market and governmental policies have attempted to address some of these disparities by encouraging network development and telemedicine and by changing the rules for Medicare payments to providers. The public health infrastructure in rural America is not well understood but is potentially the most fragile aspect of the rural health care continuum.
TL;DR: Pterygium is a significant public health problem in rural areas, primarily as a result of ocular sun exposure, and the result was the same when ocular UV-B exposure was substituted in the model for broad band sun exposure.
Abstract: AIM To describe the prevalence of and risk factors for pterygium in a population based sample of residents of the Australian state of Victoria who were aged 40 years and older. METHODS The strata comprised nine randomly selected clusters from the Melbourne statistical division, 14 nursing homes randomly selected from the nursing homes within a 5 kilometre radius of the nine Melbourne clusters, and four randomly selected clusters from rural Victoria. Pterygium was measured in millimetres from the tip to the middle of the base. During an interview, people were queried about previous ocular surgery, including surgical removal of pterygium, and their lifetime exposure to sunlight. RESULTS 5147 people participated. They ranged in age from 40 to 101 years and 2850 (55.4%) were female. Only one person in the Melbourne cohort reported previous pterygium surgery, and seven rural residents reported previous surgery; this information was unavailable for the nursing home residents. Pterygium was present upon clinical examination in 39 (1.2%) of the 3229 Melbourne residents who had the clinical examination, six (1.7%) of the nursing home residents, and 96 (6.7%) of the rural residents. The overall weighted population rate in the population was 2.83% (95% CL 2.35, 3.31). The independent risk factors for pterygium were found to be age (OR=1.23, 95% CL=1.06, 1.44), male sex (OR=2.02, 95% CL=1.35, 3.03), rural residence (OR=5.28, 95% CL=3.56, 7.84), and lifetime ocular sun exposure (OR=1.63, 95% CL=1.18, 2.25). The attributable risk of sunlight and pterygium was 43.6% (95% CL=42.7, 44.6). The result was the same when ocular UV-B exposure was substituted in the model for broad band sun exposure. CONCLUSION Pterygium is a significant public health problem in rural areas, primarily as a result of ocular sun exposure.
TL;DR: Assessment of the prevalence and predictors of perceived unmet needs among women diagnosed with breast cancer, with a particular focus on the impact of location (rural/urban).
TL;DR: There is a need for better understanding of behavioural factors and for developing strategies, that take these into account, that influence the likelihood for achieving equity in diagnosis and cure of tuberculosis patients in Vietnam.
Book•
15 Sep 2000
TL;DR: In this article, the authors used case studies from commercial farming regions in Kenya, Tanzania and Zimbabwe and from much poorer areas within eastern and southern Africa to give a broad comparative study of rural livelihoods, revealing how household relations, poverty and gender all play a part in the changing political economy of rural Africa.
Abstract: Livelihoods in rural Africa are changing in response to disappearing job prospects, falling agricultural output and collapsing infrastructure. This book explains why the responses to these challenges are so different in different parts of Africa. Making a Living uses case studies from commercial farming regions in Kenya, Tanzania and Zimbabwe and from much poorer areas within eastern and southern Africa.to give a broad comparative study of rural livelihoods. These case studies reveal how household relations, poverty and gender all play a part in the changing political economy of rural Africa.
TL;DR: A year-long community-based pilot nutrition education intervention was undertaken in four townships to improve infant growth by improving infant feeding practices and it is concluded that these methods have potential for adaptation and development to other rural areas in the county, province and nation.
Abstract: Chinese studies indicate that the growth of rural infants and children lags behind that of their urban counterparts after 4 mo of age and that the gap is widening. However, the rural areas are home to >85% of China's 300 million children. Clearly, culturally appropriate rural complementary feeding interventions are needed to close the growth and health gaps. After a 1990 survey of infants in rural Sichuan confirmed that poor infant feeding practices rather than inadequate household food resources were responsible for the growth faltering, a year-long community-based pilot nutrition education intervention (n congruent with 250 infants each in Education and Control groups) was undertaken in four townships. The goal was to improve infant growth by improving infant feeding practices. Features of the intervention included the training and mobilizing of village nutrition educators who made monthly growth monitoring and complementary feeding counseling visits to all pregnant women and families with infants born during the intervention in the study villages. After 1 y, the Education group mothers showed significantly higher nutrition knowledge and better reported infant feeding practices than their Control group counterparts. Also, the Education group infants were significantly heavier and longer, but only at 12 mo (weight-for-age -1.17 vs. -1.93; P = 0.004; height-for-age -1.32 vs. -1.96; P = 0.022), had higher breast-feeding rates overall (83% vs. 75%; P = 0.034) and lower anemia rates (22% vs. 32%; P = 0.008) than the Control group infants. We conclude that these methods have potential for adaptation and development to other rural areas in the county, province and nation.
01 Mar 2000
TL;DR: There are considerable British urban–rural differences in mental health, which may largely be attributable to more adverse urban social environments, and differences on CIS-R morbidity were considerably reduced.
Abstract: Background Studies of urban-rural differences in prevalence of non-psychotic mental disorder have not given consistent findings. Such differences have received relatively little study in Great Britain. Methods Data from 9777 subjects in the Household Survey of the National Morbidity Survey of Great Britain were analysed for differences between urban, semi-rural and rural areas. Psychiatric morbidity was assessed by scores on the Revised Clinical Interview Schedule (CIS-R), together with alcohol dependence, drug dependence, receipt of treatment from general practitioners. Associations with other characteristics were examined by logistic regression. Results Urban subjects had higher rates than rural of CIS-R morbidity, alcohol dependence and drug dependence, with semi-rural subjects intermediate. Urban subjects also tended to be members of more deprived social groups, with more adverse living circumstances and greater life stress, factors themselves associated with disorder. Urban-rural differences in alcohol and drug dependence were no longer significant after adjustment for these factors by logistic regression, and differences on CIS-R morbidity were considerably reduced. There were no differences in treatment. Conclusions There are considerable British urban rural differences in mental health, which may largely be attributable to more adverse urban social environments.
