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Objective Methods Results Discussion Public Significance This study aimed to examine the relationship between food insecurity (FI) and eating disorder psychopathology in a large sample of rural Chinese adolescents.Analyses included 1654 adolescents (55.4% girls; Mage = 16.54 years, SD = 1.45) from a rural high school in southwestern China. FI, eating disorder psychopathology, and psychological distress (i.e., symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress) were assessed. Data were analyzed by sex. Pearson correlation analysis was performed to investigate the zero‐order association between FI and eating disorder psychopathology. Hierarchical linear regressions were used to explore whether FI could explain meaningful variance in eating disorder psychopathology beyond psychological distress and demographic covariates (e.g., socioeconomic status).FI was significantly associated with higher eating disorder psychopathology for boys (r = 0.44, p < 0.001) and girls (r = 0.43, p < 0.001), with medium‐to‐large effect sizes. FI accounted for significant unique variance in eating disorder psychopathology beyond psychological distress and demographic covariates for boys (ΔR2 = 0.14, p < 0.001) and girls (ΔR2 = 0.10, p < 0.001).Using a large sample of rural Chinese adolescents, this study extends the connection between FI and eating disorder pathology in adolescents beyond the Western context. Future investigations on the mechanisms underlying FI and eating disorder psychopathology are warranted for developing prevention strategies for eating disorders among rural Chinese adolescents.This is the first investigation that examined the link between FI and eating disorder psychopathology among rural Chinese adolescents. Our findings highlight the importance of incorporating FI as a potential risk factor to screen for the prevention and intervention of eating disorders among rural Chinese adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this mixed-method study was to better understand how social isolation and support would be associated with depression among older adults in rural areas in the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 103 participants completed a Qualtrics survey. As hypothesized, the hierarchical regression findings indicated that depressive symptoms were positively associated with social isolation and were negatively associated with only social support from significant others. Five interviews were analyzed by themes including social isolation, technology use and social connectivity/support, and depression. The findings of this study provide insights and useful information for practitioners to develop effective services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates whether religion as an important feature of culture affects the formation of personal and social resilience, thus becoming a developmental factor. A questionnaire surveying a sample of 100 rural residents in the Łowicz Diocese in Poland showed that religion was still 'going strong', being an enduring element of national and local culture. The results from this Polish Catholic region undermine prevailing secularisation theories. The research shows that faith provides a significantly positive strength needed to cope with daily life, as well as during crisis situations. It enables people not only to 'survive' but also to 'live well and creatively'. It supplies needed continuity and enhances community solidarities. By consolidating resilience, religion gives people's lives meaning, and augments subjective senses of wellbeing. As a source of social capital, religion mobilises people into joint activities for the parish and local community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Modified Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) in rural settings may be effective in the care of patients with severe mental illness (SMI) that are difficult to engage in community care. The objective of the present study was to explore the impact of the care by a hybrid ACT team on SMI patients' hospitalizations, length of hospital stay, symptomatology and functioning in a rural community treatment setting in Greece. Methods: The hybrid ACT team is an expansion of the services of the well-established generic Mobile Mental Health Unit in a rural area of Northwest Greece, and delivers home-based care for patients with SMI. This was a 3-year prospective, mirror image, pre-post observational study. Patients' symptomatology, functioning and general outcome were measured with the use of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF), and the Health of the Nation Outcome Scale (HοNOS). Results: The mean age of the 23 enrolled patients was 52.4 years and the mean age of disease onset was 23.5 years, with a mean number of hospitalizations 10.74. Over the 16-month follow-up patients' hospitalizations, both voluntary and involuntary, had been significantly reduced by almost 80%. Length of hospital stay had been significantly reduced by 87%, whereas patients' functioning and symptomatology had been significantly improved, by 17% and 14.5%, respectively. Conclusions: The model of hybrid ACT in rural areas in Greece may be effective in the treatment of difficult-to-engage patients with SMI and may improve patients' outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To understand the current situation of death anxiety of the elderly in rural areas of Sichuan and its influencing factors. Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted among 702 rural elderly from 6 prefecture-level cities in Sichuan Province, On the basis of describing the current situation of death anxiety, the 才 test and logistic regression analysis were used to explore the influencing factors of death anxiety. Results The scores of emotional dimensions of death anxiety, stress and pain, time consciousness, and cognitive dimension of the elderly in rural areas of Sichuan were (1.10 ±1.33), (2.29 ±1.80), (0.76±0.79), and (1.18±0.79), respectively. The total score was (533±3.68), and 245 (34.90%) had high death anxiety. Multivariate analysis showed that the number of children (02=0.742, 95%CI: 0,630-0.875)), subjective well-being (OR= 0.453, 95%CI: 0.335-0.612)) and physical fitness (OR=0.581, 95%CI: 0452-0.746) were the protective factors of death anxiety in the elderly*, while chronic diseases (OR=1.575, 95%CI: 1.032-2.404)) were the risk factors of death anxiety. Conclusion The death anxiety of the elderly in the rural areas of Sichuan is at a medium -low level, and the rural elderly with a small number of children, chronic diseases, poor physical fitness, and low subjective well-being have a higher level of death anxiety, which should be paid more attention to. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The livelihood of rural households not only determines their income, but also has a significant impact on the regional ecological environment. The differentiation of rural regional factors is one of the main driving factors for the diversity of livelihood capital levels and livelihood strategies in rural households. Analyzing the characteristics of livelihood capital and livelihood strategies of rural households in different rural areas is an important foundation for establishing sustainable livelihoods for local households. This study collected first-hand data from 512 rural households in the Yuqiao Reservoir watershed and constructed an evaluation index system for the livelihood capital of rural households. Livelihood strategies were divided into four types according to the income source of rural households, including purely agricultural(PA), mainly agricultural(MA), mainly non-agricultural(MNA), and purely non-agricultural(PNA). The characteristics of livelihood capital and livelihood strategies of rural households in different rural areas were analyzed. Finally, the impacts of livelihood capital on livelihood strategies were analyzed using multiple regression equations. The main findings are as follows：The non-agricultural livelihood of rural households has become a common phenomenon in the Yuqiao Reservoir watershed, with 42.6% MNA and 29.5% PNA. There were significant differences in the livelihood capital of rural households with different livelihood strategies. The total livelihood, human, social, and financial capital of PNA and MNA rural households were significantly higher than those of PA and MA rural households (P<0.05). The natural capital of PA and MA households was significantly higher than that of PNA households(P<0.05). There were significant differences in the level of livelihood capital and livelihood strategy choices of rural households in different rural areas. The total livelihood and natural capital of rural households in cash crop areas were significantly higher than those in other regions, whereas the financial capital in traditional grain-producing areas was the lowest(P<0.05). The rural households around the reservoir were mainly PNA. The rural households in the mountain forest and urban periphery areas households were mainly MNA. The rural households in the traditional grain-producing and