Delivery In Rural Areas Research Articles

Telemedicine: Bridging the Gap in Providing Primary Care to Rural Area Patients Across India

Telemedicine has emerged as a transformative solution to address the significant healthcare disparities faced by rural India, where over 70% of the population resides. In this article, the evolution of telemedicine in India, its current landscape, and its potential to revolutionize primary healthcare delivery in rural areas are reviewed. Despite progress in establishing Primary Health Centers, rural healthcare infrastructure remains underutilized due to staffing shortages and other challenges. Telemedicine offers a lifeline by bridging critical gaps in primary care, with government initiatives such as E-Sanjeevni and private entities such as M-Swasth and Apollo TeleHealth expanding access to healthcare services. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of more advanced, patient-centric telemedicine models incorporating artificial intelligence, machine learning, and Internet of Things technologies. These innovations aim to provide rural communities with healthcare standards comparable to urban areas. However, challenges persist, including technological barriers, digital literacy gaps, and concerns about data security and privacy. To fully realize telemedicine’s potential, a multifaceted approach is necessary. This includes culturally adapting platforms for rural populations, strengthening data protection legislation, enhancing digital infrastructure, and increasing digital literacy. The collaborative efforts of government bodies, private enterprises, healthcare professionals, and non-profit private organizations are crucial in overcoming these challenges. By embracing telemedicine and addressing its implementation barriers, India can bridge the healthcare gap, improve the quality of life for millions of rural residents, and potentially catalyze economic development in rural areas.

How Can Digital Villages Improve Basic Public Services Delivery in Rural Areas? Evidence from 1840 Counties in China

Digital transformation is spreading from urban to rural areas, and the construction of digital villages has become a key growth point for rural sustainable development globally. Digital villages improve the level of basic public services delivery in rural areas via the penetration of digital technology. However, few studies have empirically investigated the theoretical mechanisms underlying the impact of digital villages on various aspects of rural basic public services. To address these gaps, this study investigates the impact mechanisms of digital villages on rural basic public services delivery in terms of accessibility, equity, agility, holistic nature and participation. Using 1840 counties in China as the research sample, this study applies the entropy method to extract a composite index of basic public services and performs correlation, regression, and heterogeneity analyses to examine the effects of digital villages on basic public services delivery. Empirical analysis results show that the construction of digital villages is positively associated with the level of basic public services in rural areas. Meanwhile, heterogeneity analysis results confirms that this relationship is mainly observed in eastern counties but not observed in central and western counties. These findings provide a basis for using digital inclusion to improve basic public services delivery in rural areas and achieve balanced development across regions.

Building a learning health care community in rural and remote areas: a systematic review

BackgroundA Learning Health Care Community (LHCC) is a framework to enhance health care through mutual accountability between the health care system and the community. LHCC components include infrastructure for health-related data capture, care improvement targets, a supportive policy environment, and community engagement. The LHCC involves health care providers, researchers, decision-makers, and community members who work to identify health care needs and address them with evidence-based solutions. The objective of this study was to summarize the barriers and enablers to building an LHCC in rural areas.MethodsA systematic review was conducted by searching electronic databases. Eligibility criteria was determined by the research team. Published literature on LHCCs in rural areas was systematically collected and organized. Screening was completed independently by two authors. Detailed information about rural health care, activities, and barriers and enablers to building an LHCC in rural areas was extracted. Qualitative analysis was used to identify core themes.ResultsAmong 8169 identified articles, 25 were eligible. LHCCs aimed to increase collaboration and co-learning between community members and health care providers, integrate community feedback in health care services, and to share information. Main barriers included obtaining adequate funding and participant recruitment. Enablers included meaningful engagement of stakeholders and stakeholder collaboration.ConclusionsThe LHCC is built on a foundation of meaningful use of health data and empowers health care practitioners and community members in informed decision-making. By reducing the gap between knowledge generation and its application to practice, the LHCC has the potential to transform health care delivery in rural areas.

