Search Results (28)

Pakistan’s water quality and water management are at a crucial juncture, especially in the underdeveloped province of Baluchistan. The fifth most populous country, which ranks fifth in the global climate vulnerability index, confronts evolving water security challenges, which are complicating its national security matrix. Water shortages are escalating swiftly due to increasing demand across all sectors that utilize water. The burgeoning population, increasing from 175 million in 2010 to an estimated 247 million in 2025, and the adverse impacts of climate change are seriously affecting water quality and availability. This is exacerbated by persistent political instability and internal security issues, disincentivizing potential investors in the water sector in Pakistan in the short to medium term. The quality of water for drinking purposes is declining fast due to scarcity and contamination from various sources. The political promise of ensuring safe drinking water for the residents of Baluchistan remains an election slogan due to the persistent disparity between promises and implementation. The study involves a physical examination of water samples collected from various sectoral geographical zones of Baluchistan in the laboratory testing process to ascertain the quality of water. To develop a comprehensive picture, the samples were collected from both rural and urban areas in designated zones, ensuring that samples were representative of the entire province. In the last stage of the investigation process, the sample results have been compared with minimum safe standards instituted for drinking water by national and international organizations. Laboratory testing results indicate a significant decline in the quality of drinking water in Baluchistan; in most cases, the samples could not meet the permissible safe ranges outlined in Pakistan’s National Quality Standard (NQS) framework for drinking water and WHO guidelines. The persistent decline in water quality and water availability poses serious challenges to the attainment of UNSDG number 6 regarding the provision of clean drinking water to the inhabitants by 2030. The study provides incisive analysis and actionable recommendations as a policy input to facilitate relevant ministries and organizations in mitigating the vulnerabilities of climate change, providing clean drinking water to inhabitants of Baluchistan, and addressing critical issues of water sustainability in Baluchistan as an evolving national security challenge. Full article

Background: Oncological surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic was performed only in carefully selected cases, due to variation in the allocation of resources. The purpose of this study was to highlight the impact of the pandemic lockdown on the presentation, diagnosis, and surgical management of colorectal cancers as well as the post-pandemic changes in this area. Material and methods: This single center, retrospective comparative study contained 1687 patients, divided into three groups with equal time frames of two years, consisting of a pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic period, in which preoperative and perioperative as well as postoperative parameters were compared. Results: Statistically significant differences regarding environment, type of admission, and ASA score, as well as a more advanced tumoral stage, increased number of important postoperative complications, and a lower minimally invasive surgical approach, were highlighted within the pandemic group. Statistically significant differences regarding emergency diagnosis as well as late diagnosis were highlighted. There were no significant differences regarding the tumor location, postoperative 30-day mortality, or hospitalization duration. Conclusions: COVID-19 significantly impacted the surgical timing in colorectal cancer, as well as addressability for the rural population, with a marked decrease in elective cases as well as an increased number of cases diagnosed in an emergency setting, with locally advanced tumors. However, no significant changes in postoperative mortality or hospitalization duration were highlighted. In addition, most of the changes highlighted were reverted in the post-pandemic period. Further studies are required to observe the long-term effects in terms of morbidity and mortality, regarding the delay of diagnosis and oncological treatment. Full article

Enhancing collective action among rural households is crucial for promoting rural revitalization and improving livelihoods in underdeveloped areas. Taking Shanxi Province, China, as a case study, this paper employed a household survey method to collect 312 questionnaires from rural households. Using the mean value analysis of the measured items in the questionnaire. The participation status of farmers in less developed areas in collective actions, such as farmers’ professional cooperatives, village cadre elections, and cooperative construction of small farmland water conservancy, was examined in four aspects: willingness to participate, frequency of participation, time of participation, and sense of the value of participation. From the perspectives of livelihood risks, livelihood assets, livelihood patterns, and livelihood income, it analyzed the livelihood conditions of rural households in underdeveloped regions. Building upon the empowerment of collective action in rural livelihoods, the study further applied a multiple linear regression model to assess the impact of collective action on livelihoods. The findings indicated (1) a strong willingness and perceived value among rural households to participate in collective action, albeit with a low frequency and limited time commitment; (2) relatively low livelihood levels, characterized by limited livelihood assets, predominant subsistence farming, small-scale non-specialized enterprises, and low livelihood income, yet with notable resilience against livelihood risks; (3) that collective action significantly enhances rural household livelihoods positively. Based on these findings, policy recommendations are proposed, emphasizing the enhancement of collective organization, provision of incentive mechanisms, and improvement of farmers’ skills and qualities to foster greater participation in collective action. Full article

