Rural Regions Of China Research Articles

The Impact of Gender on the Happiness of Middle-Aged and Elderly People in Rural Areas of China: Based on the Empirical Analysis of CHARLS (2018) Data

The well-being of individuals is a crucial focal point and fundamental objective within the realm of social development. By examining a dataset comprising 16,593 micro-level records from the CHARLS database and employing the mesomeric effect model, the following conclusions are deduced: (1) The happiness levels of middle-aged and elderly women residing in rural regions of China are lower compared to men; (2) Gender exerts an influence on the happiness of middle-aged and elderly individuals in rural areas through mediating factors marital status and personal income; (3) Among the middle-aged and elderly population in rural areas of China, their level of education, perceived health status, number of family members, and frequency of contact with children can impact their overall sense of happiness.

Economic poverty, common prosperity, and underdog entrepreneurship

This study explores underdog entrepreneurship by investigating how economic poverty affects an individual’s entrepreneurial choice with varying levels of regional common prosperity. Using a sample of 5,250 individual-year observations from nine provincial regions in rural China, we find that economic poverty is conducive to entrepreneurship. Moreover, our results show that the effect of economic poverty on the choice of entrepreneurship as a career is weakened by regional economic development but strengthened by regional income equality. Our study provides implications to enrich the discussion of common prosperity and extends existing literature on underdog entrepreneurship by considering unique aspects of regional contexts.

Examining the Effects of Environmental Knowledge and Health Insurance Coverage on Health Status

Rural women in developing nations are especially vulnerable to higher health risks due to environmental pollution exposure and are more likely to experience poorer health outcomes. Using data from the 2013 China General Social Survey CGSS2013, this study empirically examined the relationship among environmental knowledge (EK), pollution, health investment (i.e., holding and purchasing a public health insurance policy, engaging in frequent physical activity, and acquiring commercial insurance), and health status. The sample was composed of 1930 women residing in rural regions in China. Three main research questions are investigated: whether environmental knowledge affects health investment and health status, whether health investments impact health status, and whether the relationship between environmental knowledge and health status is mediated by health investment. Our results showed that the level of EK for women in rural China significantly impacted their self-reported physical and mental health. To account for potential endogeneity due to mutual causality, this study employed television usage and network usage as two instrumental variables (IVs) of EK and used an IV-probit method. Additionally, we estimated a model that replaced health status with the variable Body Mass Index (BMI) to assess the reliability and robustness of our results. The results were consistent, providing evidence of robustness. Additionally, we examined the relationship between health investment (holding and purchasing a public health insurance policy, engaging in frequent physical activity, and acquiring commercial insurance) and health status. Our results indicated that the level of EK had no significant impact on participating in the new rural cooperative medical system. However, the preference for purchasing commercial insurance was positively impacted by EK, though it did not directly affect health status. Conversely, an increase in EK and pollution was associated with a greater likelihood of engaging in physical exercise, which, in turn, improved overall mental health.

Development of Rural Regions in China: Evidence of Industry Integration by the Residents of Yongan Village (Quanzhou City, China)

This study aims to probe the sustainable development issues in Chinese rural regions. It analyzes the primary, secondary, and tertiary industries by considering the experiences of Yongan village in Quanzhou, China, as a case study. Integrating primary, secondary, and tertiary industries is essential to promoting rural areas’ transformation, upgrading, and development. Yongan village in Quanzhou City, Fujian Province, China, has attempted to integrate primary, secondary, and tertiary industries. Yongan village has creatively practiced the development model of “1 + 3 + 2” (from the primary industry to the tertiary industry and then to the secondary industry). Based on the exploration of Yongan village’s experience, it is proposed to design a program for integrating primary, secondary, and tertiary industries. The study of Yongan village example will enrich the related theories and provide theoretical guidance and practical reference for related practices in rural areas in China and other developing countries. This study’s novelty is that it offers a unique rural development model based on “1 + 3 + 2”. The tertiary industry’s development precedes the secondary industry, paving the way for agro-tourism that leads to the sustainable development of the rural regions with sustained economic activity accelerated by rising tourist inflow.

