Rural Areas In Poland Research Articles

Stimulants and barriers in the innovative activity of the educational farms in Poland

Purpose – The aim of the study is to indicate the main determinants and barriers that affect the innovative activity of educational farms located in the rural areas of Poland. A review of domestic and foreign literature and a survey conducted among the described entities helped to achieve this goal. Research method – The first part of the article discusses the literature on the multifunctionality of agriculture. The second part deals with the subject of innovation and describes educational farms located in the rural areas of Poland and their activities in the context of innovation. The third part is devoted to empirical research based on the analysis of questionnaires. Results – The conducted analysis of available materials proves that the examined entities show activity in all areas of innovation, however, they define it to a different degree. Originality /value / implications /recommendations - The article implies the need to work on harmonizing the definition of innovation, as it is still perceived by many respondents as a process of modification of production factors closely related to technological innovation.

Health-related quality of life of patients after ischaemic stroke treated in a provincial hospital in Poland

ABSTRACT Background Ischaemic stroke (IS) is a major cause of death and disability and affects the quality of life of patients. Previous studies focused on urban populations. Objective To evaluate the health-related quality of life (QoL) of patients with history of IS and living in a rural area in Poland. Patients Rural population of 172 patients discharged from a district hospital in Zakopane, Poland with a diagnosis of IS in the period from 01.01.2005 to 31.10.2006. Intervention QoL was evaluated using the European Quality of Life Scale-5 Dimensions EQ-5D-3 L (EQ-5D) and the Short Form Health Survey – 12 version 2 (SF-12). Results In the EQ-5D survey, 57.3% of patients had only some problems with mobility, 40.3% with usual activities, 63.2% with pain/discomfort, 59% with anxiety/depression, and 32.2% with self-care. In the SF-12 survey, both summary components (physical and psychological) were reduced compared to the population norm. Conclusion The quality of life in IS survivors is clearly reduced in the majority of domains assessed by the EQ-5D and SF-12 questionnaires. The most important factors affecting QoL were the functional state, depression and anxiety. A significant difference as compared to to urban and mixed populations was observed for a reduced SF-12 mental health component and for the EQ-5D visual analogue scale. We found no effect of gender, age or cognitive disorders on the outcomes of SF-12.

Campylobacter in wintering great tits Parus major in Poland.

Domestic and wild mammals, domestic birds and particularly wild birds are considered to be reservoirs of many species of Enterobacteriaceae, and also important human enteric pathogens, e.g., the bacteria of the genus Campylobacter that occur in their digestive tracts. These species may be vectors of antimicrobial resistance dissemination in the environment, because they may have contact with an environment contaminated with antibiotics. Bird feeders have been suggested as potential dispersal centres between wild wintering birds whose feeding is supported by humans. Therefore, we checked for the presence of Campylobacter bacteria among great tits Parus major, the most common bird species on bird feeders in Poland. Samples (n = 787 cloacal swabs) were collected in urban and rural areas of Poland. Bacterial species were identified using multiplex PCR, and 23 (2.9%) positive tests for Campylobacter spp. were found; in ten samples, C. jejuni was detected. The odds ratio of Campylobacter infection in rural birds was over 2.5 times higher than urban birds. Ten samples with C. jejuni were tested for antibiotic resistance, and all were sensitive to azithromycin, erythromycin and gentamycin, while six isolates were resistant to tetracycline, and five were resistant to ciprofloxacin. Four Campylobacter isolates were resistant to both these antibiotics.

