Rural Locales Research Articles

A Systematic Review of Sexual Assault Case Attrition in the United States from 2000 to 2020.

This article systematically reviewed research findings of five sexual assault case outcomes (founding, arrest, referral to prosecution, charging, and conviction) between 2000 and 2020. Records were collected from PsychINFO and ProQuest and had to report at least one quantitative criminal justice outcome, include data from a U.S. sample and involve original research. Thirty-six records (288,066 sexual assault cases) were analyzed. Results were stratified by reported cases, referred cases, charged cases, and victim age. Studies show that 72.09% to 92.66% of sampled cases are founded (M = 89.21%), 17.73% to 53.42% result in arrest (M = 27.25%), 13.60% to 69.57% result in referral (M = 31.36%), 3.28% to 83.16% result in charging (M = 19.58%), and only 1.86% to 40.31% result in conviction (M = 8.28%). This considerable variability in case outcomes is related to differences in cases included or excluded (e.g., age criterion, only sampling cases with sexual assault kits); thus, these studies are not reflective of all sexual assault cases. Studies were most likely to report arrest rates, followed by charging, referral, conviction, and founding. Overall, we have a good picture of what attrition looks like in adolescent-adult sexual assault cases from the 1980s to early 2010s in the Midwest and Southern CA. More updated research in the remaining parts of the country is needed, particularly from rural locales. Specific recommendations for more precise measurement and reporting methods are provided to improve our understanding of attrition and strengthen where, how, and with whom interventions are needed.

“Dengue fever is not just urban or rural: Reframing its spatial categorization.”

Infectious diseases exploit niches that are often spatially defined as urban and/or rural. Yet spatial research on infectious diseases often fails to define “urban” and “rural” and how these contexts might influence their epidemiology. We use dengue fever, thought to be mostly an urban disease with rural foci, as a device to explore local definitions of urban and rural spaces and the impact of these spaces on dengue risk in the provinfine urban and rural locales. Interviews conducted from 2019 to 2021 with 71 residents and 23 health personce of Esmeraldas, Ecuador. Ecuador, like many countries, only uses population size and administrative function to denel found that they identified the availability of basic services, extent of their control over their environment, and presence of underbrush and weeds (known in Ecuador as monte and maleza and conceptualized in this paper as natural disorder) as important links to their conceptions of space and dengue risk. This broader conceptualization of space articulated by local residents and professionals reflects a more sophisticated approach to characterizing dengue risk than using categories of urban and rural employed by the national census and government. Rather than this dichotomous category of space, dengue fever can be better framed for health interventions in terms of specific environmental features and assemblages of high-risk spaces. An understanding of how community members perceive risk enhances our ability to collaborate with them to develop optimal mitigation strategies.

Prevalence and factors associated with burnout among primary health-care workers in China during COVID-19: a national survey

BackgroundPrimary health-care workers (PHWs) managed increased workloads and pressure during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study conducted a national survey examining burnout among PHWs at the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, and identifies related factors. By doing so, it addresses the gap in understanding the burnout situation among PHWs at a national level, taking into account urban-rural disparities.MethodsWe conducted a nationwide cross-sectional survey of PHWs in China from May to October 2022, covering 31 provinces. The MBI-HSS was used to measure overall burnout and emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and reduced personal accomplishment (PA). We used multivariable logistic regression to identify risk factors, and subgroup analyses to identify differences between rural and urban areas.Results3769 PHWs from 44 primary health-care institutions completed the survey. Overall, 16.6% reported overall burnout, and the prevalence of EE, DP, and reduced PA was 29.7%, 28.0%, and 62.9%, respectively. The prevalence of overall burnout (17.6% vs. 13.7%, P = 0.004) and EE (31.5% vs. 24.8%, P < 0.001) was higher in urban than rural areas (AOR = 1.285; 95%CI, 1.021–1.617). Job satisfaction was a protective factor against burnout in both settings. The protective factors of overall burnout, EE and DP vary between urban and rural areas.ConclusionsThe Mental Health Status Questionnaire-Short Form (MSQ-SF) score functioned as a protective factor against burnout across both rural and urban locales, highlighting the intrinsic link between job satisfaction and burnout. Other influencing factors differed between urban and rural areas, so interventions should be tailored to local conditions. Rural married PHWs experienced the lower prevalence of burnout indicates the support structure may play a significant role. In urban settings, it is recommended to strategically pre-emptively stock essential supplies like PPE.

