Search Results (102)

Background/Objectives: In Japan, task shifting reduces the working hours of pediatricians, who face excessive workloads. The status of task shifting under the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare’s reforms remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the current status and barriers of task shifting in pediatric care in Japan. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted among pediatricians working in hospitals in Japan. The results were compared with those from 2020. Results: Questionnaires were sent to 835 hospitals, and valid responses were received from 815 pediatricians in 316 hospitals (response rate: 37.8%). The largest group (31.0%) was 40–49 years, and 34.4% of the participants were women. Among the items surveyed, most pediatricians indicated “shifted” in “Patient transfer (transporting between hospitals using an ambulance)” and “Intravenous injection of antibiotics.” Most physicians believed task shifting improved care quality; 10.3% felt it worsened. The most common estimate for daily working hour reduction due to task shifting was “1 to <2 h” (44.9%). Precisely 15.8% of pediatricians believed that task shifting had “not progressed at all,” with rural areas and non-university hospitals showing lower task-shifting implementation. National university hospitals had a higher likelihood of task shifting than public hospitals. No significant associations were observed for the total hospital bed count or the number of full-time pediatricians. Conclusions: Task shifting in pediatric care remains underdeveloped. While many pediatricians support the concept and report modest reductions in working hours, actual implementation remains limited. Future efforts must address systemic, institutional, and regulatory challenges to facilitate meaningful task redistribution and improve healthcare delivery. Full article

Common prosperity is the fundamental driving force of rural revitalization, as well as the foundation for achieving sustainable economic development. The e-commerce to the countryside policy has energized the rural economy, helping to improve household economic resilience and reduce income stratification, thereby promoting the inclusive and sustainable development of the digital economy. Drawing on panel data collected from rural fixed observation points in Henan Province during 2009–2022, this study employs a staggered difference-in-differences (DID) approach to evaluate the impact of China’s e-commerce to the countryside policy on farmers’ income and income inequality. The empirical results reveal that the rural e-commerce policy significantly increases farmers’ income while mitigating income inequality. The underlying mechanisms function through three synergistic pathways: industrial structural upgrading, manifested through tri-sector integration driven by rural enterprise development; factor allocation restructuring, evidenced by productivity gains from optimized labor–capital reallocation; and enhanced market inclusion through digital technology empowerment that lowers participation barriers. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that the e-commerce to the countryside policy exhibits pro-poor characteristics, with its income-enhancing and equalizing effects being particularly pronounced in agricultural areas, traditional villages, county-level civilized villages, underdeveloped regions, registered poverty-stricken villages, and households with low human, physical, and financial capital endowments. These findings confirm the inclusive development efficacy of rural e-commerce among vulnerable populations. Consequently, the study provides a replicable policy implementation framework for achieving common prosperity objectives. Full article

As China’s urban–rural integration progresses, the connections between urban and rural areas continue to strengthen, making the spatial matching between transportation infrastructure and tourism resources increasingly crucial for coordinated regional development. This study investigates the spatial–temporal mismatch between transportation development and tourism spatial vitality in Yunnan Province, proposing optimization strategies to improve their coordination. Using Weibo check-in big data and OpenStreetMap transportation network data, we apply Convolutional Long Short-Term Memory (ConvLSTM) networks and bivariate spatial autocorrelation analysis to examine this relationship. The results show strong transportation–tourism matching in Kunming and surrounding areas. However, northwest and southern Yunnan exhibit significant mismatches—despite transportation improvements, underdeveloped tourism resources constrain vitality growth. Particularly in some remote regions, well-developed transportation infrastructure coexists with low tourism vitality, revealing persistent spatial mismatches between transport facilities and tourism resources. In general, transportation infrastructure development generally enhances tourism spatial vitality, but requires coordinated tourism resource development and market demand alignment. The study results provide a basis for improving the coordinated development of transportation and tourism, offering practical guidance for policymakers to promote balanced regional development and urban–rural integration. Full article

Background: Malnutrition among expectant mothers in underdeveloped areas is abundant and a serious public health concern. This study examines how maternal empowerment affects nutritional outcomes among under-five children in developing Asian nations. Objective: With an emphasis on nutritional outcomes, including stunting, wasting, and underweight, the main objective of this study is to investigate the connection between mother empowerment and child malnutrition and explore how better child health in developing Asian nations can be achieved through empowering mothers. Methods: Using Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data of ten emerging Asian countries from three regions of Asia, this study evaluates maternal empowerment using the composite maternal empowerment index (CMEI) and examines how it relates to children’s nutritional health. For the assessment of the significance of the association between maternal empowerment and child health outcomes, statistical analysis was conducted. Results: Our results indicated that maternal empowerment and child health have a statistically significant relationship, especially regarding a reduction in the prevalence of stunting, wasting, and underweight conditions in children. At the same time, maternal education showed a significant role in reducing malnutrition in children in all three regions of Asia. Conclusion: In conclusion, developing Asian nations require empowering women. Also, it is essential to initiate nutrition programs, extension education, and synergistic working models that are especially suited to rural women. By strengthening mothers’ roles in promoting their children’s health, these initiatives can help solve the widespread problem of child malnutrition. Full article

