Rural Communities Research Articles

Addressing Hispanic Veterans that Live in Rural Area's Needs to Improve Suicide Prevention Efforts.

Despite the alarming recent increase in suicide rates among Hispanic Veterans, suicide among this population remains relatively understudied and little is known about their needs and how to prevent suicide in this population. A mixed methods approach was utilized to conduct a needs assessment of community suicide prevention services and resources available to Hispanic Veterans living in rural areas in the Veterans Health Administration's Veterans Integrated Services Network (VISN) 8. Five themes related to the suicide prevention's needs and gaps in services were identified: (1) lack of adequate information; (2) disruptions in social support network; (3) limited or lack of access to services; (4) risky behaviors; and (5) natural disasters. Understanding the unique needs of Hispanic Veterans in rural communities and the gaps in services in these areas can help in the development of tailored suicide prevention efforts and potentially mitigate suicide disparities.

Equitable outreach: leveraging a university–community partnership for fall prevention training with older adults in rural Texas

ABSTRACT Older Texans living in rural areas may face challenges in accessing resources and services not felt by their urban counterparts, especially related to fall risk reduction. In a state the size of Texas, entities wishing to serve these individuals encounter barriers due to the vast geography that must be covered to reach rural communities. This paper explores a novel partnership between a university and a community organization to work toward rural equity in fall risk reduction education in Texas. We apply the Interactive and Contextual Model of Community–University Collaboration to describe efforts to gain entry into rural communities, develop and sustain the partnership, recognize outcomes, and resolve threats. Through shared decision-making and co-creation, we show how university–community partnerships can be a powerful tool for promoting rural equity and ensuring older, rural Texans have access to fall risk reduction education.

Interdependent Effects of Agro-input Node Interventions on the Adoption of Cattle milk Production Technologies among Smallholder Farmers in Kericho County, Kenya

Agricultural extension service delivery system is a vital component in agricultural development initiatives of any nation. Several extension approaches are used to achieve these initiatives. Globally, many Governments and development partners in rural agricultural development initiatives have gradually transitioned away from total state control of rural community and agricultural extension service delivery into adopting and supporting a more multifaceted system built on holistic participatory approach commonly referred to as Agricultural Value Chain Extension Approach (AVCEA). This AVCEA is relatively new in developing countries, including Kenya, and specifically in Kericho County where exploration on its impact on farm-level technology adoption has yet to be undertaken. The purpose of this study was to investigate the interdependent effects of agro-input node interventions on the adoption of cattle milk production technologies among smallholder farmers in Kericho, Kenya. This study adopted an ex-post-facto research design and systematic random sampling technique to select a sample of 132 farmers who previously exposed to AVCEA. Interviews were conducted for eight (8) dairy production experts and 6 Dairy organization representatives as key informants. The primary data were collected using interview schedules, questionnaires and focus group discussion tools. The data were analyzed for descriptive statistics like frequencies, percentages and inferential statistics like Chi-square tests with the aid of SPSS version 26.0. The results of the study indicated that there was a significant interdependence between some agro-input value chain node interventions and the adoption of cattle milk production technologies. There was also Interdependence between ease of access to farmers ‘groups/cooperative societies and the adoption of cattle milk production technologies by the smallholder farmers. Based on findings of this study, Agricultural experts, stakeholders, and other concerned bodies should focus on developing strategies to strengthen interventions at the agro-input node, particularly by fostering cooperation among smallholder farmers to enhance collective actions.

Social Media Usage and Social Capital as Determinants of Oil Palm Integration Practices Among Smallholders in East Malaysia

Social media plays an increasingly important role in expanding social networks, which may influence the development of social capital among rural communities. This study investigates the relationship between social capital, social media usage, and the adoption of integration practices among oil palm smallholders in East Malaysia. A survey of 194 smallholders revealed that those with higher education levels had significantly higher bonding social capital (p < 0.05). Additionally, smallholders who had used WhatsApp for five years or more exhibited significantly higher levels of both bonding and bridging social capital (p < 0.05). The study found a significant association between bridging social capital and integration practices, particularly non-agricultural activities, but no significant link with bonding social capital. Logistic regression showed that smallholders with higher bridging social capital were more likely to engage in non-agricultural integration practices (OR = 5.64, 95% CI = 2.30–13.83, p < 0.001). These findings suggest that targeted efforts to enhance social media literacy could strengthen social capital and diversify the economic activities of smallholders. Expanding future research to cover a broader geographical area with varying internet accessibility is recommended.