Gender and Rural Policing: Lack of Opportunities for Male Police Constables in Rural Police Departments in Trinidad and Tobago

Within the past two decades, there has been increased research interest in rural policing on a global level. While most of those studies were oriented in the United States, Britain, Canada, and Australia, there is a slowly growing corpus of literature on rural policing in the Global South, including the Caribbean. Most of the studies on rural policing have examined rural policing in the context of domestic violence, mental health, administration of justice, conditions of employment, and female issues. Unfortunately, most of these scholarly efforts have not examined male police officers as a distinct group. As conjecture and media reports suggest that male police officers in rural locales in Trinidad and Tobago are treated indifferently, the current research effort presents data gathered from thirteen male police constables attached to rural police stations on the island. This research aims to understand whether this group of police officers suffer from lack of opportunities due to the rural location of their police stations. Three themes: (1) lack of access, (2) fathering/parenting challenges, and (3) favouritism, emanated from the data. Several forms of opportunities that are for male police officers attached to rural police stations in Trinidad and Tobago also emanated from the data and these are presented and discussed.

Disparities in cancer clinical trials information-seeking: Findings from the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Information Service

ObjectiveTo better understand cancer clinical trials (CCT) information-seeking, a necessary precursor to patient and provider engagement with CCT. MethodsData from the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Information Service (CIS) were used to examine CCT information-seeking patterns over a 5-year period. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine characteristics of CIS inquiries and their associations with having a CCT discussion. ResultsBetween September 2018 – August 2023, 117,016 CIS inquiries originated from cancer survivors, caregivers, health professionals, and the general public; 27.5 % of these inquiries included a CCT discussion (n = 32,160). Among CCT discussions, 35.5 % originated from survivors, 53.5 % from caregivers, 6.1 % from the public, and 4.9 % from health professionals. Inquiries in Spanish had lower odds of a CCT discussion (OR=.26, [.25–.28]), whereas inquiries emanating from the CIS instant messaging (OR=2.29, [2.22–2.37]) and email (OR=1.24, [1.18–1.30]) platforms were associated with higher odds of discussing CCT compared to the telephone. Individuals who were male, younger, insured, and had higher income and education had significantly higher odds of a CCT discussion while those who were non-Hispanic Black and living in rural locales had significantly lower odds. ConclusionsDisparities in CCT information-seeking may contribute to downstream CCT participation. Practice ImplicationsQuality, language-concordant health information is needed to enable equitable awareness of – and ultimately engagement in – CCT.

THE MODEL OF STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT OF A RELIGIOUS TOURISM DESTINATION IN FUNCTION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Objective: This study aims to explore the significance and potential of religious tourism in Croatia for sustainable development, highlighting the absence of a strategic approach in managing this tourism sector. The primary goal is to assess the current state of religious tourism, identify challenges, and recommend strategic directions for enhancing religious tourism destinations.&#x0D; &#x0D; Theoretical Framework: The research is anchored in the theories and models of sustainable development, tourism management, and cultural heritage preservation. These theories provide a comprehensive understanding of how religious tourism can contribute to economic growth, cultural preservation, and community engagement in a sustainable manner.&#x0D; &#x0D; Method: Employing survey research and analysis of relevant resources, this study systematically examines the current landscape of religious tourism in Croatia. It focuses on stakeholder coordination, promotion strategies, infrastructure development, and cultural heritage preservation efforts.&#x0D; &#x0D; Results and Discussion: The investigation reveals a fragmented approach to managing religious tourism, characterized by poor coordination among stakeholders, inadequate promotion, underdeveloped infrastructure, and challenges in cultural heritage preservation. These findings suggest that a more cohesive and strategic approach could significantly bolster sustainable development, enhance economic opportunities in rural locales, and foster cultural heritage appreciation.&#x0D; &#x0D; Research Implications: The study underscores the necessity for stronger collaboration among religious communities, tourism organizations, and governmental authorities. It advocates for enhanced promotional efforts, infrastructure investments, and robust measures for cultural and religious heritage conservation, offering valuable insights for policymakers, tourism developers, and community leaders.&#x0D; &#x0D; Originality/Value: This paper contributes original insights into the underexplored domain of religious tourism in Croatia, offering a structured analysis of its current state and potential for sustainable development. Its strategic recommendations provide a foundation for future initiatives to harness religious tourism as a vehicle for economic and cultural sustainability in Croatia.