Quantification and evaluation of atmospheric emissions from crop residue burning constrained by satellite observations in China during 2016–2020

In rural regions of China, crop residue burning (CRB) is the major biomass burning activity, which can result in massive emissions of atmospheric particulate, greenhouse gas, and trace gas pollutants. Based on Himawari-8 satellite fire radiative power and agricultural statistics data, we implemented a daily inventory of agricultural fire emissions in 2016–2020 with a 2-km spatial resolution, including atmospheric pollutants such as CO2, CH4, CO, N2O, NOX, NH3, SO2, PM10, PM2.5, Hg, OC, EC, and NMVOCs. Our inventory constrained by geostationary satellite monitoring is more consistent with the actual CRB emissions in China, as many flaring events occur surreptitiously in the early morning and late evening to avoid regulation, which may be overlooked by polar-orbiting satellites. The spatiotemporal characterizations of various CRB emissions are found to be consistent with multiple satellite trace gas retrievals. We also assessed the effectiveness of field burning bans in China. Combined with other relevant datasets, it was found that although China has been advocating for a long time not to burn straw in the open field, CRB emissions was not successfully controlled nationwide until 2016. We estimated that the cumulative reduction of CO2 CRB emissions alone amounts to 809 ± 651 (2σ) teragram (Tg) during the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016–2020), with an average value equivalent to 1.2 times the total annual territorial CO2 emissions by fossil fuels from Germany in 2021 (675 Tg, ranked 1st in EU27 and 7th in the world). Our inventory also suggests that continuous, long-term controls are necessary. Otherwise, CRB emissions may only be delayed on a seasonal scale, rather than reduced.

Long-term Incidence Rates of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Chinese Patients With Low-grade Intraepithelial Neoplasia and Association of Surveillance Endoscopy With Incidence

Surveillance endoscopy is recommended for patients with low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (LGIN); high-quality evidence about the use of surveillance endoscopy and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) incidence in patients with LGIN is important but limited. To estimate long-term ESCC incidence rates in patients with LGIN and the association between surveillance endoscopy and ESCC incidence. This community-based, multicenter, prospective cohort study in 9 regions in rural China included patients with LGIN diagnosed by endoscopic screening between July 1, 2007, and December 31, 2016; all participants were followed up until December 31, 2021. The primary outcome was ESCC incidence. The ESCC standardized incidence ratio (SIR) was estimated using sex- and age-specific incidence in the general population of rural China in 2010 and hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs were calculated using Cox proportional hazards models. A total of 3258 patients with LGIN were included; 1772 (54.39%) were men, with a mean (SD) age of 58.21 (6.97) years. Among them, 1378 patients (42.30%) underwent at least 1 surveillance endoscopy (surveillance group) and 1880 (57.70%) did not undergo any surveillance endoscopy (nonsurveillance group). During the follow-up period (median, 7.96 years; IQR, 6.08-10.54 years), 170 ESCC cases were diagnosed, with a cumulative incidence of 6.28 per 1000 person-years. A higher incidence of ESCC (incidence rate, 7.07 per 1000 person-years) was observed in the nonsurveillance group than in the surveillance group (incidence rate, 5.14 per 1000 person-years). Patients with LGIN in the surveillance group had a lower SIR (SIR, 4.07; 95% CI, 1.13-10.34) than those in the nonsurveillance group (SIR, 5.65; 95% CI, 2.00-12.58); however, patients with LGIN in both groups had a higher risk of ESCC than the general population. Patients in the surveillance group had a 31% decreased risk of ESCC incidence (HR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.50-0.95) compared with those in the nonsurveillance group, after adjusting for baseline risk factors. In this prospective cohort study, patients with LGIN had a higher risk of developing ESCC than the general population, and endoscopic surveillance was associated with a decrease in ESCC incidence in these patients.

The urgency and challenge of improving indoor environment quality in rural regions of China

The urgency and challenge of improving indoor environment quality in rural regions of China

Influencing factors of consumers' buying intention of solar energy: a structural equation modeling approach.

Due to China's massive usage of fossil fuels, climate change concerns have become serious challenges to the country's sustainable development. Despite the fact that China has effectively employed solar technology to address these problems, there is a paucity of research examining consumers' intention to adopt solar energy in the rural region of China. This study intends to fill this gap in the literature by studying consumers' buying intentions for solar energy in rural China for household purposes. Additionally, the study added to the theory of planned behavior by adding three new variables, namely, environmental knowledge, environmental concern, and beliefs about the benefits of solar energy. Primary data were collected from 847 respondents in Hebei Province using a comprehensive questionnaire survey. Structural equation modeling was employed to examine the data. Empirical results revealed that attitude, environmental knowledge, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, and beliefs about the benefits of solar energy positively influence buying intention of solar energy. On the contrary, environmental concern had no significant effect on buying intention for solar energy. Study outcomes emphasize the critical significance of changing societal norms, boosting consumer awareness, redesigning regulatory mechanisms, and stressing the benefits provided by solar power through coherent and persistent efforts while simultaneously enhancing environmental sustainability practices.