cash crop areas were mainly PNA and MNA households. MNA and MA households were mainly found in the cultural tourism area. Indicators such as per capita farmland area, per capita forestland area, fragmentation of cultivated land, soil fertility, labor share and average age of labor force, means of transportation, and household per capita income had a significant impact on the choice of livelihood strategies(P<0.05). The main reasons for the differences in livelihood capital and strategies among different rural areas were related to their geographical location, natural resources, social resources, and policies. Finally, a targeted optimization strategy for regional rural household livelihoods based on the characteristics of constituent elements was proposed, which can provide a reference for promoting the development of farmer livelihoods in different rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Access to rural primary healthcare services has been broadly studied in the past few decades. However, most earlier studies that focused on examining access to rural healthcare services have conventionally treated spatial and non-spatial access as separate factors. This research aims to measure access to primary healthcare services in rural areas with the consideration of both spatial and non-spatial dimensions. The methodology of study is threefold. First, the Gaussian two-step floating catchment area (G-2SFCA) method was adopted to measure spatial access to primary healthcare services. Then, a questionnaire survey was conducted to investigate non-spatial access factors, including demographic condition, patient's household income, healthcare insurance, education level, and patient satisfaction level with the services. After that, a comprehensive evaluation index system was employed to integrate both spatial and non-spatial access. The empirical study showed a remarkable disparity in spatial access to primary healthcare services. In total, 78 villages with 185,137 local people had a "low" or "very low" level of spatial access to both clinics and hospitals. For the non-spatial dimension, the results depicted that Songzi had significant inequalities in socioeconomic status (e.g., income, education) and patient satisfaction level for medical service. When integrating both spatial and non-spatial factors, the disadvantaged areas were mainly located in the eastern and middle parts. In addition, this study found that comprehensively considering the spatial and non-spatial access had a significant impact on results in healthcare access. In conclusion, this study calls for policymakers to pay more attention to primary healthcare inequalities within rural areas. The spatial and non-spatial access should be considered comprehensively when the long-term rural medical support policy is designated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigates adaptation to the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) among the rural youth in Qunu, Eastern Cape, South Africa. The broad focus on 4IR in job creation is its impact on youth skills development, and an important question is how rural youth benefit from 4IR opportunities. With few studies conducted on the topic of youth skills development in the context of 4IR, an investigation of the problems faced by the rural youth in Qunu in accessing emerging technologies was deemed to be of value. Mixed-method research was employed with a sample of 44 young people living in Qunu. Data was analysed using themes. The findings of this study indicate that the respondents had inadequate knowledge about 4IR and the opportunities it offers. Also, little is being done to improve the skills of the youth, though they show interest in improving their IT skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relative poverty is one of the issues that need to be tackled in global poverty reduction. Taking the Huajiang demonstration area in Guizhou Province in Southwest China as an example, the authors constructed a relative poverty measurement system with three dimensions of living standard, viability and economic status from the perspective of social deprivation, conducted a quantitative study on the relative poverty of a sample of 581 households in the Huajiang demonstration area, analysed the spatial characteristics of the relatively poor households, and detected the geographical factors affecting poverty. The results show that: (1) farmers living in locations with high altitude, large slope and undulating terrain are more likely to suffer from relative poverty; (2) natural factors are the dominant force affecting relative poverty, and are the basis for the formation, development and evolution of relative poverty, while social factors also have a certain influence on relative poverty. At the same time, the interaction detection of the Geographic Probe shows that there are significant interactions among the factors. Measuring the relative poverty level of the Huajiang demonstration area and each village group and exploring its influencing factors can provide theoretical references for improving the realisation of the sustainable development of the Huajiang demonstration area and for countries to tackle the challenges of relative poverty in karst mountains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over time, several relationships have been defined between electricity consumption and a region's social and economic variables, with income as the main factor. This paper uses multiple correspondence analysis to identify the categories of dwellings and, from a graphical point of view (positioning maps), the effects of the different characteristics that influence the electricity consumption of households in rural areas of Cundinamarca, Colombia. In this analysis, the consumption of residential users responded mainly to what they can afford or acquire based on their income, consumption habits, and the characteristics of the technology. Furthermore, this study highlights the implications of these findings for policymakers and energy providers, providing valuable insights for developing targeted strategies to promote energy efficiency and sustainability in rural areas. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the dynamics of electricity consumption and highlights the importance of tailoring energy-related interventions to the specific socio-economic context of rural communities, in this case in Cundinamarca. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the European Union, increasing attention is already being paid not only to the development of renewable energy sources, but also to the establishment of solutions to achieve local energy self-sufficiency while increasing the role of citizens in managing the energy they generate. This approach is expected both to have a positive impact on the environment and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and to enhance energy security—both in economic and civic terms by, i.a., combating energy poverty. The development of local energy communities promoted in the EU is supported i.a. by energy cooperatives. These contribute to the efficient harnessing of renewable energy potential in rural and urban-rural areas, and have been developing in Poland for several years now. In their previous studies, the authors of this research paper attempted to verify the generation (number, type and capacity of installed sources) and consumption (energy demand) configurations in which an energy cooperative would be a viable solution for prosumers who might establish it. However, over the past few years, the conditions for prosumers and the method of their accounting with the electricity seller have changed radically in Poland (shift from net metering to net billing). This situation has opened up space for further research and encouraged the authors to revisit the problem of analyzing the viability of establishing energy cooperatives in relation to the rules of operation of individual prosumers. This research was carried out for three scenarios, and the horizon of the analyses conducted and described extends to 2045. The comparative analysis included energy consumers without their own generation sources, prosumers with a photovoltaic generation installation covered by the net billing model, as well as a scenario involving prosumers' cooperation within an energy cooperative, which by law is settled in the net metering model. Conclusions from the research and simulations made it possible to confirm the claim that, despite changes in the rules of prosumer billing, developing energy independence in the energy community formula results in a significant reduction in the cost of purchasing electricity (even several times lower purchase costs in the timeframe analyzed) and can lead to a reduction in the payback time of investments in generation sources even by a factor of two. The results presented in this research paper open up space for further research. The outcomes allow us to assume that energy cooperatives—in the organizational and institutional model in Poland—are a good tool for reducing the phenomenon of energy poverty on a local scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through analyzing the focal points, institutional and policy priorities of rural characteristic planting industry and industrial chain extension, it is believed that the focus of industrial agglomeration is the improvement of producer quality and the construction of variety, quality, and brand of characteristic industries, forming economies of scale;The focus of extending the industrial chain is to ensure the product safety and quality of characteristic industries through the coverage of the entire industrial chain, and increase the added value of the industry. The government, as an important actor in rural characteristic industrial clusters, plays a role in guiding, coordinating, ensuring supervision, and playing the roles of “participant” “supporter”, and “promoter” from beginning to end. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrical power generation in Oman depends mainly on natural gas, while in rural areas it is based mainly on diesel fuel. Oman has committed to net-zero emissions by 2050, in line with the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. The objective of this paper is to propose an optimal energy mix model for electricity generation from various energy sources, such as gas, diesel, wind, and photovoltaic, that considers more renewable sources in the energy mix. The optimization model minimizes various costs such as construction cost, operation cost, fuel cost, and carbon emissions, while satisfying the load demand. In this paper, Masirah Island is selected to perform our analysis. Several scenarios are contemplated, including grid extension to the island. The results found that gas-powered generators with 20% PV and storage are the best option in terms of the levelized cost of electricity. The grid extension is an economically feasible option if the existing load is more than doubled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: With an increase in life expectancy over the last few decades, there has been a parallel increase in the prevalence of disabilities among the elderly population. To estimate the prevalence of dependency in activities of daily living (ADL) and its predictors among the rural elderly population. Material and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out in the community among the rural geriatric population in the field practice area of PG Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College Jammu. The Barthel Scale Index was used to measure ADL dependency. PSPP software was used to analyze the data. Results: The mean age of study participants was 68.31 ± 7.9 years. ADL dependency was observed in 46.3% of the subjects, with the majority demonstrating mild to moderate dependence. Only 2.5% of the respondents reported a severe degree of ADL dependence. The mean ADL score was 94.47 ± 8.98. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, age, educational status, the presence of stress in the family, personal history, and the presence of co-morbidities emerged to be independent predictors of ADL dependence. Conclusion: High prevalence of physical disability in the geriatric population is now an area of major concern. This emphasizes the significance of setting up geriatric care centers especially in rural areas preferably integrating with health and wellness centers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To analyze the relationship between nicotine dependence and depression among the elderly of Dai ethnic group in Jinggu county, Yunnan Province. Methods By using the method of multi-stage stratified random sampling, 1 409 rural Dai people aged 60 and over in Jinggu county, Yunnan Province were investigated by face-to-face questionnaire. Results The current smoking rate of rural Dai elderly in Jinggu county, Yunnan Province was 18.6% (37.1% for males and 0.8% for females). The smoking rate of males was significantly higher than that of females (P < 0.01). At present, the nicotine dependence rate of smokers was 32.8% (32.4% for males and 50.0% for females). There was no significant difference in nicotine dependence among Dai elderly people of different genders (P > 0.05), age groups (P > 0.05), education (P > 0.05), and annual family per capita income (P > 0.05). The prevalence rate of depression in the surveyed population was 52.0% (49.4% for males and 54.5% for females). Multivariate Logistic regression model analysis showed that patients with nicotine dependence were more likely to suffer from depression than those without nicotine dependence (OR=1.517, 95%C%: 1.0662.158). Conclusion Nicotine dependence is positively correlated with depression in the elderly of Dai ethnic group in Yunnan Province. Taking effective measures to reduce the nicotine dependence rate of smokers is helpful to improve the mental health level of the elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spain’s Comunitat Valenciana (Valencian Community) () has a rich agricultural history, with long traditions of resilience and innovation. This tradition, along with the community’s deep ethic of respect for the land, remains at the core of the region’s approach to climate change and sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate the mental health status and its influencing factors among elderly hypertensive patients from Rural Areas of Chuxiong and Honghe Prefecture in Yunnan. Methods Multi-stage random sampling method was adopted to select elderly hypertensive patients from rural Yi ethnic areas in Yunnan. Questionnaires were used to collect their basic information and mental health status. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to explore the influencing factors of mental health among the elderly hypertensives. Results 21.82% (209/958) of elderly people with hypertension have poor mental health status in Chuxiong and Honghe Prefecture, Yunnan. Age of 80-89 years (OR = 2.395, P<0.05) and over 90 years (OR = 3.293, P<0.05), as well as physical disability (OR = 2.037, P<0.05), were risk factors for poor mental health. Compared with those who rated their economic situation as very difficult, rating as somewhat difficult (OR = 0.490, P<0.05), moderate (OR = 0.632, P<0.05) and relatively affluent (OR = 0.344, P<0.05), having a spouse (OR =0.655, P<0.05), received full concern from the offspring (OR = 0.411, P<0.05) and maintain good relationships with offspring (OR = 0.339, P<0.05) were protective factors. Conclusions The mental health status of elderly people with hypertension is relatively poor in rural areas of Chuxiong and Honghe Prefecture in Yunnan Province. Special attention should be paid to the mental health of older and physically disabled elderly hypertensives. Economic and mental support from children was crucially important in improving the mental health of elderly hypertensive patients in rural areas of Chuxiong and Honghe Prefecture in Yunnan Province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mosquitoes belonging to the Anopheles gambiae sensu lato complex play a major role in malaria transmission across Africa. This study assessed the relative importance of members of An. gambiae s.l. in malaria transmission in two rural villages in the Republic of the Congo. Methods: Adult mosquitoes were collected using electric aspirators from June to September 2022 in Djoumouna and Ntoula villages and were sorted by taxa based on their morphological features. Anopheles gambiae s.l. females were also molecularly identified. A TaqMan-based assay and a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were performed to determine Plasmodium spp. in the mosquitoes. Entomological indexes were estimated, including man-biting rate, entomological inoculation rate (EIR), and diversity index. Results: Among 176 mosquitoes collected, An. gambiae s.l. was predominant (85.8%), followed by Culex spp. (13.6%) and Aedes spp. (0.6%). Three members of the An. gambiae s.l. complex were collected in both villages, namely An. gambiae sensu stricto (74.3%), Anopheles coluzzii (22.9%) and Anopheles arabiensis (2.8%). Three Plasmodium species were detected in An. gambiae s.s. and An. coluzzii (Plasmodium falciparum, P. malariae and P. ovale), while only P. falciparum and P. malariae were found in An. arabiensis. In general, the Plasmodium infection rate was 35.1% (53/151) using the TaqMan-based assay, and nested PCR confirmed 77.4% (41/53) of those infections. The nightly EIR of An. gambiae s.l. was 0.125 infectious bites per person per night (ib/p/n) in Djoumouna and 0.08 ib/p/n in Ntoula. The EIR of An. gambiae s.s. in Djoumouna (0.11 ib/p/n) and Ntoula (0.04 ib/p/n) was higher than that of An. coluzzii (0.01 and 0.03 ib/p/n) and An. arabiensis (0.005 and 0.0 ib/p/n). Conclusions: This study provides baseline information on the dominant vectors and dynamics of malaria transmission in the rural areas of the Republic of the Congo during the dry season. In the two sampled villages, An. gambiae s.s. appears to play a predominant role in Plasmodium spp. transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maintaining a rural-urban balance is absolutely necessary in the context of the challenges related to food security and environmental protection as well