Access to Decentralised Public Healthcare Service Delivery in Rural Areas of Lesotho

Despite being a basic right for all citizens of every country, access to healthcare has been a challenge for many people globally. However, the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has heightened the need for improvedhealthcare service delivery and access to healthcare globally. The need for improved access to healthcare is especially critical for developing countries as theywere the worst affected in terms of healthcare service delivery by the pandemic. This study, which sought to assess healthcare accessibility in rural areas of Lesotho, is relevant because Lesotho is a country with high poverty levels, and most of the poor people in Lesotho live in the rural areas. The study employed a quantitative design and sampled 200 healthcare users from the rural areas of Lesotho to measure the dimensions of access to healthcare (which refer to the affordability, availability, acceptability and accessibility / accommodation of healthcare) on a 5-point Likert-type scale. The study’s findings showed that healthcare affordability remains a barrier to access in rural Lesotho. This was followed by accessibility and accommodation, then acceptability and availability of healthcare in rural Lesotho. The study then made recommendations to guide health policy makers in Lesotho.

Perceptions and Satisfaction of E-Health Applications: An Analytical Cross-Sectional Study in a Rural Health Center at Tiruvallur District, Tamil Nadu.

Introduction E-health, defined as the utilization of information and communication technologies for health services, has become integral in enhancing healthcare delivery and accessibility. This study focuses on user satisfaction and perceptions of e-health applications in rural health centers, with special focus on Tamil Nadu, India. E-health technologies have proven to be effective in addressing challenges to healthcare accessibilityand improving patient outcomes, at reduced costs. Despite these benefits, there is a need to understand user experiences in rural settings to optimize the implementation of e-health solutions. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 383 patients registered in a non-communicable disease(NCD) clinic and specialty clinic in the rural health center of a tertiary care hospital in Tiruvallur district. Participants were selected using a consecutive sampling method from the NCD and specialty clinic registers. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data on their perception and satisfaction with e-health applications. Data was entered in (Microsoft) MS Excel (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Washington, United States) and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 25 (Released 2017; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States). Results The overall mean age was 49.45 ± 7 years. Among the study participants, females constituted 57.3% compared to males who constituted 42.7%. 58.3% of the participants had comorbid conditions. More than half of the study participants were educated up to the high school level. According to BG Prasad's classification, 86.9 % of the participants belonged tomiddle class and below. Among the study participants, more than half of them use their smartphones as devices for internet access to use e-health applications. The study participants who had no co-morbid conditions were 3.3 times the odds of having poor perception and satisfaction when compared to the other categories (OR = 3.3, CI = 2.1 - 5.1) in using e-health applications, and this difference was found to be statistically significant (p = 0.01). Conclusion This study's findings reveal that gender, socio-economic status, occupation, and the presence of comorbid illnesses play significant roles in shaping users' perceptions and satisfaction levels. This study's findings underscore the importance of tailored e-health interventions to address these barriers and enhance healthcare delivery in rural areas.

Challenges and Opportunities in Transforming Rural Governance Through E-Government in Indonesia

General Background: The adoption of E-Government systems is increasingly important in improving public services, particularly at the local government level, to enhance transparency and accessibility. Specific Background: In Indonesia, Village Information Systems (SID) have been introduced to streamline communication, resource management, and service delivery in rural areas. Sugihwaras Village in Sidoarjo Regency is one such location where SID has been implemented. Knowledge Gap: Despite its potential, the effectiveness of SID implementation remains underexplored, particularly in terms of communication, resources, and its impact on rural governance. Aims: This study aims to analyze and describe the implementation of E-Government through SID in Sugihwaras Village, focusing on the four indicators: communication, resources, disposition, and bureaucratic structure, using Edward III's policy implementation model. Results: The findings indicate that communication and resource allocation are the primary issues hindering SID effectiveness. Inadequate operator training and a lack of budget for operator fees have led to outdated information and diminished motivation. However, strong commitment from local government and adherence to standard operating procedures (SOPs) have ensured that the system continues to function. Novelty: This study highlights the crucial role of consistent training and budgetary support in enhancing E-Government systems at the village level, particularly in rural Indonesia. Implications: Strengthening operator skills and ensuring adequate financial support are essential for optimizing SID as a tool for public information transparency and service delivery, contributing to improved rural governance and E-Government effectiveness. Highlights: Communication gaps limit the Village Information System's efficiency. Budget constraints reduce operator motivation and system updates. Government commitment keeps the system operational despite obstacles. Keywords: E-Government, Village Information System, rural governance, communication, resource allocation