Facilitators and barriers to implementing the Diabetes Prevention Program in rural church settings: A qualitative study using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research.

The CDC's Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) is an effective lifestyle intervention to prevent type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, DPP implementation in rural areas is limited. This study sought to address this gap by implementing DPP in rural church settings through a community-academic partnership and identifying implementation facilitators and barriers. This was a cross-sectional qualitative study. Semistructured interviews guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) assessed church leaders' and lifestyle coaches' perceptions of implementing DPP in rural churches. Thematic analysis was used to identify key themes through an inductive approach; then, these emergent themes were deductively linked to CFIR constructs. COREQ guidelines were used to report study findings. Twenty-five stakeholders participated. Facilitators to implementing DPP included its evidence-based effectiveness in preventing T2D, as well as support from the academic partner in terms of funding, training, and communication. Additionally, DPP's alignment with community needs, along with the active engagement of pastors in participant recruitment, supported implementation. Several barriers hindered DPP implementation, including transportation and childcare issues, as well as program participants' medical conditions/disabilities limiting their participation. Furthermore, rural residents' reluctance to adopt lifestyle changes and loyalty to family churches posed challenges to their engagement in DPP. This study identified contextual factors influencing DPP implementation in rural communities. Findings highlight the importance of tailored strategies that leverage facilitators while proactively addressing barriers, including rural residents' reluctance to attend programs outside their church, resistance to lifestyle changes, and transportation issues to ensure successful DPP implementation in rural areas.

Exploring differences in perceived barriers and facilitators to COVID-19 vaccine uptake and testing intention by vaccination status and testing hesitancy among rural Latino communities in Southwest Florida

ABSTRACT Background: Identifying factors impacting vaccination and testing for COVID-19 is crucial to reduce health disparities, especially for rural/agricultural, low access and high poverty Latino communities disproportionately affected by the pandemic. This study examined differences in perceived barriers and facilitators (such as values, beliefs, and concerns) to COVID-19 vaccine uptake and testing intention by vaccination status and testing hesitancy among rural Latino community members in Southwest Florida. Methods: Rural Latino community members (N = 493) completed a cross-sectional survey in Spanish (86.0%) or English (14.0%) on perceived COVID-19 vaccine/testing barriers and facilitators, as well as demographics, mental health, medical history, health perceptions, and health literacy. Results: At the time of the survey, approximately 43% of participants were unvaccinated and 46.4% were testing hesitant. Significantly more vaccinated participants acknowledged keeping their family (d = .25), community (d = .27), and themselves (d = .22) safe as facilitators to vaccination (ps < .001). Among the unvaccinated participants, the most common concerns for getting vaccinated were side effects (d = −.53) and lack of knowledge about how the vaccine works (d = −.35, ps < .001). Testing hesitant participants reported concerns including not knowing where to get tested (d = −.25, p = 0.01) and less confidence in a positive test result (d = −.40, p < 0.001). Doctors and faith leaders were ranked as the most trusted information sources across groups. In logistic regression models, vaccination was linked to age, gender, education, and protecting others, while concerns about needles and side effects reduced odds; testing was driven by education, anxiety, hope, and safety concerns. Conclusion: Promoting family and community safety may be effective facilitators influencing vaccine and testing intention in rural Latino communities. Enhanced education by trusted information sources, such as doctors and faith leaders may alleviate associated concerns. Our findings may inform actions for future pandemics. Further studies should determine the generalizability of our findings across other rural migrant communities and other vaccines.

Growing the peer workforce in rural mental health and social and emotional well-being services: A scoping review of the literature.

