Non-farm Rural Residents Research Articles

Farming and the risk of developing osteoarthritis in Alberta, Canada.

Because farming is a physically demanding occupation, farmers may be susceptible to developing osteoarthritis (OA). The aim of this study was to determine the risk of developing OA in Canadian farm, non-farm rural and urban residents. A retrospective cohort study of five Alberta health administrative databases examined the risk of developing OA among three groups: farm (n=143 431), non-farm rural (n=143 431) and urban (n=143 431) residents over the fiscal years 2000-2001 through 2020-2021. The algorithm for OA ascertainment defined cases based on criteria including one hospital admission, two physician visits within a 2-year interval, or two ambulatory care visits within 2 years. Incidence rates, lifetime risk, and mortality rates were calculated. Cox proportional hazard models compared the incidence of OA for the three groups over the 21 years. A total of 26 957 OA cases were identified among 1 706 256 person-years (PYs) in the farm cohort. The crude incidence rate of OA over a period of 21 years ranged from 19.1 (95% confidence interval (CI) 18.6-19.6) per 1000 PYs in 2001 to 10.0 (95% CI 9.6-10.5) per 1000 PYs in 2021. The overall incidence rate was higher in the farm group (15.8 (95%CI 15.6-16.0) per 1000 PYs) as compared to the non-farm rural (14.7 (95%CI 14.5-14.9) per 1000 PYs) and the urban groups (13.3 (95%CI 13.1-13.4) per 1000 PYs). After adjusting for age and sex, the farm (6%; 95%CI 4-8%), and non-farm rural (9%; 95%CI 7-12%) groups had higher incidence rates than the urban group. The unadjusted non-injury mortality rate for the farm group with OA was lower (13.2 (95%CI 12.9-13.5) per 1000 PYs) than both the urban (14.5; 95%CI 14.1-14.8) and rural (18.0; 95%CI 17.6-18.4) groups. After adjusting for mortality, the lifetime risk of developing OA was 27.7% for farm residents, 25.6% for the non-farm rural cohort, and 24.0% for the urban cohort. When accounting for age and sex, farm and non-farm rural residents have a higher risk of developing OA as compared to the urban population. The higher mortality-adjusted lifetime risk of developing OA among farm residents highlights the necessity of specific interventions aimed at reducing the impact of this condition in rural communities. Further research is required to identify specific occupational and lifestyle risk factors associated with OA among farmers and to develop effective strategies for prevention and management.

Longitudinal Changes in Prevalence of Colorectal Cancer in Farm and Non-Farm Residents of Saskatchewan.

To determine predictors associated with longitudinal changes in colorectal cancer (CRC) prevalence in farm and non-farm rural residents in Saskatchewan, Canada. Data from the Saskatchewan Rural Health Study were collected from 8261 individuals nested within 4624 households at baseline survey in 2010 and 4867 individuals (2797 households) at follow-up survey in 2014. The study sample consists of 5599 individuals (baseline) and 3933 at (follow-up) (more than or equal to 50 years). The prevalence of CRC increased over time among rural farm (baseline: 0.8%; follow-up: 1.3%, P < 0.05) and non-farm (baseline: 1.4%; follow-up: 2.0%, P > 0.05) residents. Longitudinal predictors of CRC prevalence were: quadrant, location of home, mother ever had cancer, age, body mass index (BMI), sex, radiation, natural gas. Longitudinal changes in prevalence of CRC among farm and non-farm residents appear to depend on a complex combination of individual and contextual factors.

Lung Function Decline in Farm and Nonfarm Rural Residents of Saskatchewan.

This study aims to assess the annual changes in lung function among farm and nonfarm adult residences in rural Saskatchewan, Canada. Data from the Saskatchewan Rural Health Study survey (2010 to 2014) among 724 adults were used. For forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) measurements, estimates of annual decline (in milliliters) were highest in older age male (65+ years) (Mean, SD) (-42.63, 21.16); and among old heavy smokers (-57.79, 24.30). Estimates of annual decline in forced vital capacity (FVC) were highest in current smokers without the use of natural gas (-25.78, 14.78) and among old heavy smokers (-33.88, 20.28). Living on a farm is associated with decreased FEV1 and FVC, but not statistically significant by sex and age. A complex mix of personal and contextual factors may affect these estimates.