Inefficient stock space use in urban and rural areas causes economic losses and environmental harm, needing better solutions. Currently, this field is constrained by a relatively underdeveloped research history, which has led to the lack of a comprehensive theoretical framework and established solution methodologies. Therefore, it is crucial to clarify the principles of spatial evolution within theoretical approaches to promote the rapid advancement and practical application of subsequent theories. This effort will improve the understanding of the effective utilization of inefficient inventory space and encourage critical analysis by systematically reviewing the developmental trajectory of previous research. This study aims to conduct a thorough analysis of the developmental trajectory, evaluation frameworks, and strategies for the effective utilization of inefficient space by utilizing the Web of Science (WOS) and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases. Through the application of CiteSpace for visualization and analysis, the research investigates the pertinent literature on inefficient stock space, covering the period from 2004 to the present. The results show that research on inefficient stock space exhibits diverse characteristics, with WOS publications focusing on four primary dimensions, namely land space reuse, the establishment of evaluation systems, environmental governance, and urban and rural development planning. Conversely, CNKI publications tend to prioritize spatial optimization design and the mechanisms of planning and development. In relation to policy frameworks and evolutionary trends, the study of inefficient stock space in urban and rural contexts has evolved through three distinct phases, the embryonic stage (2004–2013), the exploration stage (2013–2020), and the growth stage (2020–present). While the effective utilization of currently inefficient stock space in urban areas has been addressed through various initiatives, there remains a significant gap in research focused on rural areas, highlighting the necessity for an enhanced exploration of urban–rural coupling mechanisms. Additionally, the efficient utilization of inefficient stock space in both urban and rural environments is a multidisciplinary challenge that requires the development of innovative urban and rural development models aligned with the principles of sustainable development, drawing insights from disciplines such as economics, architecture, and urban planning. Full article

Oil palm is one of the primary vegetable oil sources worldwide, including in Tanzania. Tanzania’s mean palm oil yield is 1.6 tons per hectare, far below the 6 to 8 tons per hectare reported elsewhere. This low oil yield is attributable to underdeveloped, unsustainable oil palm production systems and improvements, several biotic and abiotic stresses, and socio-economic and policy challenges that have yet to be systematically documented to guide large-scale production, breeding, and research support. The objectives of this study were to appraise oil palm production and improvement in Tanzania, focusing on constraints, opportunities, and farmers’ major preferences. A participatory rural appraisal study was conducted in Kigoma Region, in three selected districts. Data were collected from 392 oil palm farmers using semi-structured questionnaires and 54 focus group discussants. Data were subjected to statistical analyses to discern the variables and their significant associations using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS Inc., 2020). About 98.5% of the participant farmers engage in oil palm production. Most respondent farmers predominantly cultivate the Dura oil palm type (97.4%), followed by Tenera (50%). The farmers’ major reported oil palm production constraints were an inadequate supply of improved planting materials (reported by 82.7% of respondents), poor access to credit (72.4%), a high cost of production inputs (59.4%), poor market access (56.4%), insect pests and diseases (53.6), and poor production technologies (45.4%). A chi-square analysis of farmers’ production constraints revealed that the unavailability of labor (X² = 41.181; p = 0.000); limited extension services (X² = 29.074; p = 0.000); and diseases and pests (X² = 19.582; p = 0.000) differed significantly across the study area. Additionally, the lack of fertilizers (X² = 14.218; p = 0.001); inappropriate technology and knowledge gaps (X² = 10.529; p = 0.005); and poor market access (X² = 6.621; p = 0.036) differed significantly across districts. A high oil yield (reported by 58.7% of the respondents), a high number of bunches per plant (40.5%), early maturity (37.2%), and tolerance to droughts (23%) and diseases and insect pests (18.9%) were the most preferred traits by farmers in oil palm varieties. Therefore, integrative and sustainable breeding oil palm for enhanced yields and farmers’ preferred traits will increase the adoption of newly improved varieties for local palm oil production, import substitution, and economic development in Tanzania. Full article

