Rural Areas Of Pakistan Research Articles

Analyze the role of tele dentistry and digital health tools in dental care and education, in rural areas of Pakistan

Analyze the role of tele dentistry and digital health tools in dental care and education, in rural areas of Pakistan

Impact of Climate Change on Rural Pakistan

Climate change is a huge global issue. However, the severity of negative impacts is higher in the rural areas of developing countries like Pakistan. Thus, this research is carried out with the aim of assessing the impact of climate change on rural areas of Pakistan. The current study will establish a comprehensive assessment of present conditions and future projections with the help of secondary data extracted from various articles, research, and databases. Attention will, therefore, be on the review of the requirement for adaptive actions that shall minimize the negative impacts. The findings serve to motivate these communities to be strategic in adapting and building resilience to increasing problems caused as a result of climate change.

TRIMMING DOWN POVERTY THROUGH MICROFINANCE IN PAKISTAN

Microfinance refers to the provision of financial services, such as loans, savings, insurance, and other basic banking services, to individuals and small businesses in low-income or developing communities who have limited access to traditional banking services. Microfinance aims to alleviate poverty, empower marginalized communities, and promote economic development by providing financial resources to those who would otherwise be excluded from the formal financial sector. Credit does not play a direct role in poverty reduction; instead, it increases the borrowers' income so that they can be socially uplifted. This study was conducted to find out the role of microfinance in eradicating poverty in Pakistan. Punjab Rural Support Program (PRSP) provides small loans in the rural areas of Pakistan. In this study, three variables, credit, education, and family size, are taken as independent variables, while the borrowers' income is taken as the dependent variable. Data was collected from the rural areas of Tehsil Gujrat to project the impact of small credit. The study also presents some policy measures like expanding the outreach, increasing the amount of credit, etc, given, so that maximum benefits can be dropped to the last end.

Bridging distances and saving costs: insights from a pilot project of telerheumatology in a rural area of Pakistan.

Enhancing access to healthcare remains a formidable challenge in rural regions of low- and lower-middle-income countries. Amid evolving healthcare challenges, telerheumatology provides opportunities to bridge gaps and expand access to rheumatology care, particularly in remote areas. We describe a pilot telerheumatology program and its cost-, time-, and travel-saving potential in a remote rural setting in northern Pakistan. The telerheumatology program commenced at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Islamabad, providing services through video consultations to a basic health unit in the Gilgit-Baltistan region. Patients visiting from the Gilgit-Baltistan region willing to participate were recruited in the program. Demographics and logistical metrics were recorded in a dedicated registry. A total of 533 consultations were carried out from April 2022 to April 2023. The majority of the patients were female (318/533, 59.7%). The median age of patients was 50 ± 15.7 years. The average wait time for consultation was 20 ± 13 min. The average travel time to reach telecentre was 59 ± 53 min. The average travel cost to reach telecentre was 379 ± 780 PKR (1.85 ± 3.81 USD). The average duration of consultation was 15 ± 5 min. The most common diagnosis for consultation was knee osteoarthritis (237, 44.5%), chronic low back pain (118, 22.1%), and rheumatoid arthritis (42, 7.9%). On average, patients saved 787 ± 29 km of distance, 15 ± 1 h of traveling, and 6702 ± 535 PKR (33 ± 3 USD) that would have been required to travel to our tertiary care hospital. Telerheumatology substantially reduced travel time, distance, and cost for patients. It has the potential to deliver outpatient rheumatology consultation in an economically efficient manner, effectively breaking geographical barriers and expanding access to essential services for patients in remote areas.

Assessing the health consequences of indoor air pollution from biomass fuel combustion on pediatric populations in rural communities of Pakistan

ABSTRACT Indoor air pollution arising from burning of biomass fuels poses a significant threat to child health in rural areas of Pakistan. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess health implications associated with indoor air pollution resulting from biomass burning among children under 12 years of age in rural Punjab. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted in six randomly selected rural districts of Punjab, characterized by their primary reliance on biomass fuels. The findings revealed that several characteristics, such as monthly household income, number of living rooms, secondary use of solid fuels, kitchen type, type of cooking stove, and presence of child in the kitchen with their mother, exhibited significant associations (p < 0.05) with negative health impacts among children. Reported health effects among the children included coughing (18.7%), watery eyes (17.7%), eye irritation (12.3%), runny nose (11.8%), breathing difficulties (8.5%), phlegm (38%), headache (25%), nausea (20.1%), dizziness (6.7%), asthma (6.4%), tuberculosis (1.8%), and pneumonia (1.5%).