Problematic Internet Use and health behaviors in adolescent residents of urban and rural areas in Poland - a cross-sectional study

Aim of the studyThis paper attempts to assess Internet addiction and health behaviors in Polish adolescent residents of urban and rural areas.Subject or material and methods131 high school students, including 62 (47.3%) residents of rural and 69 (52.7%) residents of urban areas, completed the Polish adaptation of the Problematic Internet Use Test, the Health Behavior Inventory for children and adolescents, and a self-designed survey on the characteristics of Internet use.Results28.2% of respondents used the Internet for over 6 hours on school days, compared to 45.8% on no-school days. In total, high and very high risk of Internet addiction was recorded in 7.7% of respondents. Significantly higher PIU scores were reported in the residents of rural areas (p <0.05). Most respondents exhibited positive health behaviors. Higher index of general health behaviors correlated with a stronger declared willingness to reduce online activity in favor of spending time outside the house.DiscussionCreating more opportunities for teenagers to spend time outdoors/away from home can contribute to their reduced online activity, and thus reduce the risk of PIU.ConclusionsYoung people devote much of their time to Internet use, which is associated with their lesser engagement in health behaviors.

The Scarecrow as an Indicator of Changes in the Cultural Heritage of Rural Poland

Scarecrows were commonly featuredin rural landscapes until recently. There are numerous rituals associated with creating a scarecrow and erecting it in the field, with many legends being linked to this character.The scarecrow itself has counterparts in many countries worldwide. However, with civilisation progressingand characterised withan emphasis on economic efficiency and agricultural engineering in the present day, scarecrows are disappearing from the rural landscape. Advanced electronic devices replace them, while scarecrows end up in museums and open-air museums calledskansens, as well as beingon display at local village festivals. The goal of this paper is to investigate the past and present functions of the scarecrow in rural areas in Poland as an indicator of changes occurring inthe cultural heritage in these areas. The survey and field studies were carried out in selected localities in Małopolskie Voivodeship that exhibited distinct qualities related to rural cultural heritage. The study involved photographic documentation and a diagnostic survey using the structured direct interview technique. The interview focused on local community leaders. Resultingly, scarecrows were demonstrated to be an essential indicator of changes in Poland’s rural cultural heritage.

Determinants of Tourist Activity of People with Disabilities Living in Rural Areas

Summary Subject and purpose of work: The aim of the conducted research and analyzes was the attempt to assess the impact of selected factors over tourist activity of people with disabilities and factors related to the immediate environment of people with disabilities Materials and methods: A total of 5 000 respondents were subjected to the quantitative research. Participants of the research were adults with legally recognized disabilities. In the research, there was used the method of a diagnostic survey. Results: Tourist activity of disabled people living in rural areas in Poland concerns only about 50% of respondents. Leaving the place of permanent residence in a free time is the most often declared by young and middle-aged people with higher, secondary and post-secondary education, professionally active, married people with mental and sensory disabilities. Conclusions: Factors stimulating participation in tourism are the level of education and professional activity of respondents. In the assessment of respondents the important factor is also a general family situation.

The Role of Local Communities in the Process of Siting of the Unwanted Facilities within the Rural Areas in Poland

Abstract The subject of this study is the activity of rural communities in the face of plans of locating unwanted projects within their locations of residence, and the influence of the activity on the decision makers and, ultimately, on the final fate of the envisaged projects. The participation of inhabitants and decisions of the authorities, taken in response to these activities, and concerning the respective projects, were analysed on a basis of a questionnaire-based survey which was undertaken in the municipalities, in which conflicts have taken place. In-depth investigations were also carried out in five municipalities. The following activities: preparing a collective petition to decision-maker, organizing local meetings, taking part in meetings organised by the authorities or investor, filing of proposals and remarks to the projects of decisions and documents, entering into cooperation with actors from outside of the municipality were undertaken by groups of residents in more than 65% cases of conflicts. The activity of inhabitants generally exerted an influence on the final outcome from the respective conflicts. In the majority of cases, the unwanted projects, for which the decision making body was the local authority, either were not realised, or were realised with modifications, resulting from the social protests.