China’s rural revitalization strategy demands innovative governance tools to address persistent challenges at the grassroots level. This study investigates how the rural points system contributes to rural revitalization, focusing on Xinqi Village in Ningxia as a case study. Guided by a theoretical framework that links governance dilemmas, institutional mechanisms, and revitalization outcomes, the paper analyzes the system’s formation, operation, and effects. Theoretically, the points system emerges from the interplay of interest-based competition, face-saving mediation, and social empowerment. It operates through a combination of management tools and incentive structures. Empirical findings indicate that the system improves rural revitalization by enhancing ecological livability, promoting civic behavior, and strengthening governance. However, its impact on industrial development and living standards remains limited. Key challenges include unclear institutional goals, poorly designed indicators, and a lack of material incentives. The paper concludes with policy recommendations to refine the system and argues that its application in underdeveloped rural areas offers valuable lessons for wider implementation in China and beyond. Full article

This study utilized data from 300 prefecture-level cities in China, spanning from 2000 to 2020, and employed a difference-in-differences (DID) model to investigate the influence of land development rights on agricultural land prices, alongside the mechanisms underlying this relationship. The primary aim of this research was to analyze the manner in which land development rights affect agricultural land prices through the implementation of policies and market forces. Via empirical analysis, the study elucidated the effects of land development rights on agricultural land prices within China. The key findings include the following: (1) Land development rights positively influence the increase in agricultural land prices. (2) Land development rights significantly narrow the urban–rural income disparity at municipal and county levels, which in turn impacts agricultural land prices. (3) The effect of land development rights on agricultural land prices is negatively moderated by regional economic growth. (4) While land development rights significantly enhance the prices of arable land, their impact on sectors such as agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, fishing, and food processing remains minimal. (5) In northern regions and economically underdeveloped areas, land development rights substantially boost agricultural land prices, underscoring their role in fostering local economic development and enhancing land use efficiency. Full article

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

This study examines the coupling coordination between digital inclusive finance (DIF) and rural industrial integration development (RIID) in China from 2011 to 2021, using panel data from 282 prefecture-level cities. By employing the coupling coordination model and entropy method, the research analyzes the spatiotemporal evolution and regional disparities of DIF and RIID. Key findings include the following: (1) The coupling coordination degree between DIF and RIID shows a consistent upward trend, transitioning from mild imbalance to primary coordination, though RIID lags behind DIF. (2) Significant regional disparities exist, with an “N-shaped” spatial distribution pattern from south to north, where eastern and northeastern regions exhibit higher coordination levels compared to central and western regions. (3) Regional differences are narrowing, driven primarily by inter-regional disparities, with strong spatial spillover effects observed in “high–high” and “low–low” agglomerations. (4) The overall spatial network tightness and stability have improved, with eastern regions playing a central role in the network, while northeastern and western regions remain relatively marginal. Policy recommendations include expanding DIF applications in rural industries, reducing regional disparities through resource allocation, promoting rural industrial integration in underdeveloped areas, and strengthening regional coordination to facilitate resource flow. Full article

The development of new e-commerce platforms has become a crucial driver of economic growth in developing countries, driven by the global wave of digitalization and informatization. However, research on e-commerce development in underdeveloped rural areas of China remains scarce, with even less focus on farmers’ e-commerce behaviors. Based on rural China’s unique characteristics, this study conducts a field survey of 346 rural households in Inner Mongolia. Using the Triple-Hurdle and mediation effect models through the lens of social capital, this study examines how social capital and digital literacy influence farmers’ short-term decisions and long-term investments in e-commerce participation across three dimensions: “willingness”, “choice”, and “degree of participation”. The aim is to identify how to leverage social capital as well as digital social literacy to enhance farmers’ e-commerce participation and promote the sustainable development of rural e-commerce. The results show the following: (1) Among the surveyed farmers, 198 households expressed a willingness to engage in e-commerce, 118 households participated, and only 1 household reached a participation level above 50%. This underscores the insufficient e-commerce engagement and ongoing challenges in rural Inner Mongolia. (2) Social capital, as a critical factor, positively affects farmers’ willingness to participate, choice to participate, and degree of participation in e-commerce at the 1% significance level, with regression coefficients of 1.386, 1.202, and 0.119, respectively. Its impact is strongest in the early stages of fostering willingness, followed by its effect on participation choice. However, its influence on the degree of participation diminishes due to the involvement of other complex factors. (3) Social capital enhances farmers’ digital social literacy at the 1% significance level, and digital social literacy plays a mediating role in the process by which social capital influences farmers’ e-commerce behavior. (4) Heterogeneity analysis shows that during actual participation, the impact of social capital on e-commerce behaviors is more pronounced among farmers with smaller household sizes and higher income levels. Based on these findings, this study recommends building social capital across different farmer groups, establishing online information-sharing platforms, and offering tailored technical and digital literacy training for diverse farmer demographics. Full article