Techno-economic analysis and dynamic power simulation of a hybrid solar-wind-battery system for power supply in rural areas in Pakistan

This study presents the optimal design and operation of a proposed hybrid renewable energy system (HRES) for the electrification of a residential building in rural areas in Pakistan. The main contributions of this study are twofold. Firstly, it develops a size optimization model based on the particle swarm optimization (PSO) technique to determine the optimal configuration for two hybrid renewable energy systems (HRES), including both grid-tied and off-grid modes, integrating wind and photovoltaic (PV) systems with battery storage. The optimal configuration is determined by minimizing the levelized cost of electricity, using local meteorological and electricity load data, along with technical specifications of the main HRES components. Secondly, dynamic simulations of two HRES configurations are conducted, using MATLAB Simulink, ensuring the optimal energy balance between multiple energy sources and the load at each operation hour. To meet an annual electrical demand of 131.035 MWh, the grid-tied HRES yields 146.081 MWh annually, with solar contributing 68.85 MWh and wind 77.272 MWh. Conversely, the off-grid system generates 133.533 MWh annually, with solar and wind output power at 43.932 MWh and 89.601 MWh, respectively. The grid-tied system achieves an LCOE of approximately 0.29 $/kWh, with optimal wind turbine and PV capacities of 11 kW and 29 kW, respectively. While in off-grid configuration, the off-grid scenario exhibits an LCOE of 0.91 $/kWh, with optimal capacities of 10 kW for wind turbine, 20 kW for PV, and 2437.5 AH for batteries. The findings provide insights relevant to diverse locations, emphasizing the importance of local meteorological and geographical data. Multiple case studies ensure the robustness and applicability of the proposed system under varying conditions.

Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity among Primary School Children's in Rural Areas of Pakistan

Background: Childhood obesity is a growing global epidemic affecting both children and adults. According to the World Health Organization, 43 million children under five are overweight worldwide, a concern that extends into adulthood with almost 1.5 billion affected individuals. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of overweight, obesity, and underweight among primary school children in district Swat, Pakistan. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted from August 2023 to February 2024, encompassing 707 primary school students selected through multi-cluster sampling. Measurements adhering to CDC guidelines were recorded. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 22, employing descriptive and inferential statistics, including chi-square tests for associations and independent t-tests and ANOVA for group differences. Results: The cohort comprised predominantly male students (88%, 622 students), with the most common age being 11 years (31.8%, 225 students). Overall, 71.9% (508 students) were categorized as healthy, 15.3% (108 students) as overweight, 8.8% (62 students) as underweight, and 4.1% (29 students) as obese. Significant differences were observed across gender (p=0.003), age (p&lt;0.001), and class (p&lt;0.001), but not school type. Conclusion: The study highlights a significant prevalence of overweight and obesity among primary school students in rural Pakistan, emphasizing the urgent need for tailored obesity prevention strategies and interventions in these areas.

Identifying spatially differentiated pathways for rural transformation in Pakistan1

This paper proposes a conceptual and empirical framework to develop rural transformation strategies tailored to the agroecological potential and market access of rural areas in Pakistan. Such a framework allows to move away from stereotypical countrywide policies as in use in Pakistan and many other countries. Using publicly available geospatial measures of vegetation greenness and an urban gravity model to proxy the agricultural market demand, we classify Pakistan’s rural districts into categories with similar comparative advantages and describe dominant livelihood activities. The framework recommends market-based approaches to support commercial agriculture or non-agriculture business development in well-connected areas and where households have accumulated human and physical capital. In areas with less developed agricultural potential or market access, households will benefit from area-based and community-driven development, skill development, and labor programs. Since data collection is often challenging in rural areas, statistical agencies can use such an empirical framework to advise policymakers on prioritizing public investments and tailoring rural transformation pathways. In addition, statistical agencies can also extend the framework at different levels of resolution, from national to local level, and complement it with primary data sources to validate the usefulness of the approach.