The spatiotemporal trends of urban-rural green spaces and their heterogeneous relationships with population and economic vitality: Evidence from the Red River Delta, Vietnam

The preservation of green spaces in rapid urbanization emerges as a critical concern, posing a significant challenge in fostering green cities. This research centers on the Red River Delta, employing it as a case study to delve into the intricate interplay between population dynamics, economic vitality, and the maintenance of green spaces, elucidating nuanced effects discernible in urban and rural areas. This study utilizes the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) to depict spatiotemporal changes in green space from 2009 to 2022. The results revealed a discernible decline in urban and rural green spaces in the first eight years and increased slightly afterwards. The results underscore the salient impact of economic and population factors on green space in rural locales, contrasting with the predominant role of population characteristics in urban settings. Specifically, immigration rates and population density emerge as pivotal determinants influencing green spaces in both contexts. The study discloses a heterogeneous association between green spaces and economic development, marked by a positive correlation in urban areas and a negative impact in rural expanses. Moreover, the implications of population and economic vitality on green spaces exhibit variability contingent upon the cities’ function. This research extends the scope of urban development theory. It contributes to the discourse on sustainable urban green development, offering empirical evidence derived from the distinctive context of the Red River Delta in Vietnam.

Factors Associated with Exclusive Use of Hygienic Methods during Menstruation among Adolescent Girls (15–19 Years) in Urban India: Evidence from NFHS-5

BackgroundMenstrual hygiene is a critical public health concern for adolescent girls in urban India. However, there is a paucity of research on this subject, particularly on a national scale. To the best of our knowledge, this study diverges from previous research, as the majority of prior investigations in India have centered on rural locales, married individuals, and those aged between 15 and 24 years. Thus, this study aims to fill this gap by investigating the factors associated with the exclusive use of hygienic methods during menstruation among urban adolescent girls (15–19 years) in India. MethodA total of 25136 samples were included in this analysis from the National Family Health Survey 5 (NFHS-5). The Binary logistic regression model has been administered to determine the associated factors of the exclusive use of hygienic methods among adolescent girls. ResultsThe results of the multivariate model revealed significant positive associations between higher education levels and usage of menstrual hygiene management products (AOR: 1.860; 95 % CI: 1.418–2.439), (AOR: 2.110; 95 % CI: 1.553–2.867). Additionally, individuals in higher wealth quintiles were more likely to use MHM products, with the richest quintile showing the highest likelihood (AOR: 5.310; 95 % CI: 4.494–6.275). Attendance at cultural events such as cinema or theater was positively associated with MHM product utilization (AOR: 1.338; 95 % CI: 1.181–1.517).Conversely, Lack of access to sanitation facilities was inversely associated with MHM product utilization (AOR: 0.742; 95 % CI: 0.628–0.877). Muslim girls had lower odds than Hindus (AOR: 0.576; 95 % CI: 0.520–0.637). Substantial regional variations were evident, with the Western (AOR: 0.879; 95 % CI: 0.759–1.019), Eastern (AOR: 0.747; 95 % CI: 0.654–0.854), Central (AOR: 0.349; 95 % CI: 0.313–0.388), and North-eastern regions (AOR: 0.597; 95 % CI: 0.490–0.727) displaying diminished odds of MHM product usage relative to the southern region. General caste had higher odds compared to scheduled caste (AOR: 1.255, 95 % CI: 1.103–1.429), while other backward caste had lower odds (AOR: 0.858, 95 % CI: 0.771–0.955). ConclusionThese findings underscore the importance of addressing inequalities in access to menstrual hygiene products among urban adolescent girls in India. Targeted interventions and educational programs are essential to ensure equitable access and promote overall health and well-being.