Growing the mental health peer workforce holds promise for rural communities, but we currently lack an understanding of the guidance available to support the development, implementation and sustainability of this workforce in rural settings. Study aims are to: (1) determine the extent and nature of the literature that provides guidance for growing the peer workforce in rural mental health services; and (2) identify and explore any guidance relevant to rural peer work services dedicated to First Nations communities, including those promoting social and emotional well-being within this body of literature. A scoping review method was employed to identify relevant peer-reviewed and grey literature published between 2013 and 2022 across PsychInfo, Medline, Embase and CINAHL, Scopus and Informit HealthInfoNet databases, as well as targeted organisation websites and Google Advanced Search. A total of 26 unique studies/projects were included from the US, UK, Canada and Australia with public mental health, non-government/for purpose and private sector service settings represented in the literature. Grey literature, such as reports of evaluations and frameworks, formed the majority of included texts. While there is a lesser volume of rurally focused literature relative to the general peer work literature, this is a rich body of knowledge, which includes guidance concerning services dedicated to First Nations communities. Via synthesis critical considerations were identified for the development, implementation and sustainability of peer work in rural mental health services across six domains: 'Working with community members and stakeholders', 'Organisational culture and governance', Working with others and in teams, Professional expertise and experience, Being part of and working in the community and 'Local mental health services capacity'. While there are considerations relevant across a range of settings, the domains of: 'working with community members and stakeholders', 'being part of and working in the community' and 'local mental health services capacity', capture additional, distinct and nuanced challenges and opportunities for growing the peer work in rural services. The literature offers insights valuable for service planning, policy development and the allocation of resources to support rural peer workforce growth.

Urbanization factors and the vagaries of the rural health care industry in Nigeria: an analysis of the accessibility of healthcare services by older adults in the Nsukka Local Government Area

This study sought to determine the effects of urbanization on access to healthcare services by older adults in Nsukka Local Government Area. The Nigerian healthcare industry is organized under the three tiers of government: Federal, State and Local governments. As such, most of the healthcare facilities are located in urban areas while majority of older adults reside in different local governments in rural communities where there are a few of the facilities. This has led to poor utilization of medical services by older adults in rural areas. This study adopted a mixed method approach. While questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data, interviews were used to collect qualitative data for the study. Questionnaire survey was used to collect data from 1180 older adults between the ages of 60 years and above from six communities in the study area. Descriptive statistics and Chi square were used to analyze the data while frequency distribution tables and percentages were used to present the results. The research showed that there are inadequate health facilities for the older adults in rural communities in Nsukka LGA. It also found that the older adults suffered challenges arising from lack of medical doctors, nurses, equipments, and drugs for effective healthcare delivery. It is recommended that more efforts should be geared towards providing adequate health facilities and health workers by government at public hospitals in rural communities to increase accessibility and adequate utilization by the older adults.

Costs of medical evacuation and transportation of First Nations Peoples and Inuit who travel for medical care in Canada: A systematic review.

For First Nations people and Inuit who live on reserves or in rural and remote areas, a guideline requires their travel to urban centres once their pregnancy reaches 36-38weeks gestation age to await labour and birth. While not encoded in Canadian legislation, this guideline-and invisible policy-is reinforced by the lack of alternatives. Research has repeatedly demonstrated the harm of obstetric evacuation, causing emotional, physical, and financial stress for pregnant and postpartum Indigenous women and people. Our objective was to describe the costs of obstetric evacuation, as reported in the literature. We conducted a systematic review using online searches of electronic databases (Ovid EMBASE, CINAHL, Ovid Healthstar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, PROSPERO, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews) and identified studies that reported costs related to medical evacuation or transportation in rural and remote Indigenous communities. We performed critical appraisal of relevant studies. We identified 19 studies that met the inclusion criteria. The studies reported various types of cost, including direct, indirect, and intangible costs. Medical evacuation costs ranged from CAD $7714 to CAD $31,794. Indirect and intangible costs were identified, including lost income and lack of respect for cultural practices. Costs associated with obstetric evacuation are high, with medical evacuation as the most expensive direct cost identified. Although we were able to identify a range of costs, information on financing and funding flows was unclear. Across Canada, additional research is required to understand the direct costs of obstetric evacuation to Indigenous Peoples and communities.

Development Model of Sustainable Agrotourism-Based Village Tourism for Improving Community Welfare in Tapanuli Utara Regency, Indonesia

This study examines the impact of village tourism development on sustainable agrotourism and community welfare in Tapanuli Utara Regency, Indonesia. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach that combines household surveys and structural equation modeling (SEM), data were collected from 203 respondents across 22 villages to evaluate the relationships among infrastructure development, local economic benefits, community participation, rural tourism products, sustainable agrotourism, and community welfare. The results indicate that village tourism development significantly and directly enhances both sustainable agrotourism and community welfare, with infrastructure and local economic benefits being the most influential factors. In contrast, community participation and rural tourism products did not show significant individual effects, suggesting that without proper support, training, and resource allocation, these elements may not effectively contribute to sustainable agrotourism. Moreover, sustainable agrotourism was found to significantly mediate the relationship between tourism development and community welfare, highlighting its role as a catalyst for long-term socio-economic improvement. The study underscores the necessity for integrated development strategies that prioritize infrastructure enhancement and local economic engagement while fostering sustainable agricultural practices within tourism. Limitations of the study include its regional focus, which may affect the generalizability of the findings, and the need for further research to explore effective mechanisms for boosting community participation and developing rural tourism products. These insights offer valuable guidance for policymakers and stakeholders aiming to promote sustainable rural tourism and enhance community welfare in similar contexts.