Climate change and its impacts in rural areas of Pakistan: a Literature review

Pakistan, which is located in Southeast Asia, is one of the nations that is most susceptible to the effects of climate change, as seen by the increased frequency of floods and droughts. Variations in climate have a negative impact on a number of areas, such as the agricultural industry, groundwater levels, dietary resources, soil quality and organic matter content, public health, and poverty rates. This study's main goal is to evaluate the impact of climate change and the adaptations farms have made in response to variations in precipitation and temperature. Pakistani farmers have responded to climate change by implementing a variety of adaptive techniques. These tactics include changing the way that fertilizer is used, changing crop varieties, using pesticides, improving seed quality, diversifying the farm, planting shade trees, changing irrigation techniques, engaging in off-farm activities, and migrating both permanently and temporarily. As an additional adaptive step, some farmers have turned to asset sales. Additionally, research indicates that agricultural households in wetland areas experience less volatility in climate than those in arid regions.

Household Traits and Its Impact on Offspring’s Educational Inclusion: Empirical Evidence from Urban and Rural Areas of Pakistan

This study used household income and expenditure, parental perception, believes in tribal norms and voice of mother in the decision making as independent variable to their impact on child’s schooling decision compared with its alternate available activities. In this study we used a unique data set collected from various districts of Pakistan for a child labor and education project. The observed relation between income inequality and parental education and the schooling of their children is calculated through a simultaneous equation model. The results reveal that along with the income and education of parents their perception and the role of the mother in decision making have a positive impact on the offspring’s schooling. However, belief in tribal norms has a negative significant influence on the schooling of the offspring.

Anemia Association with Socio -Demographic and Dietary Related Factors among Women of Childbearing Age: A Review Article

Anemia is a common condition that significantly impacts women of reproductive age and is recognized as one of the most prevalent nutritional deficiency conditions globally. This review study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and severity of anemia and its association with contributing factors among women of reproductive age. The key causes of anemia identified are age between 25-35, low income, residing in remote areas, and limited access to healthcare. The study proposes that preventing low birth weight, perinatal, and maternal mortality is contingent upon effectively treating anemia in women of childbearing age. It is essential for women of reproductive age, particularly those in disadvantaged circumstances, to improve their financial and educational status, alter their eating habits, and enhance their overall health. Consuming meals rich in rice, tea, and plant-based foods should be minimized as they contribute to the increased incidence of anemia. The study emphasizes that national nutrition programs should focus on developing strategies to promote the consumption of fruits and vegetables, particularly in rural areas of Pakistan, to address anemia among women of reproductive age.

Understanding Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices Regarding Menstruation among Educated Young Adult Females in Urban and Rural Areas of Pakistan

Understanding Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices Regarding Menstruation among Educated Young Adult Females in Urban and Rural Areas of Pakistan

Barriers experienced by community midwives to provide basic emergency obstetric and newborn care in rural Pakistan

BackgroundConsidering the high maternal mortality rate, the government of Pakistan has deployed Community Midwives (CMWs) in rural areas of Pakistan. This relatively new cadre of community-based skilled birth attendants has previously reported to experience several challenges in providing maternal and child healthcare. However, what barriers they experience in providing basic emergency obstetric and newborn care needs to be further studied.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study conducted in twelve districts in Sindh province, Pakistan, with poor maternal and child health indicators. A total of 258 CMWs participated in this study and completed the questionnaire on a pretested, validated tool in their community-based stations. The trained data collectors completed the questionnaires from the respondents. The problems identified were categorized into three major issues: financial, and transport and security related; and were analyzed accordingly. Ethical approval was obtained from the institutional review board (IRB) of Health Services Academy (HSA) Islamabad, Pakistan.ResultsThe majority (90%) of 258 CMWs had formal training in maternal and neonatal care from the recognized institutions. Financial difficulties faced by CMWs were identified as the most frequent barriers and others were transport, security, and other issues. In univariate analysis, 38.1% and 61.9% of the community midwives who faced financial difficulties had completed a graduation or intermediate level of education, respectively (p = 0.006). Round-the-clock availability for emergencies was inversely associated with having financial difficulties, i.e., 71.4%, in contrast to 28.4% who had financial difficulties were available round-the-clock for emergency calls in their community clinics (p = 0.008). Formal training (p = 0.001), work experience (p = 0.015), longer duration of work (p = 0.003), and liaison with health workers and posting district (p = 0.001) had statistically significantly higher transport related issues. Security difficulties faced by CMWs and a set of correlates such as formal training (p = 0.019), working experience (p = 0.001), longer duration of work (p = 0.023), 24 h of availability on call (p = 0.004), liaison with traditional birth attendants (TBAs) in the community (p = 0.002), and district of posting (p = 0.001) were statistically significantly different. Other issues like working experience (p = < 0.001) and Liaison with TBAs in the community (p = < 0.001) were found statistically significant.ConclusionFinancial, transportation and security related barriers were commonly reported by community midwives in the delivery of basic emergency obstetric and newborn care in rural Pakistan.