Evaluation of rural ecological resilience from the perspective of communities and farmers: a study on Laochehe ethnic minority village in China

The ecological problems of tourism villages in the context of globalization cannot be ignored. Rural tourism has destroyed the rural ecological environment, and it is of great significance to explore the ecological resilience of tourism villages to achieve sustainable development. This study introduces an analytical framework with which to assess the ecological resilience of rural tourism locales, focusing on micro-level perspectives involving communities and farmers. Ecosystem service values and a comprehensive index are utilized as proxies to characterize ecological resilience, and its evolutionary characteristics and mechanisms are investigated. The results are as follows. (1) From the community perspective, rural land use has changed significantly from the agricultural function to the tourism compound function. During this transition, the ecological resilience index has decreased by 2.05 × 106. (2) From the perspective of farmers, the rural ecological resilience index and various dimensional indices have altogether increased. Notably, the transformation capability index has increased by 30.34%, the interference capability index has increased by 21.78%, and the response capability index has increased by 14.72%. The ecological resilience indices for different livelihood types, from highest to lowest, are ranked as follows: tourism-oriented farmers (0.4412), tourism-participating farmers (0.4274), and migrant-oriented farmers (0.4066). (3) Socio-economic factors and farmers’ livelihoods lead to the imbalance of the rural social ecosystem. The adaptive transformation of tourism villages has facilitated the dynamic evolution of ecological resilience. This study contributes to the enrichment of ecological resilience research perspectives and may offer valuable insights for the sustainable development of tourism villages in similarly developing countries around the world.

Spatial association of coastal towns and villages in Funing District, Qinhuangdao: A study using social network analysis

This study aims to explore how the spatial network structure between towns and villages can be optimized, which is a crucial element of rural revitalization strategies. For this investigation, we choose Funing District in Qinhuangdao, situated along the coastal region of the Bohai Sea. To achieve this, a gravity model is constructed through integration and collection of data, then applied social network analysis (SNA) techniques. Empirical analysis is conducted using ArcGIS and the NetworkX library in Python to uncover essential aspects of the town-village network in Funing District, including overall network density, centrality, cohesive subgroups, and core-periphery structures. The results of this research reveal a core-periphery structure in the town-village network of Funing District, highlighting significant hierarchical differences among nodes regarding spatial connectivity. With these findings in mind, specific measures are proposed to improve the flow of elements between nodes and optimize the spatial network structure. These measures encompass enhancing the strategic position of urban nodes, endorsing rural revitalization initiatives, and actively advocating for the establishment of a spatial layout embodying "one core, three stars, four guards, one axis and one belt" to facilitate resources and elements integration between urban and rural locales. Furthermore, this study offers valuable insights and references for town-village planning and development across the Bohai Rim region, encompassing the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area and analogous regions.

Problems Faced by Rural Area Students at Madrasah Tsanawiyah in Learning English Speaking

This study investigates the process of acquiring English speaking skills, emphasizing the indispensable role of grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation in facilitating effective communication between speakers and listeners. Acknowledging the critical need for learners to command these core components of the English language, this research specifically targets students residing in rural locales. Utilizing a qualitative methodology, the investigation centred on eighth-grade students from a Private Madrasah Tsanawiyah, chosen via convenience sampling. Data were garnered through observations, interviews, and questionnaires, revealing that issues related to practical application of skills were more pronounced than theoretical knowledge gaps. Notably, the findings indicate that a lack of confidence significantly impedes skill development, with 80% of challenges linked to this factor, compared to 72% associated with knowledge deficiencies in language production. In light of these insights, the research underscores the paramount problem of inadequate skill factors among students. Consequently, it advocates for English teachers to exhibit superior pedagogical competence, highlighting the necessity for educators to deploy effective teaching methodologies within the instructional framework.

Here or There? An Examination of Community College CTE and Student Mobility Across Rural Locales

Community college career and technical education (CTE) represents one potential way in which students can receive important postsecondary education and training. Yet, existing research suggests rural community college students experience stratified access to CTE. Using a joint human capital theory and geography of opportunity theoretical framework, the current study examined the degree to which students residing in rural locales pursued CTE areas of study that were different from students in non-rural locales and whether patterns in community college CTE participation were associated with student movement or “mobility” across and within rural locales.