The development of digital infrastructure plays a crucial role in addressing regional disparities, especially in bridging urban–rural gaps. This paper evaluates the impact of the “Broadband China Strategy” (BCS), which exogenously accelerated broadband infrastructure expansion in both urban and rural areas. Using a staggered difference-in-differences (DID) approach, we assess the long-term effects of broadband adoption on labor market outcomes. Our findings show that BCS increased rural wages by 7% to 9%, with no significant impact on urban wages. The wage increase in rural areas is primarily driven by job creation and human capital accumulation, both of which contribute to narrowing the urban–rural wage gap. Additionally, the study uncovers heterogeneity in BCS effects, with stronger impacts observed in underdeveloped regions and among vulnerable groups. These results highlight that targeted digital infrastructure initiatives like BCS can help reduce urban–rural income inequality and promote more inclusive economic growth. Full article

With the advancement of the rural revitalization strategy, the integration of primary, secondary, and tertiary industries has become an important approach to promoting rural economic development and agricultural modernization. Yan’an City, as a typical agricultural region in northwestern China, has made significant progress in rural industry integration in recent years, driven by policy support and technological innovation. This study, based on data from 2012 to 2021, analyzes the overall development trends, key driving factors, and regional differences in rural industry integration in Yan’an City, explores changes in economic and social benefits during the integration process, and proposes corresponding policy recommendations. The findings indicate that, under the influence of policy support, service sector development, and technological innovation, the integration of rural industries in Yan’an City has accelerated. However, regional disparities in integration levels still exist, with some remote areas facing challenges due to insufficient infrastructure and resource allocation. Therefore, the study suggests that future efforts should focus on further integrating ecological benefit indicators and exploring differentiated policies to promote the sustainable development of industrial integration. The results of this study provide practical references for industrial integration in the central and western regions, especially underdeveloped areas, and offer theoretical support for regional policy formulation and industrial development. Full article

The energy consumption structure in underdeveloped rural areas of China has long been dominated by fossil fuels. Such a structure not only makes it difficult to improve the rural living environment but also hinders the stable development of the rural economy. For these regions, improving the living environment is one of the key tasks of China’s rural revitalization strategy. As a clean energy with huge potential, renewable energy can provide a convenient and low-cost solution for the transformation of the energy structure and the improvement of the living environment in these areas. This study takes Gansu Province, a typical underdeveloped region in China, as the research area and uses a multi-objective evaluation analysis model to evaluate the potential for renewable energy substitution at the county scale in rural areas of Gansu Province. Then, through the obstacle factor analysis model, the obstacle factors of the potential for renewable energy substitution are revealed, providing a basis for the scientific formulation of energy policies and the stable development of the rural economy in underdeveloped areas. This study found that the potential for renewable energy substitution in counties of Gansu Province is generally low and shows significant temporal and spatial differences. At the criterion level, the endowment of renewable energy resources constitutes the greatest obstacle, with an average obstacle degree of 8.91%, and shows an upward trend. At the factor level, the obstacle degree of the effective irrigated area is the highest, with an average obstacle degree of 9.29%, and the interannual variation is relatively stable. In addition, the average obstacle degrees of total agricultural machinery power and the number of rural populations are also relatively high. Finally, this paper puts forward policy suggestions, such as rationally planning the development model of renewable energy, coordinating regions to give full play to economic value, and innovatively developing to enhance development capacity, in order to provide reference for relevant decision-making. Full article

Over the past decade, China has enacted forward-looking environmental policies that have significantly reduced air pollution. However, while there appears to be a synergy between economic development and improvements in air quality, regional imbalances in development and disparities in health risks underscore systemic challenges in environmental governance. This study employed a population-weighted exposure index to evaluate disparities in PM_2.5 exposure and its temporal and spatial trends, considering multidimensional socio-economic factors such as education, age, gender, occupation, and urban/rural backgrounds across 32 provinces and regions in China. The findings reveal that despite a notable decline in overall PM_2.5 concentrations between 2013 and 2020, improvements in air quality are uneven across regions, with less developed areas bearing a disproportionate burden of emission reductions. Urban centers exhibit lower exposure levels due to resource and industrial advantages, whereas towns experience higher risks of air pollution. Socio-economic disparities are evident, with increased exposure observed in high-pollution industries and among groups with lower educational attainment. Women are more likely to be exposed than men, and both the elderly and children face higher risks. To address these challenges, policies should focus on the economic development of underdeveloped regions, balance environmental protection with growth, prioritize heavily polluted areas and vulnerable populations, and promote the adoption of clean energy to mitigate pollution inequality. Full article