“They Are Taking the Sea from us” - Maritime Extractivism, Dispossession and Resistance in Rural and Ethnic Communities of the Colombian Caribbean

This article provides an overview of the impacts of the current Colombian extractivist development model on peasant, Afro-descendant, and Indigenous communities’ territorial seas ( maritorium) in the Colombian Caribbean. We reflect on the implications of a gradual penetration of concepts such as the blue economy in national public policy. The impacts of activities such as port infrastructure, oil drilling and mining, tourism and industrial fishing, are briefly analyzed, using examples gathered in different parts of the region where growing dispossession is evident. The article ends with a reflection on the various forms of resistance employed by these communities today to confront the plundering of their living spaces associated with coastlines and the sea.

Peace Education through Agroecology and Organic Farming

In this paper, the challenge of peace education appears as an emergent cultural need in a context of conflictual relationships among human beings and between human beings and their life environment. All sectors of human activity, including agriculture, can potentially contribute to building a cultural barrier to a mounting wave of wars. The ecological approach to agriculture through the ecosystem concept is suitable for unveiling the power of cooperation in developing symbiotic relationships between and among agroecosystem components for attaining a balance of ecosystem services (supporting, provisioning, regulating, and cultural). Enhancement of biodiversity within and between cultivated fields is key for the maintenance of sustainable agriculture, land management, and viable rural community. Scaling up cooperation among hierarchical levels of agriculture organisation (field, farm, and regional, national, international landscapes) appears as the most promising solution for developing a coherent framework consistent with building a peaceful attitude for managing both land, food systems, and friendly relationships among human beings. Organic farming is already a certified and appreciated method of agriculture production that has a potential for improving a peaceful attitude when supported by the core principles of Agroecology.

Construction of Greenhouse for Horticultural Cultivation with Soil Media and Hydroponics

Theneral background greenhouse technology is increasingly recognized as an efficient solution for sustainable agricultural practices, especially in regions with limited fertile land. Specific background In Kedungpeluk Village, where the majority of residents work as fish farmers, there are also unused and arid lands. These underutilized spaces provide an opportunity for greenhouse-based horticultural cultivation using soil media and hydroponic technology. Knowledge gap however, limited knowledge and infrastructure have prevented local farmers from effectively utilizing these lands for sustainable crop production. Aims this community engagement project aims to build and utilize a greenhouse system to cultivate horticultural plants, focusing on optimizing both soil and hydroponic methods. Results the project successfully transformed barren land into productive greenhouses that facilitate the growth of tomatoes, chilies, eggplants, pak choy, and water spinach. The greenhouse structure, designed with transparent roofing, enhances sunlight exposure, promoting optimal plant growth. Both soil and hydroponic methods showed potential for increasing crop yields, with soil cultivation being more flexible but requiring extra care for pests, while hydroponics provided faster results with minimal weed and pest interference. Novelty this project introduces a dual-method approach combining traditional soil cultivation with modern hydroponic technology in a controlled greenhouse environment. Implications the findings highlight that greenhouse farming is a viable, modern agricultural solution for rural communities, offering increased productivity and quality crops, while also addressing the challenges of limited fertile land and changing climate conditions. This project serves as a model for sustainable agriculture in similar settings. Highlights: Dual-method approach: Combining soil and hydroponic techniques in a greenhouse. Efficient land use: Transforming unused arid land for productive horticulture. Controlled environment: Optimizing plant growth through sunlight, temperature, and humidity control. Keywords: Greenhouse, Horticulture, Soil Media, Hydroponics, Sustainable Agriculture

Significance of honeybee pollination in increasing seed yield of Trifolium alexandrinum (Fabales: Fabaceae)and its impact on economic sustainability of smallholder farmers.

