Rural Women Research Articles

"We all think boots are meant for men": A community-based participatory assessment of rural women's barriers to preventing podoconiosis in Rwanda.

Podoconiosis is a debilitating neglected tropical disease (NTD) that is possibly caused by prolonged exposure to irritant alkaline clay soil. It is endemic to East Africa and disproportionately affects rural female farmers. The condition can be prevented through foot hygiene and regular wearing of protective shoes. In Rwanda, there is limited information on the factors impacting rural female farmers' access to and utilization of boots while farming. Therefore, this community-based participatory study was conducted to explore the cultural, economic, and ergonomic factors affecting rural farmers' use of protective footwear. Sixteen audio-recorded focus group discussions were conducted with female and male farmers in four villages with the highest podoconiosis prevalence across four provinces of Rwanda. Transcripts were coded inductively using Dedoose (version 9.0.86) and analyzed through thematic content analysis. Participants expressed that wearing shoes protects against diseases and injuries but ability to afford a pair of protective footwear was a major barrier to accessing and wearing them. There were differences in women and men's shoe-wearing behaviors while farming, largely driven by the fact that women who wear boots face rumors and backlash. Findings highlight barriers hindering effective podoconiosis prevention among rural female farmers in Rwanda. Opportunities exist to strengthen podoconiosis and NTD prevention programs, through the integration of gender into existing community-based interventions and the inclusion of local communities into the co-designing of contextualized interventions.

Abstract PO1-08-03: Using Telehealth to Establish a High Risk Cancer Prevention Clinic over a large Geographic Area

Abstract There are health disparities in breast cancer screening based on urban, rural or frontier geographic designations. For instance, in Utah, the percentage of women who had no mammography in the last two years was 33.5% for urban, 33.8% for rural and 40.4% for frontier designations. Rural women are also diagnosed with breast cancer at later stages. Diagnosing breast cancer at earlier stages leads to improved survival, more affordable care, less toxic treatments, better quality of life and less time away from home and work. We are presenting the innovative use of telehealth to establish a High Risk Cancer Prevention Clinic to effectively reach a large geographic area and mitigate obstacles to accessing care. The clinic's mission is to identify and care for individuals with increased cancer risk due to familial, genetic and/or high risk lesions. This initiative provides centralized comprehensive evaluation, counseling and screening planning as well as referral for risk-reducing interventions closer to home. With a collaborative approach involving surgical and medical oncology, genetics, radiology and women's health specialists, the teleclinic has successfully served 280 patients since Spring 2022. Recently our health care system has increased significantly in geographic reach due to mergers with other health systems. We think this teleclinic is nimble enough and easily scalable to accommodate caring for increased numbers of patients needing this service. Citation Format: Maricel Purcell, Teresa Reading, Ginger Lee, Jennifer Tittensor, Margaret VanMeter. Using Telehealth to Establish a High Risk Cancer Prevention Clinic over a large Geographic Area [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO1-08-03.

"Pleasure to Pain?" The Impact of the COVID-19 Lockdown on Sexual Violence in Marriages: Experiences of Rural Ghanaian Women.

In many parts of the world, particularly in rural areas, sexual violence remains a serious issue. However, cultural orientations urge women to be submissive and obedient sexual partners in marriages. Hence, during COVID-19 lockdowns, when women were thought to be sexually assaulted most, this study used a chain referral sample technique to recruit 20 married rural Ghanaian women to examine their lived experiences of sexual violence. The study established that rural culture denies women sexual autonomy in marriages and offers husbands unrestricted access to their wives' bodies. Sexual violence becomes predominant and unbearable for rural wives during lockdown.