Incidence and Longitudinal Changes in Prevalence of Chronic Bronchitis in Farm and Non-Farm Rural Residents of Saskatchewan.

To assess the predictors associated with incidence and longitudinal changes in the prevalence of chronic bronchitis (CB) among farm and non-farm residents of rural Saskatchewan, Canada. The Saskatchewan Rural Health Study was a prospective study of the lung health of rural dwellers. We obtained information on 4624 households, 8261 individuals (2797 households, 4867 individuals) at baseline (follow-up). Incidence of CB was 4.3% over 4 years. The prevalence was 6.4% and 5.3% (baseline) and 12.1% and 9.2% (follow-up) in non-farm and farm residents, respectively. The prevalence of CB was associated with current smokers; father ever had lung trouble; obesity; mother smoked during pregnancy; allergic reaction to cats and to pollen; household income inadequacy and age. Prevalence and incidence of CB in rural people appear to be a complex mix of personal and contextual factors.

Risk aversion and willingness to pay for water quality: The case of non-farm rural residents

Stated choice experiments are used to investigate the economic valuation of rural residents living in the province of Quebec for water quality improvements. In Quebec, rural residents played an important role in the setting of stricter environmental regulations. Unlike most stated choice experiments about the valuation of improvements in water quality, this study explicitly accounts for risk in the design and analysis of choice experiments. Risk in phosphorus and coliform reductions is introduced through a three-point uniform distribution in the choice sets. The results show greater support for constant absolute risk aversion preferences than for constant relative risk aversion. Rural residents value coliform and phosphorus reductions and the more educated ones are particularly willing to see the government tax farmers and taxpayers to secure such reductions. As the science improves and risk in water quality outcomes decrease and as the political weight of non-farm rural residents increase, it should be easier for governments to replace voluntary cost-share programs by polluter-payer programs.

Prevalence of Chronic Bronchitis in Farm and Nonfarm Rural Residents in Saskatchewan

To determine the prevalence of chronic bronchitis (CB) and associated risk factors in farm and nonfarm rural residents in Saskatchewan, Canada. The questionnaire collected information about health, contextual, and individual factors from 8261 farm and nonfarm adult residents (18 years and older). The prevalence of CB was 5.3% among farm residents and 6.4% among nonfarm residents. We found a greater prevalence of CB associated with household income adequacy, increasing age, allergies, history of lung disease in a parent, exposure to stubble smoke, obesity, prenatal exposure to smoking, and female sex. Smoking interacted with occupational exposure to wood dust and solvents, and allergic reaction to molds. The results suggest that increasing household income and reducing smoking could be primary, modifiable determinants of CB prevalence.

Man vs. manure: Examining the effects of residential demand on dairy farming in rural America

Spatial concerns are growing in many rural regions in the United States. Exurban sprawl and residential development can often surge past urban boundaries and encroach on historically rural areas. These emerging “co-existence” problems affect both farms and non-farming rural residents. One area of particular concern has been zoning and land use regulation laws associated with livestock waste handling. In this research, we develop an agent based simulation/case example of a representative county in rural Vermont to illustrate how the proximity of non-farm rural residents (NFRRs) to existing dairy farms in the region can curtail potential farm expansion, primarily through laws governing livestock waste disposal and pit location. The disposal problem is further exacerbated by certain physical land features as many NFRR homes are located on escarpments, as well as other physical features which tend to run diagonally, the latter situation being one that further complicates field manure disposal traffic patterns. Thus, the co-existence issue in dairy farming in much of rural America has an important spatial dimension.

The Saskatchewan rural health study: an application of a population health framework to understand respiratory health outcomes