as the perspectives of urban agglomeration. This paper highlighted the impact of the main events from the last 30 years on the rural population. This study used the vector autoregressive model (VAR) to investigate the estimates and analyse the dynamic impact of innovations on the system of variables. Key issues that influenced certain periods in the analyzed interval were highlighted, which clearly show the impact on the analyzed variables using variance decomposition. The cost of living in rural areas is increasing, so more and more inhabitants give up growing certain crops or raising certain animals, thus having to search for food to survive, leading to additional wage income to cover these costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural areas are regaining attention as key resource holders. This includes the attractiveness of intact and traditional cultural elements and heritage which helps to create new opportunities. However, renewal is needed for rural areas to be competitive beyond tourism. Knowledge exchange and transfer is seen as an enabling tool for regeneration and heritage valorization, although it has mostly been applied in an urban context. The aim of this paper is to explore the role of capacity building and knowledge exchange at different levels in promoting rural regeneration through heritage-led initiatives. The article describes a multi-directional knowledge transfer and exchange in 19 rural areas. The applied knowledge exchange methodology was designed to be a dynamic and vibrant exchange of capacity building and mutual learning. This exchange of knowledge enabled the local communities involved to explore new ideas and viable solutions for the regeneration of rural areas through the valorization of cultural and natural heritage. The research findings show that structuring a knowledge transfer and capacity building process that also involves key local stakeholders and the rural communities is an important milestone in the regeneration process. In addition, it can be a unique opportunity to start and build new professional long-term relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural communities have experienced significant changes in their social, economic and demographic structures, leading to an increased importance of volunteering. Such activities are related to traditional association structures, which seem to be declining in popularity. One of the current hopes for strengthening rural volunteering is digitalisation. This article examines the extent to which digitalisation has found its way into volunteering and how this is related to rural areas. It summarises the discourses on volunteering, rural areas and digitalisation and introduces a mixed-methods approach at the organisational level. Based on a nationwide survey and in-depth interviews with volunteers and experts, we present a digitalisation index to illustrate that digitalisation has found its way into rural volunteering, but not to the same extent everywhere. We suggest that the sparse use of distance-bridging digital tools is due to the structural peculiarities of rural voluntary organisations rather than stereotypical rural backwardness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Treatment continuation is essential for the optimal management of patients with mental disorders in the community, but treatment and outcome are often undermined by the high rates of service disengagement and treatment non-adherence across all psychiatric diagnoses. The phenomenon may be even more relevant in rural settings. Aims: The aim of the present study was to explore attendance to treatment in first-contact patients in a community-based treatment setting in rural Greece and to explore the associations of treatment attendance with demographic and clinical factors. Method: Data were collected prospectively over a 3-year period, with 1-year follow-up interval. All first-contact cases with the Mobile Mental Health Unit of the prefectures of Ioannina and Thesprotia (MMHU I-T), Northwest Greece were considered, but only clinical cases were processed. Results: The sample size consisted of 446 patients, with a mean age 65.4 ± 18.8 years. The rate of 12-month attendance to mental health treatment was 13.5% (60 out of 446 patients). Treatment attendance was found to be correlated with younger age, the diagnosis of schizophrenia-spectrum disorder, and patients' referral by other psychiatric services. First examination over the year 2019 had been significantly inversely associated with treatment engagement. Conclusion: Rates of subsequent attendance after initial assessment in a rural community mental healthcare setting were rather low in the present study. Several variables that have been previously associated with service engagement were found to be related in this study too, whereas other were not. Research on treatment engagement in rural treatment settings should be ongoing to reveal all associated factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Telemedicine may help improve older adults' access, health outcomes, and quality of life indicators. This review aims to provide current evidence on the effectiveness of telemedicine in the aged population. Method: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science electronic databases between January 2015 and September 2021 using the keywords "telemedicine" or "telehealth" and "older people" or "geriatrics" or "elderly." The articles were classified under three headings according to the purposes: feasibility, diagnosis and management of chronic diseases, and patient satisfaction. Results: A total of 22 articles were included. Across most disciplines, evidence has shown that telemedicine is as effective as usual care, if not more so, in the feasibility, chronic disease management, and patient satisfaction of the elderly. However, a few studies reported challenges such as difficulty with technology, hearing problems, and the inability to perform hands-on examinations for physicians. Conclusion: Findings from this review support the view that health care providers can use telemedicine to manage elderly individuals in conjunction with usual health care. However, future research is needed to eliminate barriers to increasing telemedicine use among older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of professional midwives in the Philippines work in public health, particularly in rural areas. In this paper, we sought to investigate and gain insights into midwives' motivations, experiences, and aspirations while working and providing client-centered care in rural areas of the Cordillera Administrative Region, one of the administrative regions in the Philippines. This study utilized a qualitative descriptive study design through in-depth interviews using a semi-structured topic guide to collect data from September-October 2021. Participants were selected based on their at least three-year work experience, current roles as midwives in public rural health settings, and willingness to participate. Phone calls were used for interviews due to travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed through content analysis. Developed themes were confirmed and validated by the study participants. A total of seven rural professional midwives participated in this study. Three main themes emerged from the data analysis - including the process of embracing the midwifery profession, rewarding yet challenging work experiences, and aspiration for competence and better work status. This study is the first of its kind done in the country and, as such, has provided new insights and findings regarding the midwifery profession in the Philippines. Despite facing challenges in providing healthcare in the rural setting, rural midwives find their profession to be a fulfilling and gratifying work experience. They strive for greater competence and improved work status and are dedicated to serving rural areas to the best of their abilities. Enabling midwives in rural communities with support and avenues for professional growth will enhance the provision of healthcare services in geographically challenged regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A care crisis concept has been introduced in the literature to describe the growing decoupling process between the expanding care needs of older people and the difficulties of informal and family networks in coping. These changes happened in rural areas quicker and with greater intensity than in urban areas.Against this background, the article investigates older people living in rural areas in Italy and focuses on care networks. The analysis draws on an exploratory study conducted in three rural areas, based on 48 interviews with older people living alone at home and with different degrees of functional limitations and care needs.The research findings highlight the emergence of a complex scenario characterised by different configurations of care networks and coping strategies of adaptation and reorganisation. At the same, the research suggests further research lines to capture the multifaceted dimensions and multiple inequalities related to the care crisis in rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to reveal the parenting experiences of parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in rural southwest China under the framework of ecological systems theory. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 parents of children with ASD from rural southwest China and the interview data were analyzed using the three coding steps of the grounded theory method, namely open, axial, and selective coding. The results showed four themes: challenges from within the family; relationships between parents, the school, and the community; scarcity and low accessibility of available resources and services; the culture of discriminating against people with disabilities and the loss of eligibility for welfare. The mismatch between the needs of families of children with ASD and the resources available in social-environmental systems is the major issue faced by parents. Raising a child with ASD in rural southwest China is affected by the interactions between the families and the internal structures in different environmental systems. The culture of discriminating against people with disabilities formed in the macrosystem could be the essential factor that affects the smoothness of the parenting process of children with ASD. The diagnosis of a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a difficult and stressful experience for the parents of the child and the whole family. This study highlights the mismatch between parent/family needs, and the resources in different environmental systems of rural southwest China, which may have a limiting effect on the rehabilitation of children with ASD. Emphasis on effective collaboration between social systems to help families with ASD children develop more supportive social conditions should be included in the discussion of rehabilitation projects. The educational and psychological interventions for parents of ASD children should be included in the rehabilitation, which enhance their scientific understanding of self-identity, family and social environment and parenting style. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the complex patterns and consequences of student moving from rural areas of Balochistan to Quetta city for higher education using a qualitative exploration methodology, which is grounded on primary and secondary data sources. This research further intends to add to the body of knowledge by providing insightful analysis of the always changing opportunities and difficulties coming from the interaction between migration and education. Diverse reasons, such as access to higher-quality education, exposure to new cultures and diversities, improved employment chances and the pursuit of specialized fields of study. Qualitative research approach was adopted to explore the phenomena through key informant interviews from key informants and exploratory research type was applied to the study as the study is exploratory in the nature. Considering the principles of saturation, overall, fourteen key informant interviews were conducted for collecting the primary data on the phenomena, whereas secondary data are gathered from available peer reviewed sources. The exploration aims to determine the factors driving pupil migration to Quetta city, assess the effect, explore the obstacles and hassles faced by shifting students. Complex insights into the qualitative dynamics of migration and their implications for students and the city are greatly added by this study. Through a in-depth comprehension of the intricacies linked to student mobility, the study illuminates motivating elements including the attraction of security and learning chances, as well as the transformational capacity of student movement. Furthermore, the research highlights historical, geographical, socio-political, and economic variables as impediments to student mobility. In general, this study improves our comprehension of the complex elements of student mobility and its effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study's aim was to examine the challenges faced by early childhood practitioners in the provision of Early Childhood care and education in rural schools in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. The study adopted a mixed method research design. A sample of 20 respondents was selected from five (5) Early Childhood Education Centres in rural areas. Data was collected using questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Qualitative data was analysed using themes by coding and grouping similar ideas and quantitative data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) to generate frequencies, mean, and standard deviations. Frequencies, mean, and standard deviations were used to answer the research questions, while t-test statistic was used to test the null hypotheses that guided the study at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study among others revealed that there was inadequate fund for the running of early childhood education in rural areas. It was also found that lack of qualified early childhood practitioners, lack of instructional materials, dilapidated classrooms, inadequate space for quality play and lack of motivation of staff were among the notable challenges encountered while providing early childhood care and education in rural school. In view of the research findings, it was recommended that appropriate infrastructure, teaching/learning materials and relevant equipment for play be provided in ECE Centres. Further, the proprietors should establish more ECE centres closer to communities so that preschoolers can access the schools easily. The government should highly fund ECE centres for better operations of the program in rural schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The geographical latitude, climate and agro-ecological conditions, as well as the agricultural production of Bulgaria are similar to some of the regions of Northern China. In this context, the exchange of plant genetic resources and associated information between the two countries could assist in achieving the sustainable development common goal and respond to global climate challenges. This is the reason for the successful applicability of the achieved scientific results from joint research projects in the area of plant diversity preservation with a potential to create innovations being a donor of valuable traits for crop breeding of new varieties such as high yield, improved biological qualities and resistance. The aim of the study is to evaluate the enrichment of collections through passport information in the National register of plant genetic resources and identifying new priorities for cooperation as digitalization. Since 2007 through the implementation of six bilateral projects, over 25 expeditions in rural areas of Bulgaria were conducted. Cooperation networks of scientists between the two partner countries were created, too. 1149 accessions of local plant genetic resources from cereals, grain legumes, vegetables, medical and aromatic species were collected and exchanged with a view to their long-term conservation in Bulgarian and Chinese genebanks and sustainable use. During the period 1982-2013 the Bulgarian genebank has been enriched with 231 accessions through international free germplasm exchange from three research organizations of the People’s Republic of China, of which 133 are characterized with Chinese origin. The development of collections in Bulgarian genebank represents diverse genetic material, well documented and stored for present and future generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The centralisation of acute health care is a key policy concern in many countries. Less attention has been given to the side effects of centralisation: peripheralisation, occurring mainly in rural areas and post‐industrial towns. In this research, we start filling this gap by exploring how this trend of concentration of health care can contribute to a phenomenon referred to as 'discursive peripheralisation'. This article contributes to the literature on discursive peripheralisation by focusing on how actors, in our case acute care practitioners, cope with or oppose such processes. We draw on empirical data from two healthcare regions in different geographical contexts in Norway and The Netherlands. In these regions, we zoom in on the work of care practitioners and how they, in relation to care organisations and local authorities, aim to organise care for patients in 'the periphery' and how this contributes to more diverse and alternative narratives and practices of health care in these areas. Our findings offer important insights for both rural and regional policy. We conclude that other narratives, for instance, about perceptions of quality of care should be considered to avoid too much emphasis on the disadvantages faced by peripheral areas, compared to their urban counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To explore the self-rated health status and influencing factors of the elderly in rural areas of China, and to provide decision-making reference for relevant departments to formulate healthy aging strategies