Rural Survey Research Articles

RURAL LIFE STYLE AND GENERATIONAL CHANGE IT: BABADI CLAN FROM BAKHTIARI NOMADS

In past decades, rural life had many changes and we can see result of these changes in rural life and survey process of rural life changes by study the result. According this document survey changes on rural lifestyle from bakhtiari nomads among 3 generation. In theories, used views are related to Giddens, Bourdieu, and Englehart and the conceptual space of life style was drawn. This article is a field research and it has different techniques like observation and interview for collecting data. Result of research shows that lifestyle in first generation in different fields’ like clothing and free time, doesn’t have an important change. Also it follow traditional patterns. But 2 nd generation lifestyle and especially 3 rd generation had many basic changes. So that among 3 rd generation trend to consumer lifestyle in a way it has currency in cities and using advance communication techniques seems very high. It seems that must major fact in this changes is increasing knowledge level and mass media develop that has different experience of socialize for 3 rd generation and become result of some changes in hobbies and their operation.

The financial literacy of young people:Socioeconomic status, language background, and the rural-urban chasm

In this paper we report the results of a survey of financial literacy levels among Australian secondary school students. While key issues concerning financial literacy among adolescents is fairly well known, and governments see the urgency of addressing low levels of such literacy among a vulnerable cohort, less is understood about the variation of knowledge levels among young people. In this paper we identify the gap between urban and rural survey participants in respect of their financial literacy, and attempt to locate the contrasting knowledge levels in a setting that includes socioeconomic status and language background.

Application of UAV aerophotogrammetry to base-map production in rural land survey

Application of UAV aerophotogrammetry to base-map production in rural land survey

Are smartphones smart for economic development?

Smartphones’ independence of landline networks qualifies them for communication and Internet access in rural areas of developing countries. Drawing upon rural Southeast Asian survey data, this research provides probably the first econometric indication for smartphones’ contribution to households’ income.

The Unequal Effects of the Great Depression on Rural Households in Siam, 193001934: Crisis Transmission Through International Rice Trade

The paper assesses the differential impacts of the Great Depression on different types of households in rural Siam. It uses average household province-level data based on the first two rural household economic surveys conducted in Siam to empirically exploit the variation in the pattern of rice cultivation and commercialisation across provinces, and the variation in the exposure to the global crises over time, and use the difference-in-differences as well as the fixed-effects estimations to identify the unequal impacts. The paper finds that the Great Depression, through international rice trade, significantly affected households that cultivated rice for trade more heavily than self-sufficing households, in terms of total and farm income, overall expenditure, farm investment, and debts. The findings show that the exposure to the international trade, even for a small agricultural country in the periphery, had translated into the exposure to a reduction in household economic conditions during the time of the global crisis.

Determinants for Fresh Fruit Bunch Yield among Small Scale Oil Palm Farmers: Based on Rural Survey Results in Riau Province, Indonesia

Determinants for Fresh Fruit Bunch Yield among Small Scale Oil Palm Farmers: Based on Rural Survey Results in Riau Province, Indonesia