OPTIMIZING INVENTORY MANAGEMENT: AMAZON’S STRATEGIES IN RURAL SUPPLY CHAINS

The world's largest online retailer, Amazon, has invested heavily in infrastructure and technology to save costs and improve operations. Amazon has the most efficient supply chain in the world due to cutting-edge robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) technology that can improve productivity and worker safety. Amazon's regional distribution centers use advanced algorithms, route optimization technology, and mapping tools to effectively handle deliveries in rural areas. Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, machine learning, and Amazon Prime membership are some initiatives that personalize recommendations and enhance the purchasing experience. To get around logistical challenges in rural locations, Amazon also collaborates with regional businesses and delivery services. To save expenses and wait times for last-mile deliveries in remote places, Amazon has made investments in micro-fulfillment centers to reduce last-mile delivery time and costs in rural areas.

Literature Synthesis of Emerging Last-Mile Delivery Technologies and their Applications to Rural Areas: Drones, Autonomous Delivery Vehicles, and Truck-Drones

Rural areas have the distinct opportunity to become trendsetters of innovation and technology, molding and optimizing delivery advances to operate in a way that meets their needs. Drones, autonomous delivery vehicles (ADVs), and truck-drones have the potential to improve rural delivery services significantly. However, rural environments have considerably different characteristics than urban or suburban areas. Therefore, delivery services must be evaluated specifically for the rural use case because the outcome of rural drone delivery is likely different from urban. This study conducted a systematic literature review about the current state-of-the-art drone, ADV, and truck-drone package delivery in rural areas (excluding medical or healthcare delivery). Drones can significantly reduce rural delivery emissions and costs while increasing efficiency. ADVs have the potential to greatly improve rural delivery efficiency. The truck-drone solution is one of the best mode choices for rural delivery because the truck can travel longer distances while the drone can cross challenging geography without delay. The literature review identified a general need for more drone, ADV, and truck-drone delivery research focusing on rural locations. There also is a need for research about the specific economic, environmental, and societal impacts of drone, ADV, and truck-drone delivery in rural areas. There is a significant gap in the literature on realistic rural delivery modeling and gaps about attitudes and perceptions of drone, ADV, and truck-drone delivery services in rural areas. With additional research, innovative delivery modes and technologies can become more cost-effective, accessible, and efficient in rural areas.

Cooperated delivery of drones and truck for “last 100 metres” in rural areas

This paper focuses on addressing the “last 100 metres” home delivery in rural areas, using a cooperated delivery method of drones and truck. Considering the constraints of drone load, drone energy consumption and customer time window, a mixed integer linear programming model is established to minimize the delivery cost. Owing to the computational complexity of this problem, a double ant colony optimization with neighbourhood search is proposed. First, the raw data are sorted and encoded. Second, the ant colony optimization with search operators is used to solve drone routes and truck route. Finally, the local search algorithm with search operators is used to solve the connection point between the drones and truck to obtain the cooperated delivery routes. Extensive experiments are conducted on the instances randomly generated in the Solomon dataset, and results demonstrate the proposed algorithm effectively solves problems within reasonable runtimes. Sensitivity analysis is conducted on factors that may affect the delivery cost of the solution and provide insights about drones participating in the “last hundred metres” home delivery service.

Factors Determining Place of Delivery in Rural Area of Punjab: A Cross-Sectional Study

Context/Background: Institutional delivery has been found to be one of the key predictors of neonatal mortalityprevention and is a recognized intervention to reduce maternal mortality. Despite this known fact, mothers stillprefer to deliver at home.Methodology: 359 mothers of 2 months to 24 months old children were selected from Verka block of districtAmritsar using stratified random sampling technique. Data was collected using a semi structured and pretestedquestionnaire. Analysis was done using frequency distribution, simple percentages and inferential statistics of chisquarewas used to test hypothesis at 5% level of significance.Results: The overall prevalence of institutional delivery was 64.9%. Study revealed that parity, proximity to publichealth facility, high education, socioeconomic status and utilization of full antenatal package had significantlyincreased the institutional delivery.Conclusions: Therefore there is a need to enhance education, expand public health institutions and createawareness about antenatal care and institutional delivery by utilizing existing platform of village level workers toincrease the rate of institutional delivery.