for the elderly in rural areas. Methods Using the data of China family panel studies (CFPS) in 2020, descriptive analysis, univariate analysis, and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze the self-rated health status and its influencing factors of the elderly in rural areas of China. Results In total 72.6% of the 2 717 elderly in rural areas of China rated themselves as healthy. The age group of 60 to 74 years old (OR=0.694, 95%CI: 0.501-0.961), lower income (OR=0.503, 95%CI: 0.372-0.681), no smoking or no current smoking (OR=0.682, 95%CI: 0.538-0.865), and no alcohol or less alcohol now (OR=0.672, 95%CI: 0.491- 0.920) were associated with poor self-rated health status. Normal BMI index (OR=1.868, 95% CI: 1.298-2.687), по hospitalization within one year (OR=2.537, 95%CI: 2.015-3.194), no physical discomfort within two weeks (OR=4.205, 95% CI: 3.422-5.167), and no chronic diseases (OR=2.530, 95% CI: 2.051-3.121) were associated with better health status. Conclusion The self-rated health status of the elderly in rural areas of China is good, but it is still necessary to strengthen the economic support, improve the construction of medical and health service system, improve the family support and social support system, and actively carry out specialized health education for the elderly in rural areas to promote their health management and quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of women is particularly relevant for the economic and social development in rural areas. The purpose of this study was to identify the situation of eleven women entrepreneurs living in rural areas in the Southern part of the state of Jalisco, with the hope of promoting the entrepreneurship in these regions. For this purpose, two case studies were carried out using different qualitative techniques for data collection: documentary analysis, in-depth interviews and participant observation. The socio-demographic profile, the family situation, the level of education, the strategies for reconciling family and work, the characteristics of the production and/or business, the needs they had as women entrepreneurs, and the skills they had for such work, were the main variables analyzed by a data triangulation. The results show that, despite their poor educational level and low involvement in the labor market, rural women in Southern Jalisco acquired entrepreneurial abilities through observation and family experience. However, they lack other factors necessary to engage in the labor market. They themselves gave the keys to fostering rural women's entrepreneurship in the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes the telehealth experiences of adolescents, young adults, and youth workers during the first and second waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in the province of Québec, Canada, where remote appointments was the recommended alternative to in-person meetings due to various public health restrictions. Four main themes emerged from individual interviews with nine adolescents and young adults (aged 15–25 years) and focus groups with 35 service providers: the trust relationship, loss of nonverbal communication, confidentiality concerns, and youth disengagement. Participants agreed that face-to-face psychosocial intervention is the preferred option for quality care and service. However, with appropriate support and infrastructure, telehealth could be a reliable alternate modality for reaching adolescents and young adults in remote and rural areas as well as for follow-up care for adolescents and young adults who have an established and trusted relationship with their service provider. For interventions to remain youth-friendly and person-centred, adolescents and young adults must always be offered a choice of modality. Perspectives of adolescents, young adults, and youth workers intersect to provide a unique understanding of telehealth in a specific context. There is scant literature on the use of telehealth as a social work practice modality, specifically with adolescents, young adults and their families. This article attempts to fill this gap by providing an early look at the experiences of telehealth during the first two waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in Québec, Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural areas are home to a larger proportion of older adults and populations who age within these locales and suffer disproportionately from health, mental health, and economic disparities compared to their urban counterparts. This article will explore the disparities faced by persons that reside in rural communities across the lifespan. It will briefly discuss what is meant by rural. As a rural region at specific risk, the issues confronting those aging in Appalachia will be examined. Finally, best practices and future directions to combat health disparities among rural residents and elders will be discussed. This includes the Appalachian Gerontology Experiences: Advancing Diversity in Aging Research training program which recruits and trains minority and first-generation undergraduate students in aging and health disparity research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The aim of this study is to analyze the prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms and its relationship with the socio-economic position (SEP) among the elderly people in Dai rural areas of Jinggu County, Yunnan province. Methods A multi-stage stratified random sampling method was used to conduct a questionnaire survey among 1 409 people aged 60 and over in Dai rural areas of Jinggu County, Yunnan Province. The individual SEP index was constructed using the principal component analysis. Results The prevalence of anxiety symptoms, depression symptoms, and mixed anxiety-depressive disorder symptoms was 4.8%, 52.0%, and 4.2% among them, 2.6%, 49.4%, and 2.3% among the males, and 6.8%, 54.5%, and 6.0% among the females respectively. Females had the higher prevalence of anxiety symptoms and mixed anxiety-depressive disorder symptoms than males (P<0.05). Elderly people with the higher level of education, annual per capita household income and SEP had the lower prevalence of anxiety symptoms and mixed anxiety-depressive disorder symptoms than their counterparts (both P<0.05).The prevalence of depression symptoms increased with age ( P<0.01). The difference in the prevelence of depression symptoms among the elderly people with the different numbers of chronic conditions was statistically significant (P<0.01). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the elderly people with lower SEP were more likely to suffer from the anxiety symptoms (OR=0.707, 95%CI: 0.566 ～0.883), depression symptoms ( OR=0.492, 95%CI: 0.438 ～0.552), and mixed anxiety-depressive disorder symptoms ( OR=0.602, 95%CI: 0.469 ～0.773). Conclusion There are significant socio-economic differences in the prevalence of anxiety symptoms and depression symptoms among the elderly people in Dai rural areas of Jinggu County, Yunnan province. Future mental health interventions should more focus on females, elderly people with advanced age, multiple chronic diseases and low SEP, so as to reduce the occurrence of depression symptoms and anxiety symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measures against overcrowding have been developed and analyzed mainly in the context of urban destinations. For rural areas near metropolitan areas, which have been strongly affected by overcrowding by day trip tourists since the two Covid-summers of 2020/21 on many weekends, there is hardly any research available on this topic. In the context of a case study for Tölzer Land, 129 strategies and measures developed for urban areas and protected areas were compiled from the literature and their applicability in rural areas was examined. A comparison with the measures already implemented and planned in the destination showed that the concepts can be mostly transferred to rural areas where they are also suitable to counteract the negative effects of overcrowding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study adopts EQ ⁃5D ⁃3L, Pittsburgh sleep quality index, GHQ ⁃12, and Morse fall scale （MFS）to investigate older adults in M County and to explore the interaction mechanism between sleep quality and quality of life of the older adults in rural areas. The mediating and moderating effects were tested by the Bootstrap method. The results found that mental health partially mediated between sleep quality and quality of life among older adults (effect size -0.197, 95% confidence interval -0.331 to -0.072), with the mediating effect accounting for 43.8% of the total effect. The mediating effect was affected by the risk of falls(R = -0.020, P < 0.01), with a more significant effect observed in older adults with a higher risk of falls. Therefore, fall risk in rural older adults moderates the mediating role of mental health on the association between sleep quality and quality of life. Reducing fall risks may improve the quality of life among older adults with poor sleep and mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the 2018 CLHLS data, this study