Health Status Of Rural Population Research Articles

Assessing the Social Dimension of Health in Rural India: A Transverse Study

Abstract Introduction: Social health will be formed with the help of a healthy family, a healthy and communicating society, an individual having basic knowledge of good and healthy living practices, an individual giving equal respect to all genders and each age group, and full utilization of his productive time with his own choice of work. Promoting health and active participation of people in social and civic behaviors is considered one of the indicators of youth development. The present study focuses on assessing the social health status of study participants in rural areas in terms of illiteracy, gender discrimination, unemployment, and substance abuse. Objectives: To assess the social health profile of the study population (illiteracy, unemployment, male gender preference, and domestic violence) and to associate the social health profile with the demographic profile of the study participants. Materials and Methods: The present study is a cross-sectional study done at the Rural Demographic Surveillance Site of the Native Institute. A total of 430 individuals in the 15–59 years age group, both male and female, were included in the study. Data are analyzed using percentage, proportion, mean, and standard deviation. The association between social health problems and demographic factors was estimated by confidence interval, significance level. Results: The most prevalent social health problem among the study participants was unemployment (45%), followed by illiteracy (43%), substance abuse (18%), domestic violence (11%), and attitudes favoring male gender preference (7%) in the descending order. On correlation analysis, illiteracy found to be associated with age, gender, marital status, family type, education, occupation, and socioeconomic status (SES). Male gender preference attitude is associated with age, marital status, education while domestic violence is associated with age, gender, marital status, education, occupation, and SES. Unemployment found to be associated with age, gender, marital status, education, occupation, and SES. Substance abuse is associated with age, gender, marital status, and type of family. On multivariate analysis, unemployment was found to be associated with gender, illiteracy was associated with age, gender, and type of family, substance abuse was found to be associated with age, gender, and education level, and attitudes favoring male gender preference were found to be associated with marital status, age, and education level. Conclusion: Various social health problems are prevalent in rural India, and these problems are not only associated with education level but also dependent on various other factors. A targeted approach can help reduce these problems and ultimately improve the social health status of rural populations.

Health status of the rural population in Poland

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the health of the elderly, living in rural areas of Poland. The analysis based on a survey “The health status of the Polish population” carried out by the Central Statistical Office (GUS). In order to assess the differences in the health status of the villagers and townsfolk’s we have examined the share of older people living in rural and urban areas in the structure of the whole population. We have also identified the measures of the health status. We have calculated, using the Sullivan method, the value of Healthy Life Expectancy, Disability Free Life Expectancy,.Chronic Disease Life for the Polish rural and urban elderly population. The study has shown, the villagers live shorter in good health (without disability and chronic diseases). Presented study allows to formulate the desirable directions of changes to improve the health status of rural population. This should lead to more effective health care in rural areas.

Assessment of periodontal health among the rural population of Moradabad, India

Introduction: Oral health is an integral component of general health and is essential for well-being. India is one of the most populated countries in the world and majority of them resides in rural areas. Moradabad is one of the oldest cities of Uttar Pradesh with diverse culture and beliefs. Aim: The aim was to evaluate the periodontal health status of the rural Moradabad population. Materials and Methods: A representative transversal study on 550 adults aged 20-49 years of rural Moradabad was conducted from February 2011 to June 2011. The survey was carried out using a self-designed questionnaire. Periodontal health was assessed using WHO criteria (1997). Results: Overall the prevalence of periodontal diseases among study subjects was overall 91.6%. Males had a higher prevalence of periodontal disease (93.8%) as compared to females (89.5%). Out of total subjects 37.8% had Community Periodontal Index (CPI) score 4 and 32.5% had score 3. About 7.3% of subjects had loss of attachment (LOA) with 20.2% of them having LOA score 1. Statistically, there was a significant difference ( P 35 years, smoking, tobacco chewing (independent risk factors) were significantly associated with CPI > 2 (dependent variable) ( P Conclusion: The current periodontal health status of rural adult population of Moradabad city can be attributed to low literacy along with socio economic status and oral habits. To improve the periodontal health status of the rural population of Moradabad, it is suggested that a community-based approach can be designed.

Does living in rural areas make a difference for health in Québec?

This study offers an overview of the health status of rural populations and its major determinants in Québec. A wide range of indicators are examined along a spatial grid that allows rural–urban as well as intrarural comparisons. Differences between urban and rural populations mainly concern specific health problems and determinants, while notable variations on these are noted within rural areas. Some avenues for further research and public health policies in Québec are presented.

Compulsory medical service in Ecuador: the physician's perspective

Compulsory medical service programs for physicians and other health care professionals have been installed in developing countries around the world. The underlying assumption for the creation of these programs is that the increased presence of physicians will improve the health status of rural populations which exhibit higher rates of morbidity and mortality compared to urban populations. This assumption, however, has been challenged by recent evaluative studies of compulsory service programs in Latin America. This paper reports on the physician's perspective of Ecuador's compulsory service program, known as medicatura rural. Based on responses to a self-administered questionnaire completed by 127 physicians who had fulfilled or were currently fulfilling their medicatura rural requirement, in-depth interviews with physicians and other officials, and visits to several rural placement sites, the paper examines some of the fundamental programmatic and logistical problems that have impeded the successful implementation of the program since its inception in 1970. While the majority of the physicians reported that the medicatura rural experience was both professionally and personally rewarding, many view the program as conceptually flawed with respect to its goal of improving the health status of rural communities. The physicians' suggestions for improving the medicatura rural, which elucidate some of the program's basic conceptual flaws and reflect the criticisms of compulsory medical programs in other Latin American countries, are discussed. Finally, Ugalde's (1988) recommendation for replacing compulsory medical service programs with a “rural health corps” is considered.

Impact of federal primary health care policy in rural areas: empirical evidence from the literature.

This review examines the equity, efficiency and effectiveness of federal rural primary care policy as documented by the existing literature. The focus is on the Community Health Center and National Health Service Corps programs which have constituted the major components of the policy. The literature relating to the policy is limited in the number of studies available and in the quality of the research. The available evidence indicates that the policy is associated with an improvement in the distribution of health resources between rural and urban areas,and among rural areas. There is also partial evidence that the policy has been cost-efficient. For federally subsidized practices,the cost of delivering a similar quality of health care is shown to be up to 50 percent less in rural than in urban areas. Rural private practitioners, though, may be more cost-efficient than federally subsidized rural practitioners, at least under certain conditions which have yet to be fully delineated. Program effectiveness is the least well documented, but the literature does suggest that the policy has had a positive effect on the health status of rural populations. Substantially more research on the efficiency, and particular the effectiveness, of federal rural primary care policy is required for the development of a rational basis for the policy.

The role of health survey research in maternal and child health family planning programmes: Danfa Project, Ghana.

Accurate information about the health status of rural population in less developed countries is needed to plan adequate relevant and cost-effective health services. This information is particularly important in integrated programs of maternal and child health and family planning services which are based on the rationale that family planning acceptance is to a great extent dependent on reduced morbidity and mortality rates. 2 health assessment instruments - the morbidity questionnaire and accompanying physical examination - are being used in the Danfa Comprehensive Rural Health and Family Planning Project Ghana to help provide information about Ghanian villagers and thereby relate health services to needs. In the initial Village Health Survey in early 1973 over 3700 men women and children in the projects research area were randomly selected and examined by project staff. Already prelimin ary results of the survey have helped to direct the attention of health planners and health educators. Additional studies in this survey will relate parity birth interval and family size to family health in an ef fort to delineate the relationship between family planning and improved maternal and child health.(AUTHORS MODIFIED)