Information needs and seeking strategies of antenatal patients for enhancing healthcare service delivery in rural areas of Northeastern Nigeria

The study aims to provide an understanding of the intricate dynamics surrounding antenatal care in rural Northeastern Nigeria. It examined factors such as healthcare-related information needs, preferred sources of information, and information-seeking strategies, to inform interventions that can enhance maternal and child health outcomes in the region. The study adopted a quantitative action research design and analyzed the data collected using descriptive statistics and concept-driven data coding. 1,495 registered prenatal patients from three Federal Teaching Hospitals in Northeastern Nigeria—Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital (412 prenatal Patients), Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (452 Antenatal Patients), and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (631 Antenatal Patients)—make up the study's population. Data were gathered through questionnaires and interviews using a participatory action research technique. The study found that antenatal patients have a substantial information requirement about healthcare, with emphasis on family planning, delivery preparation, and maternal nutrition (Mean=3.6404, SD=0.51526). The study concludes that the three main sources of information are patient information desks, printed materials, and healthcare providers while the use of technology-based sources is, however, modest, suggesting a digital gap in information access. Therefore, it recommends specialized health education programs, digital literacy initiatives, and community-based workshops for antenatal patients.

Artificial Intelligence Applied to Telemedicine: opportunities for healthcare delivery in rural areas

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in telemedicine is revolutionizing the provision of healthcare services, especially in rural areas. These technologies enable the overcoming of geographical and resource barriers, facilitating precise diagnoses, personalized recommendations, and continuous monitoring through portable devices. AI systems analyze patient data and suggest the most appropriate care options based on their health profile, thus optimizing the efficiency of the healthcare system and improving patient satisfaction. In addition, the automation of administrative tasks through AI frees up time for healthcare professionals to concentrate on direct care. To ensure trust and effectiveness in these technologies, it is essential to implement clinically validated and unbiased algorithms, while fostering transparency and collaboration among developers, healthcare professionals, and regulators. Therefore, AI applied to telemedicine offers a revolutionary opportunity to improve the accessibility and quality of healthcare in rural areas by promoting more equitable and efficient care.

Present Conditions and Ensuring Rule of Laws at Local Level: A Case Study on Village Court

This study examines, with particular attention to the Union Parishad in Bangladesh, what constitutes a critical role played by village courts when it comes to ensuring basic rule of law at grassroots level. Since there are no administrative units at village level, the rural local governance structure is driven by UPMs. The Village Court system established under the Gram Adalat (Village Court) Ordinance of 1976 and formalized through the Village Court Act of 2006, serves as a statutory formal court designed to alleviate the hardships faced by the rural poor within the formal judicial system. In order to increase justice delivery in rural areas and improve the resolution of disputes through Salish means, this research looks at how the village court has evolved since its inception in the late 1970s. The Bangladesh’s government has initiated a project called "Activating village courts" with support from the UNDP and the EU in order to reinforce its rural court system. The study, which was carried out in three unions at the Netrokona District, used a combination of methods on as approach to use both quantitative and Qualitative data obtained by Structured and Unstructured Surveys. The findings of the study are followed up by a set of recommendations and initiatives aiming to strengthen the ability of village courts to ensure rule of law at local level. The findings of this research show that village courts are playing a critical role in the Redemption of justice services effectively in rural Bangladesh, which emphasised their importance to broader efforts to encourage access to justice and democratic rights at grass roots level.

Cesarean sections in the Thiadiaye health district 2015 2016

Objective: To evaluate the follow-up of pregnancy in patients with caesarean deliveries, the time taken to perform the procedure and the postoperative prognosis. Material and methods: This was a retrospective, descriptive and analytical study conducted over a period of two years at the Maternity Hospital of the health district. Data were collected from clinical records, delivery room and operating theatre registers. The variables studied were the epidemiological characteristics of the patients, the follow-up of the pregnancy, the indications for caesarean section and the maternal and neonatal outcome. The data were entered and analysed using SPHINX software. Results: During this period we performed 274 caesarean sections out of a total number of 7025 deliveries, i.e. a caesarean section rate of 3.9%. The epidemiological profile of the patients was that of a young woman, with an average age of 27.4 years. The majority were married (98.1%). The socio-economic level was low (97.8%) and they were primiparous (33.2%). As regards pregnancy follow-up, 34.3%) had had 3 antenatal consultations and 31.7% had had 4 antenatal consultations. Hypertension was observed in 25.9% of pregnancies. The standard blood test was performed in 25.2% of patients. For obstetrical ultrasound, 52.2% of patients had undergone at least one ultrasound examination. The majority of patients (80%) had their first caesarean section and 14% had their second. These were emergency caesareans in 82.1%. They were mandatory indications in 49%, of prudence in 30% and of necessity in 21%. The extraction time was less than 30 minutes in 41 cases and between 30 and 60 minutes in 132 cases. Post-operative complications were dominated by vasculo-renal syndromes. Perinatal mortality was 28.6‰. The contraceptive rate after caesarean section was 98.1% during this period. Conclusion: The management of deliveries in rural areas is often difficult, prenatal consultations are often of poor quality, the management of caesarean sections performed with rather long delays.