Global variations and time trends in the prevalence of childhood myopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundEthnic and geographical differences in prevalence of childhood myopia seem to have changed over time. We aimed to quantify the variation in prevalence of childhood myopia over time, accounting for demographic and study design factors. MethodsPopulation-based surveys of myopia prevalence published in English were identified from a combination of text words for myopia (short$sight*/myopi?/myope$/refractive error$/ocular refraction), childhood (child/childhood/children/adolescent/adolescence/teenage), epidemiology (incident/incidence/prevalen*/population$/survey$) combined with the related subject headings in Medline (from Jan 1, 1950, to Feb 16, 2015), Embase (Jan 1, 1980, to Feb 16, 2015), and Web of Science (Jan 1, 1970, to Feb 16, 2015). Bayesian multilevel binomial logistic regression analyses of log-odds of myopia provided mutually adjusted associations for age, ethnicity, sex, urban versus rural setting, survey year, and study design factors. Findings143 articles (374 349 participants aged 6 months to 18 years, 74 847 cases of myopia) reported age-specific prevalence of childhood myopia in 42 countries representing nine ethnic groups between 1958 and 2014. Increase in myopia prevalence with age varied by ethnicity. East Asians showed the highest prevalence at all ages, reaching 69% (95% credible interval [CrI] 61–77) at 15 years of age (86% [79–91] among Singaporean-Chinese). In Africa, blacks had the lowest prevalence (5·5% at 15 years [3·1–9·0]). Whites had the highest prevalence at 15 years (16·7%, 10·6–24·5). Time trends in myopia prevalence were stable in whites, and increased by 23% per decade in East Asians (odds ratio 1·23, 95% CrI 1·00–1·55), with no clear evidence of time trends in other ethnic groups. In all ethnic groups, children from urban environments were more than twice as likely to be myopic as those from rural environments (2·61, 1·79–3·86). In whites and East Asians, sex differences emerged at about 9 years of age; by late adolescence girls were twice as likely as boys to be myopic. InterpretationMarked ethnic differences in age-specific prevalence of myopia exist, with significant increases in prevalence over time in East Asians. An urban environment seems to be universally associated with a high risk of myopia. Findings suggest that environmental factors have an important role in explaining ethnic variations in myopia prevalence and differences in time trends. FundingBUPA foundation.

Quantile regression analysis of health-related quality of life of rural residents in Shaanxi and its associated factors

This study aimed to apply quantile regression to study Hanzhong rural residents health survey data, explore the local distribution characteristics of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and influencing factors and present the value of quantile regression applying in analysis of HRQOL. In this cross-sectional population-based study, we evaluated the HRQOL of 2 737 subjects through filling Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). Quantile regression model was used to compare MCS and PCS scores and evaluate the associated factors. With different quantiles MCS and PCS score, the associated factors and influence degree were different. In general, the influences of marital status, educational level, physical activity, history of disease and HRQOL in the part of the percentile scores were significant. Analysis of the distribution of HRQOL of rural residents in Hanzhong and influencing factors would benefit the improvement of HRQOL of local residents.

Changes in the Prevalence of Rheumatic Diseases in Shantou, China, in the Past Three Decades: A COPCORD Study.

This study aimed to clarify changes in the prevalence of rheumatic diseases in Shantou, China, in the past 3 decades and validate whether stair-climbing is a risk factor for knee pain and knee osteoarthritis (KOA). The World Health Organization-International League Against Rheumatism Community Oriented Program for Control of Rheumatic Diseases (COPCORD) protocol was implemented. In all, 2337 adults living in buildings without elevators and 1719 adults living in buildings with elevators were surveyed. The prevalence of rheumatic pain at any site and in the knee was 15.7% and 10.2%, respectively; both types of pain had a significantly higher incidence in residents of buildings without elevators than was reported by people who lived in buildings with elevators (14.9% vs. 10.6% and 11.32% vs. 8.82%, respectively) (both P < 0.0001). The prevalence of rheumatic pain in the neck, lumbar spine, shoulder, elbow, and foot was 5.6%, 4.5%, 3.1%, 1.4%, and 1.8%, respectively; these findings were similar to the data from the 1987 rural survey, but were somewhat lower than data reported in the urban and suburban surveys of the 1990s, with the exception of neck and lumbar pain. The prevalence of KOA, gout, and fibromyalgia was 7.10%, 1.08%, and 0.07%, respectively, and their prevalence increased significantly compared with those in previous studies from the 20th century. There were no significant differences in the prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (0.35%) or ankylosing spondylitis (AS) (0.31%) compared to that reported in prior surveys. The prevalence of KOA was higher in for residents of buildings without elevators than that in those who had access to elevators (16–64 years, 5.89% vs. 3.95%, P = 0.004; 16->85 years, 7.64% vs. 6.26%, P = 0.162). The prevalence of RA and AS remained stable, whereas that of KOA, gout, and fibromyalgia has increased significantly in Shantou, China, during the past 3 decades. Stair-climbing might be an important risk factor for knee pain and KOA.