employs non⁃conditional logistic regression and non⁃ linear Oaxaca⁃Blinder decomposition to analyze the difference in cognitive function of rural empty nesters with severe aging trends from the gender perspective. The study found that there was a significant gender difference in the cognitive function of rural empty ⁃ nesters, and the proportion and score of normal cognitive function in rural female empty ⁃ nesters were significantly lower than that of males. Rural female empty ⁃ nesters showed sensitivity to marital status, loneliness and life satisfaction, while rural male empty⁃nesters showed sensitivity to self ⁃ rated economy. The cognitive difference of rural empty ⁃ nesters is 64.05% related to gender itself. The individual differences in education level, marital status, age, activity of daily living and social participation expand this gender difference in cognitive function of rural empty ⁃ nesters. This paper suggested providing relevant support, including improving the accessibility of medical services, and promoting social interaction activities to narrow the gender gap in cognitive function of rural empty⁃nesters, therefore better maintaining the health of older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the numerous contributions from farm entrepreneurship to economic development, including food security and rural poverty alleviation, most farm enterprises often fail due to institutional challenges in developing countries. Based on this perspective, the study investigates the effect of different institutional contexts, such as regulatory, normative, and cognitive institutions, on the performance of farm enterprises. The study further evaluates the mediating role of farm Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO) in the Institution-Venture performance relationship. We employ the PLS-SEM technique to analyze data collected from 371 farm enterprises in Ghana. The findings from the study emphasize that Regulatory, Normative, and Cognitive institutions have positive and significant indirect effects on farm business performance through the partial mediating role of EO. While regulatory and normative institutions have a negative direct effect on farm venture performance, the results show that cognitive institutions have positive and significant effects on farm business performance. The study confirms the positive and significant impacts of institutions on farm-level EO. The findings imply that farm entrepreneurship can be improved by strengthening regulatory, normative, and cognitive institutions to offer conducive support for farm businesses in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Health literacy (HL) plays a key role in accessing, understanding, appraising, and using health-related information within the healthcare, disease prevention, and health promotion areas. Aim of the research: To determine the level of health literacy among primary health care (PHC) patients depending on their place of residence, and to evaluate the impact of individual sociodemographic, family, and health predictors on the level of health literacy within the study group. Material and methods: The cross-sectional study included 566 primary health care (PHC) patients, and it was conducted between January and December 2020. The data was collected using the paper and pencil interview (PAPI) method. The research tools applied were the European Health Competence Questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q16), the Family APGAR Questionnaire, the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), and the authors' own questionnaire. Results: The mean age in the study group was 49.28 ±18.39 years. The respondents were mostly women (63.3%; n = 358) and came from rural areas (52.5%; n = 297). The mean HL score (HLS-EU-Q16) of urban residents was slightly higher (12.19 ±3.5) than that of the rural residents (11.91 ±4.1). Age, financial capabilities, family function (Family Apgar), and mental health condition (GHQ-28) were found to be significantly associated with HL levels in both urban and rural residents (p < 0.05). Conclusions: In a multivariate analysis, HL levels in urban residents were positively related to family function but negatively associated with financial capability and mental condition. Financial situation, source of income, and family function were positively associated with HL among rural residents, while gender and mental health condition were negatively associated with HL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The specific features and requirements of island regions and rural areas make Mobility as a Service (MaaS) an attractive and evolving concept in the realm of Intercity/Rural/Island transportation. The primary goal of this research is to provide qualitative insights relative to the added value and development of MaaS for the previously mentioned transport services through a case study from Greece, a country with approximately 250 inhabited islands. In island settings, the primary societal motivation for MaaS is to enhance the accessibility of islands and improve individuals' access to multiple transport services. MaaS is found to have a strong potential to act as an enabler for more efficient transport and better accessibility to remote/island locations, acting in a complementary manner with currently applied "external" measures such as the Greek "Transport Equivalent". To further assess the potential, development and impact of MaaS a focus group comprised by key-representatives from industry and academia stakeholders is created. The MaaS Ecosystem, as described by the experts, is comprised of the MaaS Provider, all the intercity/rural/island transport providers currently operating in the Greek market, MaaS Enabling entities (associations, regulators, investors, research institutions), the Integration Drivers and the customers. The issue of transport providers' liability in case of disruptions and existing market regulations constitute, according to the results, an important challenge towards development of an Intercity MaaS, which needs to be addressed by legislative studies in a pan-European level. Most likely user groups for Intercity/Rural/Island MaaS are young people and digitally educated people, whilst less likely patronage groups are the elderly and "vulnerable" population groups. Relative to the external environment, high degree of fragmentation of the intercity transport industry combined by "autonomous" behavior of actors ("silo effect") appears to be the greatest threat towards MaaS whilst anticipated capital investments in infrastructure and vehicles, which are foreseen in the proxime future, are the greatest opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to verify the time series (2000–2017) of death rates by suicide and its associated factors in 4 municipalities in the extreme south of Brazil. Data were obtained through the analysis of medical reports and police report bulletins at the Instituto Médico Legal, in the city of Rio Grande. The suicide rate in the Rio Grande region varied from 4 to 11 suicides per 100,000 inhabitants and it is estimated that by 2030 this rate could reach 16.5 suicides per 100,000 inhabitants. The rural cities of Santa Vitória do Palmar and Chuí present even higher suicide averages when compared to Rio Grande, the most populous city of the four. The death rate from suicide increased gradually in the period analyzed, with the prevalence rising among the youngest and the elderly population. A more comprehensive understanding of the influences of environmental issues on suicidal decisions constitutes an important action that needs to be taken, both because of regional vulnerabilities and the target population identified. Evidence indicates that knowledge of factors affecting individuals residing in this Brazilian region where increased suicide rates are recorded needs to be recognized as a priority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The South African government has made the development of rural roads a primary policy focus. Approximately 74% of all the roads in the North West province are unpaved, which underlines the problem of poor rural road investment practices. The Rural Access Index (RAI) has been widely adopted as a global development indicator for transport accessibility. The RAI is defined by the proportion of the rural population who live within 2 km of the nearest road in good condition. This paper aimed to develop a methodological framework for quantifying the North West province’s RAI, including the district and local municipalities. The urban/rural divide is also manifested in the RAI scores of the NW Province. The RAI of the province was estimated at 43.433%, meaning less than 50% of the province's population is located within 2 km of a good-condition road. The RAI scores of urban areas vary between 46% and 76%. Thus, the findings confirmed that accessibility is significantly better for the urban population than the province's rural population. Regarding the district municipalities, the Ngaka Modiri Molema DM and Ruth Segomotsi Mompati DM had RAIs of 27.2% and 31.57% respectively. Policymakers need to reprioritise