Critical assessment of emissions, costs, and time for last-mile goods delivery by drones versus trucks

Electric drones as an autonomous mode of transport are scaling up to transform last-mile goods delivery, raising an urgent need for assessing impacts of drone transport from a systems perspective. In this paper, we conduct systems analyses to assess the environmental, economic, and delivery time impact of large drones for delivery scenarios to pick-up centers between mid-size cities predominantly in rural areas, and deliveries within city limits compared with electric and diesel trucks. Results show that large drones have lower emissions than diesel trucks for deliveries in rural areas and that drones don’t compete with electric trucks, mainly due to the high energy demand required for take-off and landing for each delivery. Furthermore, we show that electric drones are an economically more cost-effective option than road-bound transport modes such as diesel and electric trucks due to the high degree of automation, and also provide the fastest delivery times. Our analysis provides unique insights that drones can address rapid electrification and emergency applications due to low costs, high flexibility, and fast operations. However, for regulators and practitioners to realize it as an emission-friendly option it is necessary to determine the optimal size of drones, particularly for use cases in urban areas, avoid very low landings for deliveries, and have home deliveries instead of pick-up points.

Side Effects of the Coexistence of Tradition Medicine with Biomedicine in Primary Health Service Delivery in Rural Areas of Tanzania

It is approximated that 60-80 per cent of Tanzanians use Traditional Medicine (TM) as their primary source of health services alongside biomedical services. However, there is little information on the side effects of the co-existence of TM with biomedical system to primary health services delivery in Tanzania. By using Helmke and Levitsky’s Model of co-existence of formal and informal institutions in comparative politics, this article argues that the coexistence of TM and biomedicine undermine the delivery of primary health services in rural areas of Tanzania due to abrupt stoppage of using biomedicine among users, concurrent use of TM and biomedicine services, poor environment where Traditional Health Practitioners (THPs) practice and selling of counterfeit medicine to the people. The study was carried out in Bukoba District of Tanzania, data were collected through observations, documentary review and interviews which were qualitatively analysed. The study involved 11 THPs, 30 household respondents, four (4) key respondents and five (5) biomedical practitioners who were purposively included in the study. Findings of the study call for the Government to register THPs who provide services to people while they are unregistered and to provide education on proper usage of TM among health services users in rural areas.

Exploring the knowledge, attitude, and practices of over-the-counter medical sellers in Ghana.

Rural areas in sub-Saharan Africa face a high prevalence and morbidity of skin disease while also lacking access to dermatologists. In Ghana, where approximately 25 licensed dermatologists are available for 25 million people, community pharmacies, called over-the-counter medical sellers (OTCMS), were established to respond to accessibility inequities, albeit without equitable training. Our study evaluates the dermatologic knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of OTCMS in Ghana's Ashanti Region. To assess dermatologic KAP, we created a standardized questionnaire and recorded 13 interviews with OTCMS in seven communities. Interviews were completed with help from Ghanaian translators and transcripts were transcribed verbatim, then analyzed qualitatively to determine common themes for analysis. This analysis identified six major themes: i) prescriber qualifications; ii) diagnostics; iii) therapeutics; iv) economics; v) health systems integration; vi) care-seeking behavior. Analysis of these themes outlined many cultural roles and challenges of OTCMS, including serving as the primary contact for dermatologic conditions in rural communities. While possibly necessary due to the lack of accessible dermatologists, this raises concerns for potential harm in diagnostic error and misuse of therapeutics due to the lack of formal dermatology training. In rural parts of Ghana, the KAP of OTCMS play a pivotal role in assessing and treating skin disease for those who might otherwise lack access to adequate dermatologic management. Furthermore, although our study identifies potential issues related to the roles played by OTCMS, it also suggests strategies to improve the dermatologic health of many Ghanaians by enhancing education and healthcare delivery in rural areas.