BackgroundRespiratory disease can impose a significant burden on the health of rural populations. The Saskatchewan Rural Health Study (SRHS) is a new large prospective cohort study of ages 6 and over currently being conducted in farming and non-farming communities to evaluate potential health determinants associated with respiratory outcomes in rural populations. In this article, we describe the rationale and methodology for the adult component.The study is being conducted over 5 years (2009–15) in two phases, baseline and longitudinal. The baseline survey consists of two components, adults and children. The adult component consists of a questionnaire-based evaluation of individual and contextual factors of importance to respiratory health in two sub populations (a Farm Cohort and a Small Town Cohort) of rural families in Saskatchewan Rural Municipalities (RMs). Clinical studies of lung function and allergy tests are being conducted on selected sub-samples of the two cohorts based on the positive response to the last question on the baseline questionnaire: “Would you be willing to be contacted about having breathing and/or allergy tests at a nearby location?”. We adopted existing population health theory to evaluate individual factors, contextual factors, and principal covariates on the outcomes of chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and obstructive sleep apnea.FindingsOf the RMs selected to participate, 32 (89%) out of 36 RMs and 15 (94%) out of 16 small towns within the RMs agreed to participate. Using the mail out survey method developed by Dillman, we obtained completed questionnaires from 4264 households (8261 individuals). We obtained lung function measurements on 1609 adults, allergy skin test information on 1615 adults; both measurements were available on 1549 adults. We observed differences between farm and non-farm rural residents with respect to individual, contextual factors and covariates.DiscussionThere are differences between farm and non-farm rural residents with respect to individual and contextual factors and other variables of importance. The findings of the SRHS will improve knowledge of respiratory disease etiology, assist in the development and targeting of prevention programs, and in planning health services with farm and small town populations.

Changing landscapes for white‐tailed deer management in the 21st century: Parcelization of land ownership and evolving stakeholder values in Michigan

AbstractWhite‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) create positive and negative effects incurred by stakeholders throughout the midwestern United States. Knowledge of deer ecology and stakeholder values for deer are needed to match the level of acceptable impacts with the capabilities of management. To address this challenge, we 1) quantified how landscape characteristics in southwestern and south‐central Michigan, USA affect the distribution and population characteristics of deer throughout agro‐forested landscapes, 2) quantified factors affecting stakeholder acceptance capacity for deer, and 3) present a deer management framework based on desired levels of impacts in relation to existing conditions. We investigated ecological components by radiocollaring deer during 2001–2006 and analyzed their movements, survival, and mortality factors in landscapes with diverse land‐ownerships. Sociological components were investigated through interviews and questionnaires sent to 3,520 households. Southern Michigan residents identified a visible deer herd (a perceptual cue to the naturalness of the area) as a positive impact. Concerns about deer, especially deer–vehicle collisions, were weighed against positive impacts in determining acceptable levels of deer–human interactions. Nonhunting, nonfarming rural residents, a stakeholder of increasing size and influence, perceived impacts distinct from those perceived by hunters and farmers. Small annual home ranges of yearlings–adults (77–202 ha) and fawns (60–116 ha) and high survival rates (yearling–adult = 0.40–0.94, fawns = 0.51–0.76) may be attributed to the parcelization of land, habitat quality, and positive values stakeholders hold for deer. Knowledge of the impacts perceived and the effect of impacts on acceptance capacity for deer may enable managers to develop management actions that complement existing programs and address stakeholder values. Knowledge of deer ecology, landscape characteristics, and responses of stakeholders to deer are critical for managing the impacts of white‐tailed deer. © 2011 The Wildlife Society.

Effects of Impact Perception on Acceptance Capacity for White‐Tailed Deer

ABSTRACT Wildlife professionals require conceptually sound methods to integrate biological and social insights for management of wildlife. The concept of acceptance capacity has been suggested to stimulate integration, although methods to link measures of acceptance capacity with measures of wildlife populations are not fully developed. To clarify relationships between acceptance capacity, wildlife populations, and human values, we explored effects of stakeholder characteristics and impact perception (the recognized, important effects arising from interactions with wildlife) on acceptance capacity. We used a mail‐back questionnaire (n = 2,190 responses) to rural residents of southern Michigan 1) to examine whether 3 commonly identified stakeholder groups (hunters, farmers, and nonhunting, nonfarming rural residents) that share a common landscape also perceive similar suites of impacts and hold comparable acceptance capacities for white‐tailed deer, and 2) to develop an explanatory model of acceptance capacity for deer. Comparisons among stakeholder groups revealed differences in perception of impacts resulting from interactions with deer; however, participation in hunting and farming were poor predictors of acceptance capacity for deer. Model selection criteria indicate that total effect of impacts perceived explains a majority of variation in acceptance capacity. We conclude that impact perception is a meaningful concept for integration of human values into management of wildlife populations because impacts relate to effects of current wildlife populations and can lead to management actions that address needs and interests of multiple stakeholder groups in changing landscapes.