Recent arrivals or established tenants? History of wolf presence influences attitudes toward the carnivore

ABSTRACTHuman dimensions are a critical part of large carnivore conservation. We investigated how the historical presence of wolves (Canis lupus) influences public attitudes toward the carnivore and its management in rural areas of Poland. From March 2016 to March 2017, we used a self‐administered questionnaire to assess attitudes of rural residents (n = 292) and foresters (n = 325) in 6 regions where wolves have either been continuously present, or where they have recently recovered after a period of absence. While we found that attitudes toward wolves were generally neutral or positive, differences in attitudes did exist across target groups and regions with long and short histories of wolf presence. Foresters tended to have more negative attitudes toward wolves than did rural residents, and their attitudes remained stable across regions. In contrast, rural residents from the regions with an uninterrupted history of wolf presence, which also suffer greater rates of livestock depredation, tended to have less positive attitudes than did residents from regions where wolves have recovered more recently. Knowledge of wolves and wildlife value orientations were also positive predictors of attitudes. Negative attitudes among local residents and lower support for wolf conservation in response to wolf attacks on livestock could be a major obstacle for the continued recovery of wolves in Europe. Our results reinforce the need for proactive approaches, involving both information campaigns and actions to mitigate wolf predation on livestock, to maintain local support for wolf conservation. © 2019 The Authors. Wildlife Society Bulletin published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of The Wildlife Society.

Concentration of Mercury in the Livers of Small Terrestrial Rodents from Rural Areas in Poland.

Small terrestrial mammals could be used as accumulative biomonitors of different environmental contaminants, but the knowledge of the level of Hg in their bodies is scant. The aim of our research was to verify the factors influencing Hg bioaccumulation and to analyze the concentration of total mercury (Hg) in the livers of four species of wild terrestrial rodents from different rural areas of Poland: the yellow-necked mouse (Apodemus flavicollis), striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius), common vole (Microtus arvalis), and bank vole (Myodes glareolus). The concentration of total Hg was analyzed in liver tissue by atomic absorption spectrometry using a direct mercury analyzer. The concentration of Hg found in the livers of rodents ranged from <1 to 36.4 µg/kg of wet weight, differed between study sites, species, and sexes, and was related to body weight. We addressed feeding habits as potential causes of differences in liver Hg concentration among species.

The Land Transfer from the State Treasury to Local Government Units as a Factor of Social Development of Rural Areas in Poland

Sustainable rural development (with the development of social functions) is currently one of the basic objectives of the rural areas policy in Poland. The main purpose of this article is to determine the level of social development of rural areas and to examine whether the National Support Center for Agriculture (NSCA) activities (in the form of transferring land to communes for the implementation of social goals) have an impact on that development, and to what extent. In this article, an assessment of the social development level of rural areas using the Hellwig method was carried out. The research covered the years 2005 and 2018, on the districts of the Warmian-Masurian voivodship located in the northeastern part of Poland. The detailed analysis also covered the rural and rural-urban communes of Lidzbark, Kętrzyn, and Bartoszyce districts. The obtained results were compared with the area of land transferred by the NSCA Regional Office Olsztyn to local government units in 2004–2017, for the implementation of social goals. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used for a comparison. The results are presented in tabular form and visualized using GIS software in the form of carto-diagrams (diagram maps). Results show a positive influence of NSCA on social development of rural areas.

Tourist Competitiveness of Polish Rural Areas

Purpose: The process of diversifying economic activity in rural areas and incorporating new non-agricultural and non-production functions into the rural space is currently one of the key determinants of development in these areas. A comparative assessment of Poland's competitiveness against selected European countries has been made in the study. The main objective was to present the conditions of international tourist competitiveness of rural areas in Poland in comparison to other European areas. Design/Methodology/Approach: An in-depth analysis of Poland's competitiveness as a tourist region against the European countries was carried out taking into consideration individual indicators of the second pillar. The study uses a synthetic tourist competitiveness index and panel regression to demonstrate the determinants of this phenomenon. Findings: On the basis of the conducted research, it has been shown that the natural and landscape value of Poland's agricultural areas is highly assessed on a European scale. Therefore, for many consumers in the European Union, Poland is increasingly seen as an attractive region for tourists. At the same time, the importance of these factors in the demand for tourist places has been demonstrated by distinguishing selected aspects of these conditions. Economic factors affecting internal demand as well as environmental and institutional conditions turned out to be the key ones. Practical Implications: The presented considerations are of great importance for practical reasons. They constitute an indicator which, under certain conditions can influence the increase of tourist competitive attractiveness of rural areas in an international perspective. Therefore, they allow to indicate the proper structure of investments and activities aimed at valuing public goods by both private and public entities. Originality/Value: The development of rural areas in the current conditions requires the development of non-agricultural and non-production functions. The article indicates the importance of individual resources and conditions in the proposed model. Not only was their role emphasized, but mutual relations between the factors considered were determined.