The COVID-19 vaccination campaign resulted in uneven vaccine uptake throughout the United States, particularly in rural areas, areas with socially and economically disadvantaged groups, and populations that exhibited vaccine hesitancy behaviors. This study examines how county-level sociodemographic and political affiliation characteristics differentially affected patterns of COVID-19 vaccinations in the state of Indiana every month in 2021. We linked county-level demographics from the 2016–2020 American Community Survey Five-Year Estimates and the Indiana Elections Results Database with county-level COVID-19 vaccination counts from the Indiana State Department of Health. We then created twelve monthly linear regression models to assess which variables were consistently being selected, based on the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) and adjusted R-squared values. The vaccination models showed a positive association with proportions of Bachelor’s degree-holding residents, of 40–59 year-old residents, proportions of Democratic-voting residents, and a negative association with uninsured and unemployed residents, persons living below the poverty line, residents without access to the Internet, and persons of Other Race. Overall, after April, the variables selected were consistent, with the model’s high adjusted R² values for COVID-19 cumulative vaccinations demonstrating that the county sociodemographic and political affiliation characteristics can explain most of the variation in vaccinations. Linking county-level sociodemographic and political affiliation characteristics with Indiana’s COVID-19 vaccinations revealed inherent inequalities in vaccine coverage among different sociodemographic groups. Increased vaccine uptake could be improved in the future through targeted messaging, which provides culturally relevant advertising campaigns for groups less likely to receive a vaccine, and increasing access to vaccines for rural, under-resourced, and underserved populations. Full article

The objective of this study is to identify the best practices of Facebook use for municipalities looking to communicate and interact with their citizens, with a particular impact for rural municipalities. A narrative review was conducted to identify the scientific and gray literature on research databases and Google, respectively. A thematic analysis of the data was conducted to summarize the main strengths, challenges, and recommendations to improve municipalities’ Facebook use. Our results showed many benefits of Facebook use for municipalities and elected officials, such as communicating efficiently with citizens. The main challenge identified was developing an effective communication strategy. Finally, several recommendations were found, such as making Facebook posts that appeal to citizens and promote discussion. These results will be useful in helping municipalities develop an effective Facebook communication strategy to improve online engagement and citizen participation for local governments. Full article

Background and Objectives: Cultural beliefs influence the conceptualization, adaptation, and coping strategies for diseases. This study aimed to investigate the impact of cultural beliefs and customs on the willingness to undergo cataract surgery in Taiwan. Materials and Methods: The data were retrospectively retrieved from the national Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000 (LHID2000). From the national database, we enrolled patients that were diagnosed with cataracts and underwent cataract surgery from 2001 to 2010. All the patients were stratified according to their gender and living area. Gender was categorized as male or female, and the living area was classified as urban or rural. We compared the difference in the number of surgeries between stratified patient groups in each Chinese lunar month. Results: The number of cataract surgeries decreased significantly in the seventh and twelfth lunar months for both genders. There was a significant reduction in cataract surgeries in both the urban and rural groups during the seventh lunar month. Interestingly, only the seventh lunar month had an association with sex in different living areas, which meant that in the seventh month, there was a gender-specific difference in the surgical numbers. Conclusions: The Taiwanese population holds a belief that surgical procedures, including cataract surgery, during the lunar ghost month is inauspicious. Citizens tend to avoid elective surgery due to cultural practice, resulting in a decrease in surgical numbers during the period of the Chinese New Year. The authorities should consider these cultural behaviors when developing medical policies and allocating resources. Healthcare providers should be aware of these superstitions and take them into account when providing medical care and advice to patients. Full article

The centuriations were public lands delimited and divided in regular lots by Rome as a result of the conquest but also the conceptual appropriation of new territories, which were transformed according to particular ideas of space. Despite previous works rejecting the astronomical hypothesis for the orientation of Roman centuriations, recent publications have supported the role of particular astronomical phenomena in the design of Roman land and urbanism in Italy. The aim of this work is to determine whether the orientation of the centuriations follows any pattern, and to determine the precepts, if any, underlying the election of privileged directions. We present a statistical study of the orientation of 67 centuriations in Italy—the largest sample of this type ever studied in this region—that considers the conditions of the surrounding environment together with a comparative analysis with a dataset of the same type that includes 52 Italian Roman towns. The results show interesting patterns shared by both centuriations and towns, some of them coinciding with relevant astronomical events in the Roman context, together with others in which differentrequirements would have been prioritized. In summary, we should consider the sky as an element involved in the creation of Roman urban and rural spaces. Full article