Overall and cause-specific mortality rates among men and women with high exposure to indoor air pollution from the use of smoky and smokeless coal: a cohort study in Xuanwei, China

ObjectivesNever-smoking women in Xuanwei (XW), China, have some of the highest lung cancer rates in the country. This has been attributed to the combustion of smoky coal used for indoor...

Influence of cochlear implants on hearing-related quality of life: results from Chinese children with cochlear implants entering mainstream education

ObjectivesThis study aimed to 1) assess the hearing-related Quality of Life (QoL) of children with cochlear implants (CIs) in China and 2) investigate the impact of CI in children and of the socio-demographic backgrounds of their guardians on the hearing-related QoL of children with CIs in the Chinese mainstream education system. MethodsThis study used the Mandarin Children with Cochlear Implants: Parental Perspectives questionnaire (MPP), which assessed the communication capability, auditory perception, self-independence, level of happiness with family, social interaction, academic performance, outcome assessment for CI, and level of family support in children with CIs. Both univariate and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to identify the relationship of CI in children and the socio-demographic backgrounds of their guardians with hearing-related QoL in children with CI. ResultA total of 124 responses were collected, and they indicated satisfaction and improvement across all aspects of the MPP Questionnaire. Statistical analysis revealed that an earlier age of cochlear implantation (≤3 years old) could improve the communication capabilities, self-independence, social interaction performance, and academic performance of children with CIs. In addition, children with CI from the urban regions demonstrated better social interaction performance than that by those from the rural regions of China. ConclusionCIs can improve hearing-related QoL in children with pre-lingual or congenital hearing loss entering the mainstream education system in China. This study showed that early age of cochlear implantation was critical for successful long-term auditory development and academic achievement in children with CIs in China. Therefore, healthcare professionals and educators in China should advocate for CI for children with severe congenital or pre-lingual hearing loss.

Global education in rural region of China: a case study of basic education teachers’ perceptions and practices

Global education in rural region of China: a case study of basic education teachers’ perceptions and practices

Social Media Reveals Urban-Rural Differences in Stress across China

Modelling differential stress expressions in urban and rural regions in China can provide a better understanding of the effects of urbanization on psychological well-being in a country that has rapidly grown economically in the last two decades. Using Weibo posts from over 65,000 users across 329 counties, we build hierarchical mixed-effects models to understand linguistic differences in the experiences and expressions of stress in urban-rural China. We analyze phrases, topical themes, and psycho-linguistic word choices in Weibo posts mentioning stress to better understand appraisal differences surrounding psychological stress in urban and rural communities in China; we then compare them with large-scale polls from Gallup. After controlling for socioeconomic and gender differences, we find that rural communities tend to express stress in emotional and personal themes such as relationships, health, and opportunity while users in urban areas express stress using relative, temporal, and external themes such as work, politics, and economics. We find corroborative trends in physical, financial, and social wellness with urbanization in Gallup polls.

Endoscopic Surveillance for Premalignant Esophageal Lesions: A Community-Based Multicenter, Prospective Cohort Study

Mild and moderate dysplasia are major premalignant lesions of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC); however, evidence of the progression risk in patients with these conditions is extremely limited. We aimed to assess the incidence and risk factors for advanced neoplasia in patients with mild-moderate dysplasia. This prospective cohort study included patients with mild-moderate dysplasia from 9 regions in rural China. These patients were identified from a community-based ESCC screening program conducted between 2010 and 2016 and were offered endoscopic surveillance until December 2021. We estimated the incidence of advanced esophageal neoplasia, including severe dysplasia, carcinoma in situ, or ESCC, and identified potential risk factors using the Cox regression model. The 1183 patients with mild-moderate dysplasia were followed up over a period of 6.95 years. During follow-up evaluation, 88 patients progressed to advanced neoplasia (7.44%), with an incidence rate of 10.44 per 1000 person-years. The median interval from the progression of mild-moderate dysplasia to advanced neoplasia was 2.39 years (interquartile range, 1.58-4.32y). A total of 74.47% of patients with mild-moderate dysplasia experienced regression tonondysplasia, and 18.09% showed no lesion progression. Patients with mild-moderate dysplasia who had a family history of esophageal cancer and were age 55 years and oldershowed 97% higher advanced neoplasia yields than all patients with mild-moderate dysplasia. In a country with a high incidence of ESCC, patients with mild-moderate dysplasia showed an overall risk of advanced neoplasia progression of 1.04% per year. Patients with mild-moderate dysplasia would be recommended for endoscopic surveillance during the first 2 to 3 years.