PND108 QUALITY OF LIFE OF PATIENTS AFTER ISCHAEMIC STROKE TREATED IN A PROVINCIAL HOSPITAL IN POLAND

Ischaemic stroke (IS) remains a major cause of death and disability and affects the quality of life (QoL) of patients. We aimed to evaluate the QoL of patients with a history of IS living in a rural area in Poland and compare it to data from urban settings. Study population: 172 patients discharged from 01.01.2005 to 31.10.2006 from the Regional Hospital in Zakopane, with a diagnosis of IS who consented to the study. We assessed the degree of paralysis, speech disorders, functional status according to the Bartel index (BI), cognitive function using the Mini–Mental State Examination (MMSE) and symptoms of anxiety and depression using the HADS scale at 6 to 12 months after IS. QoL was evaluated using European Quality of Life Scale-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) and SF-12v2. A very serious and severe disability (BI < 45) was reported in 11.6% of patients, a full recovery in 33.7%, anxiety in 39.6%, depression in 33% and cognitive impairment in 37.9% of patients. In EQ-5D, 66% of patients had problems in mobility and performance of usual activities, felt pain/discomfort or anxiety/depression, and 50% had problems with self-service. In the univariate analysis, depression and slurred speech impacted all EQ-5D domains. In the multivariate analysis, scores of individual EQ-5D domains were dependent on the presence of paralysis, speech disorders, dementia, depression and anxiety. In the SF-12 survey, both summary components (physical and psychological) and sub-scales were reduced compared to the population norm. We found no effect of gender, age or cognitive disorders on the outcome of the scores of the SF-12. QoL of rural population of IS survivors did not differ substantially from urban population data, except for the reduced total component of mental health. The most important factors affecting QoL were the functional state, depression and anxiety.

Możliwości powstania nowych uzdrowisk na obszarach wiejskich. Kontekst krajowy i regionalny

&lt;p&gt;Kilkanaście miejscowości w Polsce od kilku lat czyni starania o uzyskanie statusu uzdrowiska. Wiąże się to nie tylko z ograniczeniami w prowadzeniu działalności gospodarczej, wynikającymi z konieczności zachowania wysokiej jakości środowiska, lecz także przynosi gminie określone korzyści materialne i pozamaterialne. To właśnie ze względu na korzyści status uzdrowiska coraz częściej staje się statusem pożądanym przez wiele gmin mających walory uzdrowiskowe. Celem badań, których wyniki przedstawiono w niniejszym artykule, było rozpoznanie stanu i możliwości rozwoju funkcji uzdrowiskowej na obszarach wiejskich w Polsce. W szczególności zwrócono uwagę na przykład województwa lubelskiego, będącego peryferyjnym regionem Unii Europejskiej. W tym celu przeanalizowano wybrane dokumenty planistyczno-strategiczne gmin typowanych jako potencjalne uzdrowiska w Planie Zagospodarowania Przestrzennego Województwa Lubelskiego. Ważną rolę odegrało studium przypadków na tle prezentacji kontekstu rozwoju uzdrowisk w Polsce, oparte na literaturze, aktach prawnych i danych GUS.&lt;/p&gt;

Predictors of E-Cigarette Use Susceptibility-A Study of Young People from a Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Rural Area in Poland.