Live Poultry Exposure and Public Response to Influenza A(H7N9) in Urban and Rural China during Two Epidemic Waves in 2013-2014.

BackgroundThe novel influenza A(H7N9) virus has caused 2013 spring and 2013–2014 winter waves of human infections since its first emergence in China in March 2013. Exposure to live poultry is a risk factor for H7N9 infection. Public psychobehavioral responses often change during progression of an epidemic.MethodsWe conducted population-based surveys in southern China to examine human exposure to live poultry, and population psychological response and behavioral changes in the two waves. In Guangzhou, an urban area of Guangdong province, we collected data using telephone surveys with random digit dialing in May-June 2013 and again in December 2013 to January 2014. In Zijin county, a rural area of the same province, we used door-to-door surveys under a stratified sampling design in July 2013 and again in December 2013 to January 2014. All responses were weighted by age and sex to the respective adult populations.FindingsAround half of the urban respondents (53.8%) reported having visited LPMs in the previous year in the first survey, around double that reported in the second survey (27.7%). In the rural surveys, around half of the participants reported raising backyard poultry in the past year in the first survey, increasing to 83.2% participants in the second survey. One third of urban subjects supported the permanent closure of LPMs in the first and second surveys, and factors associated with support for closure included female sex, higher level of worry towards H7N9, and worry induced by a hypothetical influenza-like illness.ConclusionsOur study indicated high human exposure to live poultry and low support for permanent closure of markets in both urban and rural residents regardless of increased worry during the epidemic.

English

PURPOSE: To estimate the prevalence of blindness due to posterior segment disorders which include diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment, age related macular degeneration in rural area in central India of Wardha District. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Multistage Cluster sampling method was used. Sample size was calculated to be 1400. Door to door examination of 100 people aged 40 years, in each cluster. Demographic information with relevant history, visual acuity, anterior segment examination including AC depth was seen by torch light. Intraocular pressure, and fundus examination for posterior segment patients was done using direct ophthalmoscope. OBSERVATIONS AND RESULTS: Out of 2800 eyes of 1400 individuals, posterior segment disorders were diagnosed in 31 eyes which include Diabetic retinopathy, ARMD and retinal detachment. The Prevalence of Blindness due to Diabetic Retinopathy is 0.035% in 2800 eyes. The Prevalence of blindness due to ARMD in eyes was 0.07%. The prevalence of Blindness due to Retinal Detachment in eye was 0.035%. CONCLUSION: Population based data on the magnitude of disease is essential to plan for required services. This was a population based survey in which door to door examination was done. But Slit lamp biomicroscopy or indirect ophthalmoscopy were not done as they were not feasible in rural survey setup. Therefore, the total prevalence reported may be underestimated.

Status of Rural Electrification in India, Energy Scenario and People's Perception of Renewable Energy Technologies

ABSTRACTEnergy is at the heart of most critical economic, environmental and developmental issues facing the world today. Clean, efficient, affordable and reliable energy services are indispensable for global prosperity. Several local and global factors, including climate change, population increase and future energy security are the driving factors to the desire for universal access to renewable energy technologies. Social attitudes and lack of knowledge and awareness are major challenges to overcome, to successfully introduce low carbon technologies as a sustainable alternative to more traditional means of energy provision. This article presents a review of the status of rural electrification in India and decentralized renewable energy technology options. The work details different initiatives taken by the government of India for electrification of villages and steps taken to promote decentralized energy generation technologies. The study includes the results of a rural energy survey conducted in a typic...