Geographical disparities in infant mortality in the rural areas of China: a descriptive study, 2010–2018

BackgroundThe infant mortality rate (IMR) is considered a basic measure of public health for countries around the world. The specific aim of our study was to provide an updated description of infant mortality rate among different regions in rural China, and assess the trends and causes of the IMR geographical disparities.MethodsData were collected from China’s Under-5 Child Mortality Surveillance System(U5CMSS). The annual number of deaths and causes of death were adjusted using a 3-year moving average underreporting rate based on annual national data quality control results. The average annual decline rate (AADR) and the relative risk (RR) of the IMR and cause-specific infant mortality were calculated by Poisson regression and the Cochran–Mantel–Haenszel method. Data analysis was completed by SAS software.ResultsThere was an apparent decrease in infant mortality in rural China from 2010 to 2018, at the AADR of 11.0% (95%CI 9.6–12.4), 11.2% (95%CI 10.3–12.1) and 6.6% (95%CI 6.0–7.3) in the eastern, central and western rural areas, respectively. The IMR was highest in the western rural area, followed by the central and eastern rural areas. Compared with the eastern rural area, the RR of infant mortality in the central rural area remained at 1.4–1.6 and increased from 2.4 (95%CI 2.3–2.6) in 2010–2012 to 3.1 (95% CI 2.9–3.4) in 2016–2018 in the western rural area. Pneumonia, preterm birth /LBW and birth asphyxia were the leading causes of infant deaths in the western rural area. Mortality rates of these three causes fell significantly in 2010–2018 but contributed to a higher proportion of deaths in the western rural area than in the central and western rural ares.ConclusionsOur study indicated that the infant mortality rate dropped significantly from 2010 to 2018, however, geographical disparities of IMR in rural China are still persist. Therefore, there is an urgent need for public health programmes and policy interventions for infants in western rural China.

What does ‘left behind’ mean to children living in migratory regions in rural China?

This article explores how in China in the early to mid-2010s non-migrant children in households with and without migrants interpreted the situation of children being left behind because of parental migration. These children lived in rural regions in China’s eastern interior where parental migration had become a ‘new normal’ and where a good future was one that involved escaping rurality and progressing to a stable urban job through education. Based on my interviews with forty-four left behind children of two migrant parents and twenty-nine children who lived with both their parents, this article demonstrates that the children’s deep feelings about their own family’s circumstances impacted on their perceptions about the situation of children being ‘left behind’. The children’s views reveal implications of parental migration that are more complex than neat delineations of trade-offs between costs (reduced parental care) and benefits (increased income) suggest. The discussion further contributes to bridging conceptual dichotomies between migrants and non-migrants and between left-behinds and other stayers.

Study on wind environment of semi-open space in hot-arid and hot-humid climate zones in rural areas

To explore the coupling effect of open space temperature and air velocity in hot-arid and hot-humid climate regions in rural China, 1690 valid data were obtained by long-term field tests and questionnaires were carried out in hot-arid and hot-humid regions. Results indicated that when the operative temperature is below 33.5 °C, the mean thermal sensation decreases with the increase of air velocity in the hot-humid region. When the operative temperature rose to greater than 33.5 °C, the mean thermal sensation could be significantly reduced only when the air velocity is over 1.0 m/s. However, increasing air velocity in hot-arid regions can significantly improve the thermal sensation. In addition, residents in hot-humid regions were more willing to increase airflow than those in hot-arid regions. These results support the theory of climate adaptation and can provide a reference for the design of semi-open space buildings in rural regions.

Long-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide and mortality: A prospective cohort study in urban and rural regions of China