Identification of the youth at risk of e-cigarette use is crucial for development of effective prevention strategies. The current study aims at evaluation of predictors of susceptibility to e-cigarette initiation and experimentation among adolescents. This cross-sectional study included 1693 students (non-current users of e-cigarettes) attending 21 schools in Piotrkowski district (a socially disadvantaged rural area in central Poland). The regression models were applied so as to study factors linked to susceptibility to e-cigarette use among never users (n = 1054) and ever users (n = 639) of e-cigarettes, with susceptibility defined as the absence of a firm decision not to use these products. A high proportion of the youth was susceptible to e-cigarette use (68% of never and 78% of ever e-cigarette users). The adjusted model confirmed the following risk factors: smoking parents and friends (never users: OR = 3.0; p < 0.001; OR = 2.0; p < 0.05; ever users: OR = 2.2; OR = 2.2; p < 0.01), alcohol consumption (never users: moderate drinking OR = 2.9; p < 0.001; binge drinking OR = 2.2; p < 0.01; ever users: moderate drinking OR = 4.2; p < 0.001), cigarette smoking (never users: OR = 14.1; ever users: OR = 11.3; p < 0.001), and perception that e-cigarettes are less harmful than traditional cigarettes (never users: OR = 1.8; p < 0.001). The youth whose mothers had a medium and high educational level (never users: OR = 2.7; p < 0.01; OR = 2.7; p < 0.05; ever users: OR = 5.4; OR = 4.4; p < 0.001), those who perceived girls who use e-cigarettes as more attractive (never users: OR = 4.1; p < 0.001; ever users: OR = 2.9; p < 0.01), and secondary school students (ever users: OR = 5.6; p < 0.001) had higher odds of susceptibility to e-cigarette use. The youth who had more money per month were less susceptible to e-cigarette experimentation (OR = 0.4; p < 0.001). A multi-level intervention approach, considering vulnerable populations, is required to prevent the youth from e-cigarette initiation and experimentation.

Innovative Forms of Care for Seniors in Rural Areas of Poland

Ageing is an issue faced by the majority of the European countries, including Poland. Due to their dissimilarity there is a need to apply different approaches to ageing in urban and rural areas. The population aged 65+ is expected to increase by nearly 60% by 2035, and the percentage of that group within the total population is estimated to grow from the current 14% to 22%. These demographic changes will bring new challenges to social welfare system. The need for social care and healthcare services will grow. In order to limit the consequences of this phenomenon action must be taken to allow elderly people to continue their careers, ensure that they are active members of their communities and that the quality of lives does not worsen. This article identifies new and innovative solutions in rural areas to support the elderly inhabitants whose independence is limited and keep them actively involved in community activities, and in order to ensure quality of life. The authors provide a detailed description of two non-standard solutions to deal with the ageing issue. These include social farms and rural hospices at home, both of which have already been implemented in some rural areas in Poland.

Development of Renewable Energy Sources in the Context of Threats Resulting from Low-Altitude Emissions in Rural Areas in Poland: A Review

The process of transformation of the Polish economy, traditionally based on coal, into an economy that uses low-carbon technologies, faces a problem associated with the diversification of energy sources, especially in rural areas. The scale of the use of conventional energy carriers in households located in rural areas in Poland has a very negative impact on the natural environment. The aim of the paper is to indicate possibilities of reducing low-altitude emissions (with emitters not exceeding 40 m in height) in rural areas in Poland, through the development of renewable energy sources. This paper provides an overview of the specific character of rural areas in Poland and the development challenges faced in these areas in the investigated scope. In order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy efficiency, it is necessary to dynamize pro-ecological activities in agriculture and in rural areas, including the development of agricultural biogas plants, wind and photovoltaic farms. The use of renewable energy sources can be an important factor in the development and sustainable growth of rural areas in Poland.