Job Satisfaction and Mental Distress among Japanese Farmers

Objective: Job satisfaction and mental distress may contribute to mental illness, particularly in regard to depression and even suicide. The aim of this study was to investigate the level of job satisfaction and its relationship to the level of mental distress among farmers in comparison to non-farming rural residents. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey of 7,000 rural residents was performed to assess the level of job satisfaction and mental distress. Mental distress was measured using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). The adjusted odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals were calculated by means of multivariate logistic regression models. Results: A total of 5,364 rural residents (1,888 farmers and 3,476 non-farmers) responded, therefore yielding a response rate of 76.6%. Twenty-five percent of the farmers and 24 percent of non-farmers were either very dissatisfied or somewhat dissatisfied with their jobs. Twenty-five percent of the farmers and 29 percent of non-farmers had mental distress (GHQ score of 4 or above). The crude odds ratio of mental distress among dissatisfied farmers in comparison to satisfied farmers was 4.38 (95% CI = 3.49-5.51). Similarly, the crude odds ratio of mental distress among dissatisfied non-farmers in comparison to satisfied non-farmers was 5.01 (95% CI = 4.19-5.98). These statistically significant odds ratios remained even after controlling for age, gender and family structure. The most important cause of mental distress among farmers was related to family finances. Among non-farmers, however, the most important cause of mental distress tended to be human relations in the workplace. Conclusion: Although farmers experienced similar levels of job satisfaction and mental distress in comparison to non-farmers, the most important cause of mental distress differed between farmers and non-farmers. As the underlying risks for this level of job satisfaction, family finances are therefore considered to be a potentially hazardous factor in regard to mental distress for farmers.

Understanding suicide in Australian farmers

Male farmers in Australia have an elevated risk of suicide. The aims of this study were to investigate the rate of mental health problems amongst farmers compared with non-farmer rural residents and to investigate what additional factors might contribute to an increased risk of suicide amongst farmers. This study used a combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches. First, using self-report questionnaire data, we compared rates of mental health problems (a common correlate of suicide) and a number of personality measures between farmers (n=371) and non-farming rural residents (n=380). In addition, semi-structured interviews with farmers (n=32) were used to gain a richer understanding of how the context of farming and mental health interact. Five key findings emerged from the study. First, in the quantitative study, we found no support for the proposition that farmers experience higher rates of mental health problems than do non-farmer rural residents, but we identified potentially important personality differences between farmers and non-farmers, with levels of conscientiousness being significantly higher amongst farmers and levels of neuroticism being significantly lower. A strong association between maleness and farming was also found. In the qualitative study, participants indicated that farming is an environment in which individuals experienced a range of stressors but have limited capacity to acknowledge or express these. In addition, there appeared to be significant attitudinal barriers to seeking help for those who may have mental health problems, particularly male farmers. The elevated rate of suicide amongst farmers does not seem to be simply explained by an elevated rate of mental health problems. Individual personality, gender and community attitudes that limit a person's ability to acknowledge or express mental health problems and seek help for these may be significant risk factors for suicide in farmers.

Comparisons of Colorado Women’s Cancer Screening Practices by Residence: Metropolitan, Non-metropolitan, and Farm

Combining farm residents and non-farm rural residents into a single category designated as rural may obscure differences in preventive care utilization, including cancer screening practices in each group, because of distinctive characteristics of farmers. This study compared three cancer screening practices (mammography, breast physical examination, and Pap smears) across three residence groups (metropolitan, non-metropolitan, and farms) of Colorado women and described demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the groups. Females interviewed in the 1993 Colorado Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) were divided into residence as metropolitan or non-metropolitan. Farm residents were female respondents interviewed as part of the Colorado Farm Family Health and Hazard Survey (CFFHHS) conducted in 1993-1997. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to determine characteristics related to the screening practices. Farm women were more likely to be non-Hispanic white and older, to report their health as very good, and to have medical insurance and at least one source of primary care compared to non-metropolitan women. After controlling for related variables, residence was not associated with the screening practices, with the exception of breast physical examination; farm women were less likely to have a recent examination than metropolitan women (OR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.07-2.10). When non-metropolitan and farm women were combined, there was no association between residence and having had a physical breast examination. There were important differences between non-metropolitan women and farm women in demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, which influenced screening practices. Further studies are needed to examine farm residents' cancer screening practices separately from other rural residents in order to fully understand the implications of these differences for health status in other geographic areas.