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Several epidemiology studies found nitrogen dioxide (NO2) to be linked to increased mortality. We aim to better understand the concentration-response relationship between NO2 and mortality in China. METHODS: We used Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Study (CLHLS) data. The participants were enrolled in 2008 or 2009 and followed up to 2019 roughly every two years. We obtained annual nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentration at 1km spatial resolution using a previously validated model. We used Cox proportional hazards model to examine the association between one-five years average NO2 exposure and all-cause mortality, adjusted for demographics and lifestyle factors. We used the restricted cubic spline to describe the concentration-response relationship. Possible effect modifiers were tested. RESULTS:Our study included 13,398 individuals. We had 62,524 person-year follow-ups and 9309 mortality events. The average exposure of NO2 in the mortality year was 9.81 ppb (SD:7.29), which was higher in urban, northern and eastern regions of China. Higher NO2 was associated with higher risk for mortality, and HR (95% CI) for per ppb increase were 1.012 (1.009, 1.015), 1.008 (1.005, 1.011), 1.004 (1.001, 1.007), 1.004 (1, 1.007), and 1.004 (1.001, 1.008) for one to five years average NO2 respectively. Compared to the lowest quartile of mortality year average NO2, higher quartiles had higher risk for mortality [HR (95% CI): 1.03 (0.971, 1.093) for quartile 2; 1.223 (1.155, 1.296) for quartile 3; 1.319 (1.24, 1.404) for quartile 4]. The spline fit for NO2 was supralinear, which indicated that marginal changes in risk was larger for low concentrations compared with higher values. We also found the effect of NO2 was stronger in rural areas, younger participants, and those with less education. CONCLUSIONS:We found an association that higher NO2 exposure is associated with higher mortality. The association was stronger within lower range concentrations and rural areas. KEYWORDS: NO2, nitric oxide, traffic, mortality, longevity, China

Study on infant and young children complementary feeding in poor rural regions in China

To analyze complementary feeding status and issues among 6-23 month infants and young children(IYC) in poor rural regions in China to figure out actions further IYC nutrition in China. Using 2018 monitoring data from Project of Children Nutrition Improvement in Poor Rural Regions, 6-23 months infants were sampled with the method of a combination of provincial stratification, multi-stage stratified cluster, PPS and random equidistant. Complementary feeding practices were collected by 24 hours diet recall method and and parental knowledge on IYC feeding was collected by KAP questionnaire. Complementary diet was analyzed according to the World Health Organization& apos; s definition of infant and young child feeding indicators. Logistic regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors of minimum acceptable diet(MAD). A total of 40 910 infants(boys 21 153, girls 19 757) completed the survey. The proportion of infants 6-8 months of age who receive solid, semi-solid foods was 83.8%, the percentage of IYC who get minimum dietary diversity(MDD), minimum meal frequency(MMF), and MAD was 67.8%, 71.4% and 39.7%, respectively. The age of months, mother& apos; s educational level and parent& apos; s nutrition and feeding knowledge had significant impact on the outcome of MAD. The OR for month& apos; s age were 1.990 and 1.905(P& lt; 0.001), OR for mother education level was 1. 545(P& lt; 0.001) and OR for parent knowledge were 1.114 and 1.346(P& lt; 0.001). Complementary feeding practices were poor in terms of the proportion of infants 6-8 months of age who introduced complementary foods, MDD, MMF and MAD in poor region of China.

The outdoor pedestrian thermal comfort and behavior in a traditional residential settlement – A case study of the cave dwellings in cold winter of China

Many Chinese are living in the traditional buildings, especially in rural regions. Cave dwelling settlement is a significant living residential form in China. Because of the special thermal adaptive behavior, residents in such regions will have a different thermal sensation in winter. In order to assess the local’s thermal behavior, we conduct the field measurement, numerical simulation and questionnaire survey in a caving dwelling settlement in winter, and the index-PET (physiological equivalent temperature) is evaluated for assessing the outdoor thermal conditions in the research site. The final results show that the neutral temperature of local traditional dweller is 16.5 °C PET, lower than existing standard, also proves that local residents are more tolerant than the residents in urban regions. At last, we strongly make an appeal to put forward the different assessing standard of thermal comfort in rural and urban zone, even the two different sites are in the same climate zone, thus help to improve energy efficiency in rural regions of China.

Stratification, Entrepreneurial Choice and Income Growth: The Moderating Role of Subnational Marketization in an Emerging Economy

In this study, we examine the moderating role of subnational institutions (marketization) in the relationship between social stratification, on the one hand, and entrepreneurial choice and income growth, on the other. Our analyses, using data from 5,581 individual-wave observations from nine provincial regions in rural China, across six data collection waves, show that: (1) lower-class status is conducive to self-employment, while being from the upper class encourages individuals to become employers; (2) compared to their middle-class counterparts, both upper- and lower-class entrepreneurs enjoy higher levels of income growth; and (3) when subnational marketization is high, the positive effect of being upper class on selecting entrepreneurship as a career is weakened, but the effect on income growth among entrepreneurs is strengthened. We discuss the implications of our findings for theory and future research.