New insights into the rural development economies under the moderating role of gender equality and mediating role of rural women development

In Pakistan, like other developing countries, rural women's participation has emerged as a profound construct, influencing the country's economic structure. In recent years, its vital reproductive role has opened new ways to overcome the issues of gender inequality, unequal financial distribution, and inadequate training and development. Hence, to bridge a gap in the research, the current study aims to determine the mediating and moderating role of rural women's development and gender equality for economic development in the rural areas of Pakistan. Using 249 samples, the analysis is conducted through Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling. The study's results indicate that skills development and technical training significantly influence rural women's development, whereas access to finance and social networking also ensures economic development in rural areas. With this, the results also confirmed positive mediation and moderation of rural women's development and gender equality. Therefore, in line with these findings, the current study suggests that women's roles in different dimensions of sustainable development are less reflected in the target areas. Policy recommendations focus on practical, legislative, legal, and administrative actions to address these barriers. As such, the study guides policymakers, financial institutions, and governmental organizations to empower rural women by embracing gender equality and economic development.

Uncovering Covid-19, distance learning, and educational inequality in rural areas of Pakistan and China: a situational analysis method

Challenges to education in rural areas have been reported for a long time, and the respective governments are continuously making efforts to address them. However, the eruption of the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in the total closure of schools and a surge in internet and distance learning. Hence, there is a need to assess the situation periodically to gauge the effectiveness of government efforts in tackling these challenges and understand the impact of the virus outbreak on the education landscape. This study focuses on rural areas of Pakistan and China, utilizing the Situational Analysis Method (SAM). The study findings revealed several key points. Firstly, in both rural Pakistan and China, Covid-19 led to an increase in the number and scope of distance learning activities. However, there is a need for better experiences to effectively manage distance learning for students, parents, and teachers. Moreover, specific issues peculiar to rural China include shortages of relevant facilities such as computers, smartphones, and poor connectivity. In contrast, rural Pakistan faces challenges of unpreparedness and higher teacher workloads. Secondly, since internet connectivity is an essential component for distance learning, rural Pakistan shows higher internet penetration compared to rural areas in China. Nevertheless, internet connection speed in China remains higher and consistent, whether in urban or rural regions. However, both countries struggle with poor internet connection in rural areas due to the lack of enough potential customers. Thirdly, rural education in both countries is plagued by poverty, inadequate funding, and many students having to endure long and hazardous journeys to school. Specific issues in rural China include poor parental care due to migration and a shortage of teachers, while rural Pakistan grapples with limited educational opportunities for children and women, insufficient educational training for teachers, issues of social norms, and attacks on schools by extremist groups.