Posted Content•
01 Jan 2000
TL;DR: In this article, data from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) for 11 countries from three regions were used to test the hypothesis that intra-urban differentials in child stunting were greater than intra-rural differentials, and that the prevalence of stunting among the urban and the rural poor was equally high.
Abstract: Urban-rural comparisons of childhood undernutrition suggest that urban populations are better-off than rural populations. However, these comparisons could mask the large differentials that exist among socioeconomic groups in urban areas. Data from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) for 11 countries from three regions were used to test the hypothesis that intra-urban differentials in child stunting were greater than intra-rural differentials, and that the prevalence of stunting among the urban and the rural poor was equally high. A socioeconomic status (SES) index based on household assets, housing quality, and availability of services was created separately for rural and urban areas of each country, using principal components analysis. In most countries, stunting in the poorest urban quintile was almost on par with that of poor rural dwellers. Thus, malnutrition in urban areas continues to be of concern, and effective targeting of nutrition programs to the poorest segments of the urban population will be critical to their success and cost-effectiveness.
TL;DR: Unless all of the measures of county pesticide use are surrogates for other risk factors more prevalent in pesticide use counties, it seems important to target this prevalent exposure in rural California in future studies that use improved case finding mechanisms and collect pesticide exposure data for individuals.
Abstract: Background In the last two decades reports from different countries emerged associating pesticide and herbicide use with Parkinson's disease (PD). California growers use approximately 250 million pounds of pesticides annually, about a quarter of all pesticides used in the US. Methods We employed a proportional odds mortality design to compare all cases of PD recorded as underlying (1984-1994) or associated causes (1984-1993) of death occurring in California with all deaths from ischaemic heart disease (ICD-9 410-414) during the same period. Based on pesticide use report data we classified California counties into several pesticide use categories. Agricultural census data allowed us to create measures of percentage of land per county treated with pesticides. Employing logistic regression models we estimated the effect of pesticide use controlling for age, gender, race, birthplace, year of deaths, and education. Results Mortality from PD as the underlying cause of death was higher in agricultural pesticide-use counties than in non-use counties. A dose response was observed for insecticide use per county land treated when using 1982 agricultural census data, but not for amounts of restricted pesticides used or length of residency in a country prior to death. Conclusions Our data show an increased PD mortality in California counties using agricultural pesticides. Unless all of our measures of county pesticide use are surrogates for other risk factors more prevalent in pesticide use counties, it seems important to target this prevalent exposure in rural California in future studies that use improved case finding mechanisms and collect pesticide exposure data for individuals.
TL;DR: The importance of pluriactive farm households at both local and regional levels by refering to cases studies drawn from the West of Ireland has been examined in this paper, showing that off-farm work by Irish farm families is neither a new phenomenon nor purely the result of economic necessity.
Abstract: Within the European Union, Ireland is one of the countries that has a very high number of farms where the farm operator and/or spouse works outside the family farm. The role of off-farm employment in the viability of Irish farm households is central to both farming and the sustainability of rural communities. This article examines the importance of pluriactive farm households at both local and regional levels by refering to cases studies drawn from the West of Ireland. It shows that off-farm work by Irish farm families is neither a new phenomenon nor purely the result of economic necessity. It also indicates the considerable socio-economic and environmental importance of pluriactivity. The article concludes by relating the realities of pluriactivity to the future rural and agricultural policy of the European Union. It suggests that the growing role of pluriactivity for farm households should be viewed more as a key strategy in the maintenance of a ‘living countryside’ than as an indicator of conventional agriculture’s failure to sustain farming populations.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors provide energy services to off-grid rural households in developing countries by enhancing markets for solar home systems and by removing barriers to their dissemination, using early implementation experience and lessons suggested by experience.
Abstract: Twelve projects provide energy services to off-grid rural households in developing countries by enhancing markets for solar home systems and by removing barriers to their dissemination. Project approaches are reviewed, along with early implementation experience and lessons suggested by experience. Most projects incorporate the following features: pilot private-sector and NGO delivery models; pilot consumer credit delivery mechanisms; pay first-cost subsidies and offer affordable system sizes; support policy development and capacity; develop codes and standards and establish certification, testing, and enforcement institutions; and conduct consumer awareness and marketing programs. Most projects are just beginning implementation; a few are almost completed. Lessons from early experience suggest that: solar home system delivery firms face a myriad of difficulties operating in rural areas; credit risk is a serious concern of both financiers and dealers and makes credit sales particularly challenging; technical performance of systems is becoming well-proven; customers desire a range of component options and service levels and can benefit from even small systems; projects must recognize the link between rural electric-grid extension and solar home system demand; and marketing campaigns can be extremely costly and time consuming in rural areas. Challenges are to demonstrate sustainable and replicable business models, develop regulatory models for energy-service concessions, and integrate rural electrification policy with solar home system delivery.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examine the prospects for rural areas within the Information Society, referring particularly to the EU experience and highlight the diminishing effects of distance from core markets and enhancing the learning capacities of rural areas by improving access to relevant information.