Grading Between the Locales: Socioeconomic Status and Ninth-Grade Course Failures

This study explores the grading disparities among ninth-grade students within the American educational system, emphasizing the comparative analysis between economically disadvantaged students (indicated by Free or Reduced-Price Lunch status) and their more advantaged counterparts across urban, suburban, and rural locales. Drawing on a robust dataset of 65,017 first-time, full-time ninth graders from Arkansas, spanning the academic years 2020-21 to 2021-22, this research employs logistic regression analysis to uncover the nuanced relationships of socioeconomic status and geographical setting on course failure rates. The ninth grade is highlighted as a critical juncture in the U.S. educational trajectory, serving as a foundational year that significantly influences students' future academic and career pathways. My findings reveal that, although rural students initially present with lower failure rates, a detailed logit analysis accounting for individual and district-level characteristics demonstrates that rural ninth graders face the highest risk of course failure, especially among those with Free or Reduced Lunch (FRL) status. These results underscore the pressing need for implementing equitable grading practices and bolstering professional development for educators in rural areas to mitigate these disparities. This study contributes to the broader field of educational equity by highlighting systemic challenges and advocating for targeted interventions to support disadvantaged students, particularly in the pivotal year of ninth grade.

From Countryside to City: How Land Property Rights Drive Migration in China

China’s remarkable economic surge since the 1970s hasn’t erased the pronounced economic disparities across different regions, most notably between rural and urban locales. Rooted in the historical division of land rights and usage stipulated by economic reforms, this urban-rural dichotomy has fostered varied development patterns in infrastructure, primary industries, and foreign trade and investment. At the core of this dichotomy is the contrasting landscape of land property rights—state ownership in urban areas with permissible leaseholds versus collective ownership in rural areas with restrictions on transfer or leasing. This paper investigates how these divergent land property rights regimes have engendered significant migration patterns, predominantly marked by rural to urban migration, in pursuit of better economic prospects. Through a meticulous examination of the Household Responsibility System (HRS) and subsequent agrarian reforms, this paper elucidates how partial property rights and restrictions on land transferability under HRS have had substantial repercussions on domestic migration. The analysis delineates how well-defined and secure property rights, as postulated by prominent theories of property rights, are instrumental in incentivizing migration. When operational, market mechanisms of land property rights enable farmers to lease their lands, thereby fostering migration by reducing the opportunity cost of leaving rural lands. Conversely, in the absence of robust property rights, government mechanisms often lead to forced land acquisitions sans adequate compensation, exacerbating rural-urban income disparities and propelling rural-urban migration. The paper expounds on the multifaceted implications of these migration patterns on economic opportunities, poverty alleviation, and urbanization in China. Additionally, it discusses the ripple effects of rural-urban migration on income disparity and the consequent socioeconomic repercussions. The findings shed light on the complex interrelationship between land property rights and migration, providing a nuanced understanding of China’s urbanization trajectory and its attendant rural-urban disparities. This analysis offers valuable insights for policy formulations aimed at addressing the systemic issues arising from the entrenched land property rights framework, and suggests a pathway towards a more balanced regional economic development and sustainable urbanization in China.

Analyzing the Evolution of a Rural Construction Community in China from the Perspective of Cultural Landscape

The rural construction community embodies a confluence of social dynamics within rural areas, constituting an organic self-organization with hierarchical relationships. Over a specific period, the amalgamation of various roles and relationships within the rural construction community shapes the prevalent culture, distinctive image, and production techniques within villages. This study examines the structural composition of village communities and endeavors to establish a linkage mechanism among different elements within the construction framework. Focusing on villages and their inhabitants, this research traces the temporal evolution along the following axes: (1) Traditional Agricultural Civilization Age; (2) Collective Economy Age; (3) Rural Industrialization Age; (4) Rural Differentiation Age; and (5) Rural Revitalization Age. This paper primarily observes the evolution through the cultural foundation and manifestation of rural communities, emphasizing that the communities represent cooperative, autonomous, and transformative constructs. From the perspective of cultural landscapes, this article elucidates the interconnected trajectory of ecology–institution–livelihood in the creation of rural communities. It interprets the interplay among the resource patterns, social structure, and economic forms of villages across five distinct periods, fostering a comprehensive understanding of rural community development amidst changing circumstances. Recent years have seen a concerning decline in rural areas, where rural community culture faces a significant impact from modern industrial civilization, resulting in the disintegration of the social fabric within community construction. Nevertheless, the resilient common sense and self-organization capabilities of villagers persist. This study seeks to offer theoretical guidance and decision-making support to advance innovative social governance in rural locales. Moving forward, China’s rural revitalization demands a more adaptive sustainable assessment within rural construction communities.