Pork farm odour modelling using multiple-component multiple-factor analysis and neural networks

The number of non-farming rural residents surrounding pork farm operations has increased greatly in many pork-producing nations. These non-farming rural residents consider pork farm odour emissions to be a serious health threat. This has led to significant lobbying to limit the expansion and development of pork operations, and consequently reduced economic growth in the pork industry. This has led pork producers to search for effective methods to mitigate the odourous emissions, and researchers to seek methods to adequately model the odour. Extensive research has been performed on the use of single-component analysis to model the odour. Several researchers have used multiple-component analysis to extend the effectiveness of previous models. Since odour generation factors, like temperature, also contribute to the odour, the next logical approach to modelling pork farm odour is multiple-component multiple-factor analysis. It is proposed that the multiple-component neural network model be extended to make use of multiple-component multiple-factor analysis. First, a neural network model and a linear multiple regression model are developed and compared using multiple-component analysis to demonstrate the better modelling technique for pork farm odour. The neural network model of the pork farm odour yielded more accurate and precise odour intensity predictions than the linear multiple regression models, indicating that neural networks are the better modelling technique for this application. Subsequently, a multiple-component multiple-factor neural network model was developed and compared with the multiple-component neural network. The multiple-component multiple-factor neural network model generated performance gains, indicating that this approach is relevant to modelling pork farm odour. It is hypothesized that the extension of the multiple-component multiple-factor analysis to include additional significant odour components and odour generation factors in the neural network model will further improve model performance.

Single-component Modelling of Pig Farm Odour with Statistical Methods and Neural Networks

Pork farm odour has become an increasingly important problem for the pork industry because non-farming rural residents object to the odours coming from pig facilities and insist that it disrupts enjoyment of their properties. The pork industry has thus faced strong opposition to farm expansion or the creation of new pork farms. Reducing pork farm odour requires an understanding of what causes the odour and the ability to measure the odour. The pork industry and researchers have attempted to model pork farm odour using single-component odour indicators, such as ammonia and hydrogen sulphide, with statistical models. Single-component analysis refers to only one odour indicator being used to predict odour levels. In this paper, a neural network approach to the pork farm odour using single-component analysis with the consideration of other relevant factors, such as measurement location is proposed. Neural network models and statistical models for pork farm odour have been developed and compared for single-component models to determine which method produces superior results. In general, the use of neural networks to model the pork farm odour yields more accurate and precise odour intensity predictions than the statistical models. The measurement location for the pork farm odour was considered in several model comparisons. The neural network models significantly outperformed the statistical models in this comparison because the statistical models are not able to consider the measurement location. This indicates that measurement location is a relevant factor for modelling pork farm odour. This also demonstrates that factors other than odour components should be considered during modelling. It is hypothesised that a multiple-component (odour components) and multiple-factor (environmental conditions and other human expert knowledge) analysis approach to the modelling of pork farm odour using neural networks and other intelligent systems techniques will yield increased accuracy for odour prediction and a thorough understanding of this significant problem.

NON-FARM RURAL ONTARIO RESIDENTS' PERCEIVED QUALITY OF LIFE

This paper presents a study of Ontario non-farm ruralresidents’ perceived quality of life. The researchsought to understand residents’ perceived quality oflife both in absolute and relative terms. Measurementfocused on indicators of satisfaction with personallife, community and environment and quality of life incomparison to others. A pre-tested questionnaire wasmailed to a random sample of non-farm rural residentsin Brock and Uxbridge Townships, which lie within onehour’s drive northeast of metropolitan Toronto. Nearly forty-two (41.8) percent of the residentsreturned completed questionnaires. The majority ofrespondents indicated they were satisfied with mostaspects of the quality of their lives. The demographiccharacteristics that were consistently found to havesignificant associations with indicators of absolutequality of life and relative quality of life wereincome, length of residency, presence or number ofchildren in the home and township. Other demographiccharacteristics almost as consistently found to besignificantly associated with indicators of absoluteand relative quality of life were gender, followed byage, marital status, amount of land surrounding thehome and education. Comparing objectively-baseddemographic characteristics and more subjectivelyderived indicators of absolute and relative quality oflife provided a useful way of understanding quality oflife perceptions of Ontario rural non-farmresidents.