Background: Cancellations of elective surgeries adversely affect the patient, hospital staff, facility, and health system. Cancellations potentially result in hospital financial losses, theatre inefficiency, and substandard patient care. A common benchmark for the cancellation rate of elective surgeries is less than five percent, and most operating rooms fall short of this standard. There is a paucity of data on the rates and causes of elective surgical cancellations in rural, resource-limited settings. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of elective surgery cancellations, the causes for such cancellations, and the surgical disciplines most affected at Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital (NMAH). Methodology: This was an observational, descriptive, cross-sectional review of operating theatre records from January 2019 to July 2019. The prevalence and main causes of elective case cancellations were determined. The causes were classified, and the most affected surgical departments and patient characteristics were identified. Results: The prevalence of elective surgical case cancellations was 14.4% in our hospital, higher than the international benchmark of 5%. Patient-, facility-, and surgical-related factors were the leading causes of cancellations, and avoidable cancellations were mostly surgical- and anaesthetic-related. Ophthalmology was the most affected, followed by gynaecology and general surgery, with plastic surgery being the least affected. The most common patient-related factors were nonattendance and uncontrolled medical conditions, while overbooking was the most common surgical reason. Abnormal investigatory results and unfit status were the most common anaesthetic reasons. Facility-related issues included the lack of theatre time, equipment scarcity or malfunction, and staff unavailability. Most cancellations were unavoidable, but with careful planning, could be avoided. Conclusion and recommendations: This study identified challenges with theatre efficiency in a rural, resource-limited setting that call for the cooperation of multidisciplinary teams of surgeons, anaesthetists, nursing staff, and health care policymakers. Full article

Social participation is presently a legal requirement or a prerequisite for public policy decision-making both on the global and local scale. Therefore, both international (Agenda 21, Agenda 2030) and domestic documents (in Poland: Social Capital Development Strategy and Strategy for Responsible Development) emphasize the role of social participation for development. The co-participation of local residents and local authorities is thus an important factor that contributes to the success and well-being of local communities, improves local governments’ relations with the residents, and promotes a sense of belonging to a community and responsibility for the “common good”. The main aim of the present study was to evaluate public participation in rural municipalities of the Region of Warmia and Mazury and to analyze the influence of various indicators on the level of public participation. The four categories of public participation were selected based on a review of the literature and an analysis of data availability: public action, public involvement, electoral participation, and obligatory participation. These categories were described with the use of fourteen indicators. Data for the study were obtained from publicly available statistical databases and a survey of local government representatives. Public participation was evaluated with the use of the Level Based Weight Assessment (LBWA) method, which revealed that public participation in rural municipalities of the Region of Warmia and Mazury is moderate and is influenced mostly by social consultations, legislative initiatives, and local government elections. Full article

Less than one-third of rural Chinese children with refractive error own or wear eyeglasses. To study the effect of teacher incentives on the acceptance of vision care offered to rural students with uncorrected refractive error, we conducted a cluster-randomized controlled trial in 18 townships in one county in Shaanxi Province. Primary and junior high schools within each township were assigned to either intervention (all teachers received an incentive) or control (no teacher incentives were offered) groups. A total of 42 schools were assigned to either the intervention group (13 schools) or the control group (29 schools). Teachers in the intervention group could elect to receive high-value (sunglasses worth USD 148), moderate-value (eyeglasses worth USD 89), or cash incentives (USD 35) if ≥70% of eligible students (uncorrected visual acuity (VA) ≤ 6/12 in both eyes and corrected VA ≤ 6/9.5 in both eyes) in the teacher’s class visited a program-affiliated vision center (VC) within 60 days after their vision screening. Among 8238 students, 3401 (41.2%, of which 53.0% were girls with a mean age of 12 (SD 1.75)) met the enrollment criteria and were randomly allocated to the intervention (n = 1645, 49.0%) and control groups (n = 1579, 51.0%). Among these, 3224 (94.8%) completed the study and underwent analysis. Nearly equal numbers of students had classroom teachers selecting the high-value (n = 524, 31.9%), moderate-value (n = 582, 35.4%), and cash incentives (n = 539, 32.8%). The rate of the acceptance of offered vision care was significantly higher in the intervention group (382/1645 = 23.2%) compared to the control group (172/1579 = 10.9%, 95% confidence interval for observed difference 12.3%, p < 0.001). Teacher incentives appeared effective in improving Chinese rural school-aged children’s uptake rate of vision services provided by county hospital-based VCs. Full article

Citizen demand for quality public services is increasing, and improvements in the provision of public services affect citizen satisfaction and loyalty. This research is to evaluate citizens’ loyalty to municipal officials on the quality of public services provided by the municipality. The measurement is made through a household-level survey, with a sample of 428 valid questionnaires, in a rural parish of Tengel in Guayaquil, following the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). This study used the Warp-PLS 7.0 software with a structural equation model to evaluate the seven hypotheses raised. A new component is included in this research: the effect of perceived quality in the provision of municipal services in rural areas on the value ratio perceived by the citizen and overall satisfaction. The results obtained allowed us to observe that the loyalty of the citizen to the elected municipal officials depends on citizen satisfaction with the public services provided by the municipal administration in rural areas. In addition, the quality perceived by the citizen modulates at different levels the relationships between the perceived value and the citizen satisfaction. Areas of improvement in the provision of public services such as municipal police, firefighters, veterinary services, parking services and address information were identified. The findings would allow local public administrators to take action to improve the services provided in rural areas in order to maintain the loyalty of citizens. Full article