Study of the effects of applying a new algorithm for the comprehensive programming of the hierarchization of land consolidation and exchange works in Poland

Land consolidation and exchange works have a significant influence on improving the spatial structure of rural areas in Poland. With regard to the fact that different rural areas in Poland are characterized by distinct spatial and technical parameters, as well as legal and land ownership status, a number of studies and analyses concerning the selection of the optimum features describing the specific area must be carried out. Long-term studies made it possible to develop a universal algorithm for comprehensive programming of the hierarchization of land consolidation and exchange works irrespective of the location of the analyzed object in Poland. The two-pronged approach proposed in the developed algorithm enables detailed evaluation of the structure of farms, and determination of the distribution of land owned by private farmers. The deliverables in the form of separated strongly interlinked areas, compared to the ranking of land consolidation works, make it possible to identify groups of villages where such works should be given priority. This provides a real chance of reasonable selection of areas where such works should be given priority, thanks to which funds allocated for such measures will be expended properly. The correctness of the algorithm was carried out in the commune of Mniszków in central Poland. The community is composed of 29 villages covering a total area of 12,416.0 ha. The developed algorithm for comprehensive programming of land consolidation and exchange works provides a real chance for reasonable selection of areas where such works should be carried out as a priority, thanks to which money allocated to such measures will be expended correctly. The surveys made it possible to indicate areas where defective spatial structure is the most disadvantageous. When the ranking is with information about distribution of land in the analyzed community, it will possible to identify the villages in which land consolidation should take place simultaneously. Thus, the effects of consolidation will be even more improved after liquidating the defective plot patchwork.

Prevalence of hearing loss among polish school-age children from rural areas – Results of hearing screening program in the sample of 67 416 children

BackgroundHearing loss in children is a relevant health issue, both for its prevalence and for its physical, emotional and social consequences. Our aim was to estimate the national prevalence of hearing loss in school-age children from rural areas in Poland. MethodsThe study was conducted in the general, pediatric, nonclinical population of school-age children from rural areas in Poland. It was a population-based, epidemiological study. The participants were 67416 children (32630 girls and 34786 boys) aged from 6 to 13 years old (M = 8.65; SD = 2.54). Pure-tone air-conduction hearing threshold were obtained at 0.5–8 kHz. Hearing loss was defined as a pure-tone average higher than 20 dB in one or both ears in at least one of the following pure-tone average: four-frequency pure-tone average (FFPTA), high-frequency pure-tone average (HFPTA) and low-frequency pure-tone average (LFPTA). ResultsThe rate of positive results of hearing screening was 16.4% and it was significantly higher in younger children than in older children. Mild hearing loss was more frequently than moderate or worse hearing loss. The children more often experienced unilateral than bilateral hearing loss. ConclusionsThis study reveals that hearing problems are common in this population, especially among younger children. It shows a strong need for systematic monitoring of hearing status among children and increasing awareness of parents and educators of the significance of hearing loss, including unilateral and mild hearing loss. Further studies conducted among children in urban areas are needed to compare the prevalence of hearing loss in children from various environments.

Towards Sustainable Development and Preventing Exclusions—Determining Road Accessibility at the Sub-Regional and Local Level in Rural Areas of Poland

The improvement in a regions’ accessibility that accounts for various means of inter-regional transport and inter-regional communication is one of the main determinants of sustainable regional development. This study focuses on road accessibility in rural areas where an insufficient number and scope of international and domestic investments can lead to an imbalance in the transport infrastructure. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate road accessibility at the level of the NUTS4 units in view of their sustainable development and their divergence from rural units that are less distant from the main transport routes. The studied area—a province—is situated in the northeast of Poland. Data concerning the travel time, condition, and density of the road network were analysed to develop and compare the measures of road accessibility in individual units and to perform an overall assessment of the NUTS4 units. Partial indices were calculated with the support of the QGIS and ArcGIS software. Peripheral regions in post-socialist countries appear to be particularly underinvested in terms of the transport, including at the local and regional level. The applied methodology supported the presentation of problem peripheral areas that are underinvested and threatened with exclusion.

Classification of rural areas in Poland in the context of revitalization

The article aims to show the classification of Polish rural areas in the context of revitalization process. This work shows the research making in Polish rural areas concerning this new, important process. Taking experiences from development of rural regions in European Union self-government created the programs called “Revival of the country” and revitalization. These are the most important and the largest regional enterprises implemented by the rural society and also for rural society. It had favorable influence on the preservation and development of the rural identity and integrity at their full range. Nowadays the revitalization process is very important factor of versatile rural economy development.