Deep Learning Performance of Ultra-Widefield Fundus Imaging for Screening Retinal Lesions in Rural Locales

Retinal diseases are the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, and timely detection contributes to prevention of permanent vision loss, especially for patients in rural areas with limited medical resources. Deep learning systems (DLSs) based on fundus images with a 45° field of view have been extensively applied in population screening, while the feasibility of using ultra-widefield (UWF) fundus image-based DLSs to detect retinal lesions in patients in rural areas warrants exploration. To explore the performance of a DLS for multiple retinal lesion screening using UWF fundus images from patients in rural areas. In this diagnostic study, a previously developed DLS based on UWF fundus images was used to screen for 5 retinal lesions (retinal exudates or drusen, glaucomatous optic neuropathy, retinal hemorrhage, lattice degeneration or retinal breaks, and retinal detachment) in 24 villages of Yangxi County, China, between November 17, 2020, and March 30, 2021. The captured images were analyzed by the DLS and ophthalmologists. The performance of the DLS in rural screening was compared with that of the internal validation in the previous model development stage. The image quality, lesion proportion, and complexity of lesion composition were compared between the model development stage and the rural screening stage. A total of 6222 eyes in 3149 participants (1685 women [53.5%]; mean [SD] age, 70.9 [9.1] years) were screened. The DLS achieved a mean (SD) area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.918 (0.021) (95% CI, 0.892-0.944) for detecting 5 retinal lesions in the entire data set when applied for patients in rural areas, which was lower than that reported at the model development stage (AUC, 0.998 [0.002] [95% CI, 0.995-1.000]; P < .001). Compared with the fundus images in the model development stage, the fundus images in this rural screening study had an increased frequency of poor quality (13.8% [860 of 6222] vs 0%), increased variation in lesion proportions (0.1% [6 of 6222]-36.5% [2271 of 6222] vs 14.0% [2793 of 19 891]-21.3% [3433 of 16 138]), and an increased complexity of lesion composition. This diagnostic study suggests that the DLS exhibited excellent performance using UWF fundus images as a screening tool for 5 retinal lesions in patients in a rural setting. However, poor image quality, diverse lesion proportions, and a complex set of lesions may have reduced the performance of the DLS; these factors in targeted screening scenarios should be taken into consideration in the model development stage to ensure good performance.

Use of Primary Care and Emergency Departments for Substance Use Treatment: The Rural and Urban Divide

Background : Alcohol and illicit substance use remain significant public health issues in the United States. In this analysis, we assessed differences in the use of primary care and emergency departments (EDs) for treatment of substance use among rural and urban sexual minorities (SMs). Methods : Data come from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH, 2015-2019). Survey-weighted multivariable linear and logistic regression analyses were used to assess the relationship between sexual identity and the use of primary care settings or EDs for treatment of substance use, stratified by urbanicity of residence. Results : Among the entire sample, 7.9% reported residing in rural environments with slightly more SMs living in urban (7.3%) relative to rural (5.4%) locales. Both rural (β=-0.20; 95% CI: −0.29, −0.10) and urban SMs (β=-0.13; 95% CI: −0.16, −0.11) self-reported worse overall health. Urban SMs, but not rural SMs, had significantly higher odds of reporting use of primary care treatment for substance use (aOR 2.80; 95% CI: 2.13, 3.68). ED treatment for substance use was greater among both rural (aOR = 2.99; 95% CI: 1.01, 8.87) and urban SMs (aOR = 3.02; 95% CI: 2.12, 4.30) as was overall number of ED visits among both rural (β = 0.48; 95% CI: 0.24, 0.72) and urban SMs (β = 0.23; 95% CI: 0.19, 0.28) . Conclusion : These findings suggest increased reliance on EDs for treatment of alcohol or substance use among rural SMs. Future research should examine whether increasing culturally competent primary care services for SMs in rural areas may be a key intervention point for reducing health disparities.