What drives the willingness to pay for crop insurance against extreme weather events (flood and drought) in Pakistan? A hypothetical market approach

Pakistan has become a poster child for extreme weather events such as floods and droughts in recent years. The frequency and severity of these events are expected to increase in the future due to predicted climatic changes. This scenario suggests the likelihood of increased crop damage in flood- or drought-prone areas, and hence the need for risk-reducing mechanisms. This paper attempts to determine whether crop insurance is an acceptable tool against flood and drought events in rural Pakistan. It also analyses the factors influencing a farmer's willingness to pay insurance premiums. In a rural farm-household survey, farmers were asked about their willingness to pay for a hypothetical crop insurance programme employing a “double-bounded dichotomous contingent valuation method”. The results revealed that around 30% of the respondents accepted the idea of crop insurance as a tool to reduce and mitigate the financial risks associated with floods and droughts. Our findings suggest that the frequency and severity of the previous weather-related extremes, socio-economic settings, farm typology and the farming communities’ ability to pay need to be taken into consideration when introducing crop insurance programmes against flood or drought in Pakistan. Furthermore, disseminating awareness among farming communities about the future climatic changes and the associated risks of the occurrence of extreme weather events is imperative. The government's willingness to share/subsidize insurance premiums may increase the demand for crop insurance among smallholders in Pakistan and protect them from the negative repercussions of these extreme weather events in order to sustain their livelihoods.

Decomposition of gender differentials in agricultural productivity in Ethiopia

This paper employs decomposition methods to analyze differences in agricultural productivity between male and female land managers in Ethiopia. It employs data from the 2011-2012 Ethiopian Rural Socioeconomic Survey. An overall 23.4 percent gender differential in agricultural productivity is estimated at the mean in favor of male land managers, of which 10.1 percentage points are explained by differences in land manager characteristics, land attributes, and unequal access to resources (the endowment effect). The remaining 13.4 percentage points are explained by unequal returns to productive components, but cannot be easily tied to specific covariates. These results are mainly driven by non-married female managers (mainly single and divorced). Married female managers do not display such disadvantages. Further analysis along the productivity distribution reveals that gender differentials are more pronounced at mid-levels of productivity and that the share of the gender gap explained by the endowment effect declines as productivity increases. Detailed decomposition of estimates at selected points of the agricultural productivity distribution provides valuable information for policy intervention purposes.

Ecological and landscape issues in the "beautiful countryside" campaign and the recommended solutions - based on the results of a nationwide rural environmental questionnaire survey.

“美丽乡村”创建活动正在全国范围内开展，了解不同地域乡村生态景观存在的问题，有利于针对性地促进“美丽乡村”的建设。通过对全国范围内1107个村庄进行的生态景观问卷调研，评价了不同地域乡村村庄生态景观建设方面存在的问题。结果显示，（1）调研乡村对自身发展各方面的评价均不理想，仅“民生和谐”达到满意程度，乡村旅游发展不满意程度最高；乡村特色缺失严重，产业发展、经济建设和生态环境方面有待改善；（2）乡村居民点空心化已成为普遍现象，可作为乡村景观建设的潜在资源；（3）村庄污水排放、垃圾处理和村庄绿化方面均有待改善；（4）农田沟路林渠生态景观基础设施存在绿化不足、过度硬化、沟渠废弃、林网不完善、缺乏管理等问题；（5）各地区间比较，华东地区在乡村生态景观建设方面情况最好。针对这些问题，应从开展乡村景观特征评价、治理居民点空心化、加强村庄人居环境和景观建设、创新农田基础设施管护制度、加快乡村生态景观和生态修复工程技术研发和应用几个方面来综合解决。

The Impact of Transparency on Quality of Health Service Delivery in Bangladesh: Findings of a Field Survey of Rural and Urban Health Service Organisations

Bangladesh has gained a glorious achievement in the quantitative reduction of maternal and child mortality in the recent past. But, the quality health service delivery still needs much improvement. This is considered as a big challenge facing the Government of Bangladesh in general and the agencies providing health care services to the people. This study endeavours to explore how organisational management, electronic devices, socio-economic and political factors impact on transparency in delivering good quality health care. This study selects two health service organisations of rural and urban areas for understanding the issues surrounding transparency and quality health service provision. This study used 68 in-depth interviews and five focus group discussions for gathering the required data. The urban health service organisation provides slightly improved transparent health care delivery because of better physical communication, adequate supervision and participative civil society organisation. However, general community has limited participation to both the rural and the urban health service organisations for lack of their education, poverty and bureaucratic mis-management in the organisations. Electronic devices contribute significantly for promoting transparent health service delivery, although resource constraints have posed a big challenge. Inadequate transparency contributes to corruption and absenteeism of health professionals which has an impact on quality health care provision. Participation of local elected representatives through adequate decentralisation and strengthening information management system in health care organisations can improve transparency and quality health service delivery.