rural road investment practices based on RAI results to improve the accessibility of rural communities and to improve the urban-rural divide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study of women's vulnerability, coping, adaptation, and accumulation in an agrarian setting of the Umzingwane district of Matabeleland South province explores issues that surround Irisvale women as they act and react in response to climate change and policy stimuli that focus on them. Using a qualitative case study design, the study engaged twenty women aged between 21 and 79 between May 2020 and January 2021. Findings indicate that women at Irisvale are not a homogenous group. While some are very vulnerable and hardly cope, others are living relatively comfortably by the standards of the area. The women employed strategies like growing small grains such as sorghum and millet, harvesting Mopani worms (amacimbi), and petty trade to ameliorate their situations depending on their capabilities. We recommend that the government and NGOs should avail more social assistance to help manage the negative effects of climate change and government policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a country where depression, anxiety, and suicide rates within the student population rank among the highest in the world, access to mental health care is vital. This is especially true for students moving from rural areas to urban-based tertiary education institutions. Since South Africa became a democracy, institutions of higher learning previously the preserve of the country's White minority opened their doors to black Africans. While some White families sent their children to private or so-called "Model-C" schools, most black communities lacked the financial means to do the same. Consequently, most black African students remain in rural areas until they reach Grade 12 before moving to the city where most institutions of higher education are located. The shift from rural to urban areas brings with it a combination of excitement and anxiety for Black students who leave their homes for the first time in search of a qualification that offers them a chance at becoming employable. This study aimed to examine the availability and perceived effectiveness of mental health facilities for students coming from rural South Africa. To understand students' perceived perceptions of mental health services, the study applied an experienced-centered narrative (ECN) as the theoretical framework. The study employed a qualitative research design using a narrative approach to explore students' experiences. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten participants. The findings revealed the intersectionality of class, race, language, and geography contribute to how students understand, access, and utilize mental health services facilities in institutions of higher learning. Additionally, students indicated that mental health services are helpful and, therefore, effective. However, the processes and how the services are delivered can be improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Definition: While the definition of resilience is disputed or even fuzzy, due in no small part to the diversity of its applications, the concept generally involves the ability to withstand and bounce back from shocks; vulnerability as a related concept involves the tendency to suffer from shocks, given existing characteristics that may prevent resilient responses. Vulnerabilities put individuals, groups, and societies at greater risk and disadvantage, suggesting a need not only for disaster response and recovery, but mitigation and preparedness. Resilience and vulnerability research has recently focused on the role of government, the COVID-19 pandemic, and flood hazards; topics of interest have also included resilience of rural and urban areas, development and sustainability, and displacement and migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an alliance of science and civil society as well as the social, digital and agricultural sectors, the Alterperimentale (Age-Periphery Experiment) project brings together competences from different social sectors in order to meet the challenges of demographic structural change processes regionally and to enable good living in old age in rural areas. The focus is on the participatory design of socio-technical, socio-ecological and socio-spatial innovations in the areas of public services, health, care, agriculture and digitalisation. The basic idea of the alliance is to establish decentralised practical research centres as local places of knowledge transfer with and for older people for the design of sustainable living and working environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social innovation (SI) solves social problems. What features distinguish NGOs that are experienced in implementing SI? This article employs a survey of a representative sample of 400 rural NGOs from Poland to highlight certain features that distinguish NGOs with experience implementing SI among the following: (1) cooperation with other organisations and public institutions; (2) the involvement of rural inhabitants in activities intended to solve their social problems; and (3) human and financial resources. NGOs implementing SI are distinguished by features (1) and (3). The results are interpreted in the context of rural NGO activities in the postcommunist countries of Central and Eastern Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of mobile phones for health information seeking is gaining attention, especially in low and middle-income countries with limited access to healthcare services. Women, who are primary seekers of health information, face challenges in accessing health information and care services in rural areas. Mobile phones have the potential to bridge this gap by providing access to health information and services. The study explored how rural women in Busoga sub-region, Eastern Uganda, utilize mobile phones for health information seeking specifically approaches used and the challenges faced. A qualitative research approach was adopted, involving in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with rural women, Village Health Teams (VHTs) members, and health workers. The findings reveal that rural women predominantly use mobile phones for voice calls to seek health information in real-time. They rely on calls to confirm the availability of health workers and vaccines at health centres before visiting. Text messaging is also used, specifically the phrase "call me back," as a request for a return call. The study highlights the critical role of mobile phones in bridging gaps in accessing healthcare services, particularly in emergency situations. The findings contribute to understanding the experiences of rural women in using mobile phones for health information seeking and provide insights into the challenges they face in utilizing this technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land consolidation in rural areas is greatly influenced by a number of social, agricultural, and economic factors. They extend the time and complicate activities related to the implementation of this project. Land consolidation is a huge investment, requiring a good and up-to-date map. Up-to-date data that reflects reality are the basis for good and efficient land consolidation in rural areas. To improve the creation of a land consolidation project, the most appropriate solution would be to place all the necessary data to create a land consolidation project on "geoportals" websites. Providing data on the websites of geoportals in Poland and Finland in the form of a map portal would enable both visual and substantive analysis of spatial changes in rural areas. Therefore, this article pursues two main scientific goals. The first purpose of this article is to analyze the history and scope of land consolidation in Poland and Finland in order to learn the specifics of land consolidation in a given country. Comparisons and analyses were made on the basis of the authors' experience in Poland and Finland with land consolidation in the areas described. The second scientific goal of the article is to compare the availability of geospatial data in the context of the methodology of performing land consolidation in rural areas, which leads to increased energy efficiency in agricultural production by reducing the need for energy, especially fuel for agricultural machinery. The results from the table with a list of geoportals in Poland and Finland are a summary of the data available for free. Thanks to it, land consolidation contractors around the world will have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with and perhaps use this data when creating a rural land consolidation project. Good land consolidation planning will lead to effective and economical use of rural space. This is part of the 2030/2050 strategy. Reducing agricultural production costs, lower fuel consumption, and a smaller carbon footprint. This is what Poland and Finland are striving for as countries belonging to the European Union. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]