A-10 Virginians Report Unequal Access to Appropriate Licensed Healthcare Providers for Concussion

Abstract Purpose Virginia state law requires athletes with suspected concussions to be evaluated and receive written clearance from an appropriately licensed healthcare provider (HCP) before returning to play. This HCP is defined as a physician, physician assistant, athletic trainer (AT), neuropsychologist, physical therapist, or nurse practitioner. However, little is known regarding whether access to HCPs in Virginia differs by locality. We explored stakeholders’ access to HCPs. Methods An electronic survey assessed school and community stakeholders’ perceptions of accessibility to HCPs. Results were stratified by locale (National Center for Education Statistics locality classifications). Participants were a convenience sample recruited through collaboration with state professional organizations. Results 400 respondents (city [n=61, 15%], suburban [n=142, 36%], town [n=67, 17%], and rural [n=130, 33%]) completed the survey. Overall, three out of four (77%) reported having access to community HCPs, though rates were substantially higher among those from cities (92% city, 80% suburban, 80% town). However, only 66% of respondents from rural areas reported access to an HCP. Additionally, when asked about access to an AT, 45% of stakeholders responded that they had no access to an AT. Most respondents with no AT access were from suburban (34%) or rural (39%) locales, and 43% reported traveling &amp;gt;30 minutes to access an HCP. Conclusions Our findings indicate access disparities such that rural Virginians report less access to licensed HCPs for concussion clearance. In communities without an AT, it may require considerable travel to reach an HCP. Further investigation is needed into strategies that promote equal access to HCPs.

Dual Enrollment Equity in Rural America’s Two-Year Public Postsecondary Institutions

ABSTRACT Two decades of growth in dual enrollment, also accelerated during the COVID pandemic, demands attention to equal opportunities available in rural areas. We use the IPEDS database to explore geographic equality of dual enrollment availability offered by two-year public postsecondary institutions in rural America. Shifts in economies and demographic changes across rural America present substantial equity challenges. In this study, we seek to provide a first description of the extent to which dual enrollment offerings in two-year public postsecondary institutions vary in different rural locales, in designated economic regions, and by race enrollment. We conclude students attending smaller two-year postsecondary institutions are less likely to have access to dual enrollment opportunities. Moreover, among all but the largest institutions, students attending institutions with higher minority enrollments are less likely to have access to dual enrollment opportunities. Regardless of locale (city, suburb, town, and rural), two-year postsecondary institutions with the least diversity offer less access to dual enrollment opportunities. Of the 1,164 institutions in the eight Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) regions, more than one-fourth (252 or 21.7%) do not offer dual enrollment. Moreover, almost half (115 or 46.6%) of the 252 institutions are in states of the Mid-East and Great Lakes regions. The Southeast region has the lowest (61.1%) dual enrollment availability among the highest minority enrollment institutions. In the most diverse institutions (>63.77% minority enrollment), however, three-fourths or more of the institutions in six of the eight BEA regions offer dual enrollment. Implications for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers are offered.

Lower‐Class Reading in Late Imperial Russia

AbstractThis article demonstrates widespread engagement of lower‐class people with the written word in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century Russian Empire, in rural and urban locales, in homes, workplaces, and social spaces. We explore how lower‐class people read: the daily habits, personal relationships, and social spaces that shaped engagement with texts, and especially collective reading, a widespread phenomenon that extended the reach of the written word to less‐ or non‐literate audiences. Many lower‐class Russians experienced reading as a collective, public, aural activity, not a solitary, private, internal one. Reading was entwined with the rhythms of everyday social life and provoked critical thought and active engagement within countless lower‐class reading groups, as evidenced by collective letter‐writing and observations of post‐reading discussions. This article therefore contributes to scholarship exploring lower‐class Russians’ conscious and meaningful engagement with the textual world, and by association with late imperial Russia’s transforming social and political spheres.