Food composition data updated

Food composition data updated

Hitler’s Effect on Wildlife in Nebraska: World War II and Farmed Landscapes

Hitler’s Effect on Wildlife in NebraskaWorld War II and Farmed Landscapes Larkin Powell (bio) Key Words agriculture, crops, landscape change, livestock, Great Plains Rural mail carriers in Nebraska have been counting ring-necked pheasants and other wildlife for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission since 1951. These data are the longest bits of information of which I am aware for wildlife in our state. The long-term trend is not positive, often causing hunters to ask what happened to pheasants in Nebraska (Fig. 1). If we investigate the history of our landscapes, the answer to that question becomes clear: we have changed the landscape in Nebraska. Human brains, as it turns out, have limited abilities to retain and assess long-term trends. Scientists who study this phenomenon are lumped into the field of “landscape perception,”1 and they suggest that humans are good at realizing trends that happen over relatively short time periods (between five and ten years, perhaps). But we often are oblivious to patterns of change that occur even within the span of our lifetime. And it is certainly hard for us to pull information together to realize patterns that happen over several generations. Engage any farmer or rancher in Nebraska, and he or she can tell you about the “good old days” of large numbers of pheasants in eastern Nebraska or prairie-chickens in the Sandhills. Keep asking them questions, and you will find them to be a great source of information about changes that occurred in row-crop agriculture or ranching from their grandparents’ generation to theirs. As they talk, farmers may begin to remember more details about how their farm looked when their father sold it to them. You may hear them say, “You know, I do remember that we had a lot more plum thickets in our fencerows back then!” After deeper conversation with farmers, they begin to connect the changes that happened on the landscape to the changes in populations of [End Page 1] pheasant or northern bobwhite. It is that final connection—between long-distance changes of one thing (habitat, in this case) and the current state of another thing (pheasant or quail population size in their neighborhood) that is hard for the human brain to make, the social scientists tell us. Thus, there is a role for the historian of landscapes—to document trends and help us make connections between the past and our present. Click for larger view View full resolution Fig. 1. Rural mail carrier survey data for ring-necked pheasants in Nebraska. Population trends are reported as number of pheasants seen per distance driven. Data courtesy of Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Photo insert of ring-necked pheasant is available in the public domain. Nebraskans are not the only ones who have kept records of wildlife populations. One longterm data set that may be useful to our conversation is the record of another pheasant-like bird, the gray partridge, in southern England (Fig. 2). The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust maintains these records, which go back to 1826. The last portion of their data—from 1951 to the present—can be compared to the pheasant data from Nebraska. The data from England suggest a similar downward trend in the population of a bird that, like the pheasant, inhabits farmed landscapes comparable to those in eastern Nebraska. The Trust has pieced together story to explain the records: There are large annual fluctuations, most probably linked to weather. Indeed, the [End Page 2] collapse of bags in 1869 corresponds to the coldest year on record since 1740. Despite large swings from year to year, the underlying pattern (green line) charts the rise in popularity of this gamebird during the first half of the 19th century and its heyday during the second half of that century up to the First World War. The high average bags reflect the high densities arising from the extensive mixed agriculture that developed especially after the repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846, the ruthless elimination of predators by private gamekeepers and improvements in shotgun design. Partridge bags remained high until the Second World War, but declined thereafter, especially after the introduction of herbicides...