A major limitation to producing high seed yields in berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) is failure to set seed, predominantly due to lack of pollination. Despite the importance of berseem clover as a leading forage legume, the contribution of pollinators to seed set is scarce. In Pakistan, the honeybee population is declining mainly because of the extensive use of neonicotinoid pesticides and habitat fragmentation. This, combined with the region's harsh environment and the use of inferior, locally bred genotypes, has resulted in low seed yields. Insufficient seed availability leads to limited forage supply, resulting in poor livestock nutrition, which subsequently impacts livestock health and productivity, and reduces farmers' income. The present study estimated the seed production of 3 berseem clover genotypes resulting from honeybees [Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae)] pollination in 2 growing seasons (2012-2014) in the central Punjab region of Pakistan. Experiments had 2 pollination treatments (open pollination and honeybee inclusion) and 3 seed genotypes, viz. farmer own-saved, market, and the improved variety cultivars. For both growing seasons, honeybee pollination resulted in significant increases in seed yields ranging from 35% to 67%, regardless of seed genotype. With the exception of the number of seed heads/m2, all seed yield parameters also increased significantly in response to honeybee inclusion. The combination of improved variety and honeybee inclusion resulted in the production of a maximum number of seeds per head (45.3), 1,000-seed weight (3.7g), and estimated seed yield (375.5kg/ha). In addition, the increase in estimated net income of seed ranged from PKR 82,485 Rs/ha (US$844/ha) to PKR 168,975 Rs/ha (US$1728/ha) with the use of honeybees as an insect pollinator across all the seed genotypes. Honeybee pollination has broader implications for mixed farming systems by playing a key role in preserving biodiversity and promoting sustainable agriculture. It also enhances the quality and quantity of berseem crops by increasing the production of high-quality seeds and forage leading to improved livestock productivity and family food security which strengthens the economic resilience of rural communities.

A place to call our home: innovative rural physical therapy training in Canada

BackgroundTo promote rural practice and increase enrollment in the entry-level Master of Science Physical Therapy program at the University of Alberta, the Department of Physical Therapy developed a rural physical therapy satellite campus located in a farming region in central Alberta. A distributed learning format was used to connect the rural cohort to the main urban campus. Real time video conferencing was used to connect the two campuses for all lectures, seminars and clinical skills classes. This evaluation aimed to describe a unique rural training program for physical therapy students and its effectiveness in promoting work in rural communities after graduation.MethodsPhysical Therapy students in the first three years (2012–2015) of commencing the rural satellite program (n = 280) were surveyed, and six focus groups were held to capture student experiences, satisfaction and engagement. Data were collected on employment locations of the 2012–2019 graduates’ first physical therapy position and current employment.ResultsSurvey results suggested comparable levels of satisfaction and engagement for all physical therapy students regardless of campus. Focus group data revealed that students quickly accepted the distributed learning technological interface, enjoyed their local campuses, and felt connected to instructors and student colleagues. Compared to the overall physical therapy workforce, a higher percentage of physical therapists graduating from the rural campus reported working in rural centers for both their first and current jobs.ConclusionRegardless of campus, students were satisfied and equally engaged in the physical therapy program. Students who completed the physical therapy program in a rural setting tended to work rurally after graduation. A distributed learning model may be useful for other healthcare training programs to promote engagement in rural health.

A taste of rural: Exploring the uncaptured value of tourism in Basilicata

Rural communities often struggle to adapt to societal and economic changes, but their cultural heritage can play a pivotal role in tourism development and establishing expectations for future development. Drawing upon community-based tourism theory, this study offers a fresh perspective on the untapped value in rural areas by considering the unique cultural identity and culinary heritage of Basilicata, Italy. It investigates the facilitators and inhibitors of social and economic progress as perceived by tourism vendors and tourists, examines how tourism contributes to the development of the rural web, and explores the uncaptured value between entrepreneurial activities in culinary tourism and political, governmental, and administrative measures. Aligning with the heritage areas movement, this study draws attention to the importance of preserving landscapes, local identities, and common goods. The results clarify the impact of tourism's localness on rural regions, particularly through tourism activities and local sourcing practices, and aim to inform strategies for employing tourism to develop rural areas.

Understanding the professional factors that impact the retention of pathology workers in regional, rural and remote Australia.