Cultural adaptation of the iSupport online training and support programme for caregivers of people with dementia in Castilla y León, Spain.

E-learning has shown to be an effective intervention in helping informal caregivers of people living with dementia. It has the potential to reach people living in remote areas, increasing service coverage. As a response to the demographic context in Spain associated with a higher percentage of ageing, depopulation, and the complexities of health service delivery in rural areas, this paper describes the cultural adaptation and co-design of the iSupport online training and support programme for Castilla y León, Spain, as a potential e-health intervention to mitigate these constraints. The translation and cultural adaptation were performed following the WHO guidelines, with some adaptation due to the cultural context of Spain. Three focus groups were conducted with informal caregivers, health professionals, and a group of experts on cognitive impairment and dementia. The co-design process was performed as a Patient and Public Involvement activity with three groups consisting of people living with dementia, informal caregivers, rural population and experts on technology and dementia. A total of 435 suggestions were proposed for adaptation associated with erroneous terminology, rewording text/writing, grammatical or punctuation marks errors, and repeated information or need for additional content. Several recommendations were exposed during the co-design process: preference for interactive material such as videos or images, a forum to receive feedback from health care professionals and to leave satisfaction comments, availability in multiple platforms (e.g., tablet, laptop, mobile), slide format for information presentation, and availability to edit letter size and background colours. A culturally adapted version of the iSupport was developed for Castilla y León, Spain. The need for modification of words and expressions, information links to local resources websites, adjustments of characters' names and caregivers' scenarios, and additional content to some sections were recommended. Suggestions for the design should be taken into account for further adapted versions and platform developments.

Risk factors of caesarean deliveriesin urban-rural areasof Bangladesh.

The key interest of this research is to identify the causes of the ongoing increasing trends in caesarean section or C-section (CS) deliveries in both urban and rural areas of Bangladesh. This study analyzed all Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) datasets through Chi-square and z tests and the multivariable logistic regression model. CS deliveries were found to be more prevalent in urban than in rural areas of Bangladesh. Mothers above 19 years, above 16 years at first birth, overweight mothers, those with higher educational levels, those who received more than one antenatal care (ANC) visit, fathers having secondary/higher education degrees and employed as workers or in business, and mothers living in wealthy households in the cities of Dhaka, Khulna, Mymensingh, Rajshahi, and Rangpur divisions had a significantly higher likelihood of CS deliveries in urban areas. Contrastingly, mothers with ages between 20 and 39 years, above 20 years at first birth, normal weight/overweight mothers, those with primary to higher level of education, those in the business profession, fathers who also received primary to higher education, mothers who received more than one ANC visit, and those living in wealthy households in Dhaka, Khulna, Mymensingh, Rajshahi, and Rangpur divisions were more likely to have CS deliveries in rural areas. The 45-49 age group mothers had a five times higher likelihood of CS deliveries [odds ratio (OR): 5.39] in urban areas than in rural areas. Wealthy mothers were more likely to be CS-delivered in urban (OR: 4.84) than in rural areas (OR: 3.67). The findings reveal a gradual upward alarming trend in CS deliveries with an unequal contribution of significant determinants in urban and rural areas of Bangladesh. Therefore, integrated community-level awareness programs are an urgent need in accordance with the findings on the risks of CS and the benefits of vaginal deliveries in this country.

The system of rural settlements and its impact on the processes of social services delivery in rural areas (on the materials of the Krasnoyarsk Krai)

Subject. The article investigates the accessibility of social services for the population of rural areas. Objectives. The aim is to determine the features of the existing system of rural settlements in the Krasnoyarsk Krai and trends in its transformation. Methods. We employ methods of descriptive statistics and graphical visualization of data. Results. In the Krasnoyarsk Krai, there is a gradual destruction of the framework of rural settlements, agglomerations with polarized settlements are formed, and in the north of the Krasnoyarsk Krai, the focal nature of the settlement is increasing. Conclusions. In the health sector, there is a discrepancy between the availability of infrastructure and the rural population size. It is crucial to revise the standards for social service delivery to the population of rural areas.