Epidemiology of diabetes and impaired fasting glucose in a rural community of Nigerian niger delta region

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus is reaching epidemic rates globally. It had an estimated global incidence of 220 million in 2010. Different studies in SSA and Nigeria in particular have reported increasing prevalence of diabetes in the rural areas. This may be attributed to the rapid 'westernization' of lifestyle in the rural African community.Only few rural survey have been conducted in the Nigeria oil-rich Niger Delta region necessitating this study with the aim of determining the prevalence of diabetes and impaired fasting glucose (IFG). This was a cross-sectional survey involving 500 subjects aged 15 years and above in a typical rural community of Rivers State, Niger Delta region of Nigeria. A questionnaire administered by face-to-face interview was used to assess socio-demographic characteristics of the subjects. Medical history such as prior knowledge of blood sugar status and family history of diabetes were all elicited by the questionnaire. Anthropometric and blood pressure measurements were taken in a standardized manner and body mass indices (BMI) calculated as weight in kilogram divided by the square of height in meters. Venous blood glucose was measured by the glucose oxidase method. Diabetes mellitus was defined using fasting plasma glucose (FPG) ≥ 7.0 mmol/l (126 mg/dl) and individuals who were previously known to have diabetes based on history of treatment were also classified to have diabetes. Lipid profile and uric acid of patients were also checked. There were 156 males and 344 females with male to female ratio of 1:2.3.The females were relatively of younger age than the males (40.62 ± 16.6 years versus 42.84 ± 17.8).The overall mean age was 41.32 ± 17. The mean fasting plasma glucose among those with diabetes was 11.14?4. 00mmol/L while the mean for the subjects with impaired fasting glucose was 6.31 ± 0.25 mmol/l. The prevalence of diabetes was 2.2% with no significant gender difference (2.6% in males versus 2.0% in females; χ2 = 0.35; p = 0.84). The prevalence of Impaired fasting glucose (IFG) was 2.4%with no significant gender difference (Female 2.6% versus males 1.9%; p = 0.88). The mean fasting glucose increased significantly with blood pressure (p = 0.05), waist circumference (p < 0.001), uric acid level (0.02), triglyceride level (< 0.001) and age (p = 0.02).The correlation analyses showed that age, systolic blood pressure, waist-hip-ratio and triglycerides are positively correlated with diabetes and impaired fasting glucose in this study. There is a low prevalence of diabetes and IFG in this rural community which may be associated to the high level of physical activity found among the study subjects in this community. However, this study confirmed that increasing age, abdominal obesity, systolic blood pressure and triglyceride level have positive relationship with the prevalence of diabetes and IFG. There is hence more need for intensified screening for diabetes, pre-diabetes and associated risk factors in order to curb or at least reduce diabetes prevalence and its attendant complications.

Agri-business Potentiality in Arecanut Processing: A Study in the North Bengal Districts of West Bengal

The study explore the agribusiness opportunity and employment pattern of green Arecanut processing based on primary data created from 215 processing plants from Jalpaiguri and 100 processing plants from Cooch Behar districts of West Bengal. Both Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and survey methods were adopted to elicit information. It revealed that most of the processing plants were run by the owners’ of the land either as sole processor or in partnership. In later case usually the educated rural youths took part in joint venture by providing land and sharing finance with well experienced working counterpart. About two-third of plants remain under single ownership indicating participation and predominance of marginal processor. About 23.26% of plants in Jalpaiguri stand on leased land providing commercial expansion of the business. The highest volume of business is mainly concentrated in February to March due to availability of raw materials and the demand of processed grade item like ‘Tipni’, ‘Sagar’ and ‘Rota’. Average annual employment generated from a optimum size plant operating average 625 qtls of green nut per season was found 914 mandays of which 28.80% were female. Among the different operations, highest mandays (34.54%) was required for sun drying followed by de-husking (16.79%) and preparation of Tipni grade (10.10%) and for establishing the said plant initial average fixed investment was 79270.00 which requires the attention to understand on scale of finance. The said agribusiness may be taken as a policy option for the generation of income and employment in particularly in group approach.