Parties and their leaders are linked programmatically and non-programmatically with citizens, incentivising the latter to vote in elections and seeking to influence their choices. In this paper, we analyse the effects of politician–voter linkages on the electoral performance of incumbent mayors in Chile and on electoral turnout in their municipalities. To measure the linkages, we use personal meetings that mayors hold with citizens. While some mayors use this mechanism to solve problems of general interest (programmatic meetings), others do so to provide bureaucratic advantages or benefits for their constituents (non-programmatic meetings). We use a database of 44,162 personal meetings aggregated from Chile’s 345 municipalities. We argue that increases in the number of meetings positively impact electoral turnout and increase the chances of success for incumbent mayors when they compete for re-election. This effect is particularly significant in the case of electoral performance and the re-election of mayors in municipalities with high levels of rurality. Finally, we report that the meetings not only help mayors to link with their constituents but also help them to publicise their political work. Full article

Sustainable social-resource-based community management and sustainable development goals (SDGs) are crucial for community sustainability and sustainable development, respectively, and SDG education is vital to motivate people to continue SDG-appropriate activities. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the SDG education of Rural Japanese University students using the grounded theory approach and investigate how their ideas about future work subsequently change. This study analyzes the learning and attitude changes in students enrolled in an elective SDG course and establishes the learning theory behind SDG education in rural universities. In this approach, student SDG education consists of three themes and eleven concepts. Through SDG education based on interactive lectures and rural fieldwork, participants reconsider community and society concepts in an SDG-minded framework. Based on this new perspective, participants begin considering community sustainability by gaining new insight from a first-person standpoint. Participants acquire SDG-minded working competencies, such as collaborative advancement, respect for inclusive societies, community revitalization from different perspectives, and mindset reconstruction. SDG educational processes were conducted in rural communities through university student SDG education, which deepened their understanding of community sustainability. Thus, SDG education should employ real practitioners to university curricula and deal with cultural and traditional diversity via effective collaboration. Full article

Waste classification is an important part of the renovation of rural human settlements, and the renovation of rural human settlements is also of great significance to global sustainable development. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance to study the factors that affect the classification behavior for promoting waste classification behavior. However, few studies have focused on the political participation of rural residents as a driving factor. Therefore, this study aims to explore whether political participation affects rural residents’ waste classification behavior. In particular, this study uses the China Land Economic Survey (CLES), which surveyed 2628 rural households in Jiangsu Province, China, and uses the Probit model to explore the quantitative impact of political participation on farmers’ waste classification behavior. This study finds that: (1) Political participation may significantly improve farmers’ waste classification behavior. Specifically, farmers who participated in the general election were 10.6% more likely to conduct waste classification than those who did not vote in the general election. (2) Groups receiving government subsidies may be more likely to understand the government’s waste classification policy and then carry out waste classification. (3) Residents in areas with high economic development may be more sensitive to opportunity cost than residents in areas with low economic development, so residents in areas with high economic development degree are less willing to participate in waste classification action, and political participation has less influence on waste classification. Therefore, this research helps improve the efficiency of waste classification, ameliorate waste classification behavior, and provide the references for building a more civilized rural living environment. Full article

Most rural women smallholder farmers in Kenya generate income from the sale of small ruminant animals. However, diseases such as Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia (CCPP) prevent them from optimizing earnings. A crucial aspect for the control of CCPP is vaccination. In Kenya, CCPP vaccines are distributed through a government delivery mechanism. This study examines gaps and barriers that prevent women smallholder farmers from accessing CCPP vaccines. Qualitative data collection tools used were focus groups discussions, focus meals, jar voices and key informant interviews. Using outcome mapping (OM) methodology, critical partners and stakeholders in the CCPP vaccine value chain (CCPP-VVC) were identified to be the manufacturers, importers, distributors, agrovets, public and private veterinarians, local leaders, and farmers. Respondents highlighted the barriers to be limited access to vaccines due to cold chain problems, inadequate and late delivery of services, lack of information and training on vaccines, and financial constraints. Identified opportunities that can support women’s engagement in the CCPP-VVC are the Kenya Governments two-third gender rule, which requires that not more than two thirds of the members of elective or appointive bodies shall be of the same gender, and positive community perception of female veterinarians. We conclude that more resources and training should be made available to women farmers, and that gender perspectives on policy development related to livestock production and disease prevention are urgently needed to improve livestock productivity and increase agency for women. Full article