Computer Attitude of Entry Level University Students in Rural Areas of Pakistan: A Case Study

Attitudes related to the mind are the key influencing elements of students’ learning and educational outcomes. It is believed that students possessing positive attitudes towards learning a particular subject learn more readily and deeply as compared to those who possess negative attitudes. Likewise, students’ attitude toward learning computers highly influences their learning outcomes and success rate in the computing field. Accordingly, assessing students’ attitudes toward computers serves as a predictor of their subsequent behavior during studies as well as in the practical field afterward. Assessing students’ attitudes also assists in determining the effectiveness of teaching-learning approaches and thus helps to select the most appropriate approach. In this regard, the current paper undertakes the assessment of the attitude of entry-level university students towards computers in rural areas of Sindh province of Pakistan. Assessing students’ attitudes in rural areas specifically is necessary as students belonging to such regions have different socio-economic conditions and, therefore, varying computing facilities and resources as compared to students from urban areas. The results show that overall students possess a positive attitude towards computers; however, they depict higher levels of computer anxiety as a result of a lack of previous knowledge and experience of working with computers. Results further show that male students are slightly more likely to outperform female students as more male students possess prior knowledge and they experience less computer anxiety.

Mitigate the Effect of Poverty on Food Security through Education in Developing Countries: A Case of Pakistan

The current research study finds the relationship among food security, poverty status and education in Pakistan and also found the education in the mediating role to mitigate the effect of poverty on food security. The research study also analyzes the impact of livestock, foreign remittances, age of respondent and female head of household on food security. PSLM (Pakistan Social and Living Standard Measurement) survey data of 2019-20 is used for empirical estimation of the current study. Using PSLM has certain benefits, PSLM survey is conducted by a team of experts and the survey covers all the regions of Pakistan, it also covers almost all indicators relating to food security, education and poverty etc. Research study finds that livestock, education, foreign remittances and house head female have a significant positive impact on food security and poverty has a significant negative impact on food security. Poor people facing threat toward food security in Pakistan. On the same time the people who are poor but have education are able to mitigate the effect of poverty on the food security in urban and rural areas. The research study also finds that there are wide gaps among urban and rural areas of Pakistan, level of education in Pakistan. The research study also presents policy recommendations that help’s government for better management of resources and to reduce poverty

Impact of cash transfer on food accessibility and calorie-intake in Pakistan

ABSTRACT This paper evaluates the impact of unconditional cash transfers (UCT) on the indicators of food accessibility in the urban and rural areas of Pakistan. Previous empirical evidences show poor food security in the country; however, there is lack of literature on this investigation in the context of UCT specifically the highest coverage providing social assistance programme that is the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). Examining the impact on calorie intake can help policy makers understand how households spend this additional source of income and address effectively concerns regarding food security. Propensity score matching (PSM) technique is used to analyse the latest nationally representative data. Being a recipient of the UCT is found to be significant in explaining the outcome indicator of food accessibility. Disaggregation into food groups show that recipient households increase their consumption of calories from cereals and pulses, vegetables and sugary products. Although there is evidence to support the positive and significant effects of being a recipient, the effects are small. The results indicate that the households remain vulnerable due to the small amount of transfer.

Assessing and prioritizing biogas barriers to alleviate energy poverty in Pakistan: an integrated AHPand G-TOPSIS model.

Biogas is a promising renewable technology to alleviate energy poverty. Pakistan has a capacity of 5 million bio digesters that can be installed in different farming areas. However, this target has never been achieved because many barriers hamper the biogas industry development. In previous studies, some researchers have indicated these barriers in different geographical contexts: however, these barriers are rarely examined in Pakistan. To fulfill the research gap, this study prioritizes potential barriers. Using a literature review and a modified Delphi technique, we identify 25 sub-barriers and catalog them into 5 main categories. The analytical hierarchy process (AHP) prioritizes the main barriers and sub-barriers based on potential. Grey Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (G-TOPSIS) ranks the practical alternatives to combat these barriers. The study findings specify that the "financial barrier" is the top-ranked barrier among the main categories, followed by technical, socio-cultural, institutional and administrative, and environmental barriers. The overall ranking shows that the "high starting price tag" is ranked first among all sub-barriers in all categories. It has been proposed that "appropriate financial incentives" and "promotion of customized technology" would be feasible alternative solutions to combat the issues. Based on the research findings, some policy recommendations were suggested for biogas uptake in Pakistan. This study may assist policymakers, stakeholders, and government institutions in accelerating the potential of biogas energy to alleviate energy poverty in rural areas of Pakistan.

Cushing's syndrome in children: An unchecked consequence of steroid use by quacks in rural areas of Pakistan

Cushing's syndrome in children: An unchecked consequence of steroid use by quacks in rural areas of Pakistan