The objective of this study was to determine what professional factors impact the retention of pathology workers in regional, rural and remote Australia. A cross-sectional survey was used to collect data regarding the professional factors that impact the retention of regional, rural and remote pathology workers in Australia (n = 95). The survey focused on pathology workers' satisfaction with specific professional factors and how long they intended to stay in their current position. Regional, rural and remote (MM2-7) pathology laboratories in Australia. There were a total of 95 participants, including 24 phlebotomists/laboratory assistants, 34 medical laboratory scientists and 29 supervisors/managers, with the majority of participants being from New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia. Significant positive associations were found between satisfaction with career advancement opportunities, workplace culture and maintaining professional skills with the retention of regional, rural and remote pathology workers. Open-ended responses indicated that personal factors also played an important role in pathology worker retention in regional, rural and remote communities. This study provides important insights into the professional factors that impact the retention of pathology workers in regional, rural and remote Australia. Personal factors were also found to play an important role in retention. These findings have highlighted the need for further research to be conducted to explore the relationship between professional and personal factors and how this impacts the retention of pathology workers in regional, rural and remote Australia.

Guadeloupe and Haiti's coffee genetic resources reflect the crop's regional and global history

Societal Impact StatementDespite strong historical declines, Guadeloupe and Haiti's coffee sectors remain important to rural communities' livelihood and resilience. Coffee also holds value as part of the islands' historical legacy and cultural identities. Furthermore, it is often grown in agroforestry systems providing important ecosystem services, which will become more important as these vulnerable islands work to adapt to a changing climate. Current efforts to revitalize coffee farms and target strategically important specialty markets would benefit from understanding existing genetic resources and the historical factors that shaped them. Our study reveals the rich history reflected in current coffee stands on the islands.Summary The West Indies, particularly former French colonies like Haiti and Guadeloupe, were central to the spread of coffee in the Americas. The histories of these Islands are shared until the 19th century, where they diverged significantly. Still, both Islands experienced a strong decline in their coffee sector. Characterizing the genetic and varietal diversity of their coffee resources and understanding historical factors shaping them can help support revitalization efforts. To that end, we performed Kompetitve Allele‐Specific PCR (KASP) genotyping of 80 informative single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers on field samples from across main coffee‐growing region of Guadeloupe, and two historically important ones in Haiti, as well as 146 reference accessions from international collections. We also compared bioclimatic variables from sampled geographic areas and searched for historical determinants of present coffee resources. At least five Coffea arabica varietal groups were found in Haiti, versus two in Guadeloupe, with admixed individuals in both. The traditional Typica variety is still present in both islands, growing across a variety of climatic environments. We also found Coffea canephora on both islands, with multiple likely origins, and identified C. liberica var. liberica in Guadeloupe. These differences are explained by the Islands' respective histories. Overall, Guadeloupe experienced fewer, but older introductions of non‐Typica coffee. By contrast, several recent introductions have taken place in Haiti, driven by local and global factors and reflecting the history of Arabica varietal development and spread. Diversity on these islands is dynamic, and our results reveal opportunities and limits to the future of Guadeloupean and Haitian coffee.

Management of Citrus Cultivation in Emerging Rural Communities in Mexico: Practices and Challenges in the Central-Northern Region of Veracruz

Management of Citrus Cultivation in Emerging Rural Communities in Mexico: Practices and Challenges in the Central-Northern Region of Veracruz

Buddhist participatory communication for rural development: a comparative analysis of case studies in Sri Lanka, Lao PDR, Thailand and lessons learned for Vietnam

ABSTRACT Religion, the foundation of all cultures, can serve as a potential substitute for participatory communication and rural community development. This paper attempts to (1) analyse how the Buddhist approach is integrated into development communication initiatives in three countries, namely Sri Lanka, Lao PDR and Thailand, (2) identify the key principles and values of Buddhist philosophy that inform development communication practices in these countries, (3) examine similarities and differences in the Buddhist-based development initiatives and projects conducted in the three countries and (4) provide insights and recommendations for Vietnam through analysing how Buddhist-inspired approaches to development communication have been conceptualised and implemented in these Asian nations by making use of comparative case studies research method. The study reveals that while these initiatives share a philosophical basis centred on Buddhism and local culture integration where Buddhist monks/nuns play important roles, they vary notably in the methods applied due to differences in cultural context. This comparative analysis aims to inform future endeavours in Vietnam and beyond, advocating for culturally sensitive and spiritually grounded approaches to rural development.