Gendering Toxic Contamination: Toxic Risks, Bodies, and Pregnancies in Gold Mining and Coca Farming Communities in the Bajo Cauca Region

AbstractThis paper investigates women's everyday reproductive struggles in contexts of toxic contamination and the tensions emerging between toxic exposure and care in women's experiences of motherhood. While scientific framings of reproductive disruptions understand social identities as pre‐existing the experience of toxic risks, in this paper I argue that, in toxic territories, the categories of “contaminating” and “contaminated” actors interact with other categories of identity, such as gender and race, shaping social relations. Drawing on 13 months of ethnographic fieldwork conducted in the Bajo Cauca region among gold mining and coca farming communities, I investigate the everyday processes of gendered subject formation that unfold in toxic territories and the emergence of “faulty” gendered identities for rural mothers. Building on scholarship in feminist geography and Latin American feminist science and technology studies, I argue that ineffective forms of integration of gender in the institutional debate on toxic contamination reproduce, rather than challenge, the invisibility of rural women before the state.

Bridging Horizons: Exploring STEM Students’ Perspectives on Service-Learning and Storytelling Activities for Community Engagement and Gender Equality

This study explores STEM students’ perspectives on service-learning and story-telling activities to enhance community engagement and advance gender equality, investigating their impact on students’ perceptions, experiences, and understanding of gender dynamics within rural communities. Through qualitative analysis of interviews, reflective journals, and participatory videos, this study explores the transformative potential of service-learning and storytelling initiatives in empowering rural women, challenging traditional societal roles, and advocating for equal opportunities, particularly in STEM disciplines. Findings reveal the multifaceted benefits of these activities, including the development of empathy, cultural awareness, leadership skills, and a commitment to social justice among participating students. This study highlights the importance of integrating service-learning and storytelling into STEM education to cultivate inclusive practices, promote community development, and advance gender equality in rural settings.

Entrepreneurial Barriers among Rural Women in Badin, Pakistan

Women’s entrepreneurship has emerged as a catalyst for economic growth and social progress in developing economies. However, despite their potential, women face multifaceted barriers that hinder their entrepreneurial aspirations and business success. So, the purpose of this research is to explore the barriers to a woman’s intention to starting a new business in the rural context. Using a quantitative approach, primary data is to be collected through self-administered questionnaires from a sample of 385 women from two administrative districts of rural Sindh, Pakistan. For aspiring women entrepreneurs this research has the potential to provide insights into the opportunities and obstacles that women business owners in Pakistan encounter, as well as for policy makers and NGOs, it can provide direction for the development of specific interventions to overcome these obstacles. This paper focuses on examining the relationship between the four barriers, family support, patriarchal culture, entrepreneurship education, and financial barriers, and entrepreneurial intention of rural women of Badin, Pakistan, with mediating effects of self-efficacy and moderating effect of marital status, which have not been studied before, making it original and valuable to the existing literature.

The Influence of COVID-19 on Young Women's Labor Market Aspirations and Expectations in India

Youth unemployment and gender gaps in labor market outcomes are key policy challenges across developing countries. Young job seekers may struggle to find jobs because of their biased beliefs and unrealistic aspirations about the labor market. We study whether exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the labor market aspirations and expectations of female vocational students in Haryana, India. We find that exposure to the pandemic lowered young women's wage aspirations and made them more realistic, especially in rural areas. A potential mechanism for these effects is the decline in rural women's willingness to migrate for work due to the pandemic.

Screening for Lung Cancer in India: Expert Opinion Statement.

Lung cancer (LC) has the highest rate of disability-adjusted life years (DALY) of all cancers in India. A large majority of patients with LC present with advanced disease, resulting in poor survival rates. Early diagnosis can improve survival outcomes as the patients can be treated with curative intent. The National Lung Screening Trial (NLST), in 53,454 persons at high risk for LC in the US, showed a 20% (95% confidence interval of 6.8-26.7; p = 0.004) relative reduction in LC-specific mortality in the patients screened with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) compared with chest X-ray. To date, India does not have a formal LC screening (LCS) program. As a panel of experts, we reviewed a synthesis of a targeted literature search on the burden of LC, the current status of diagnosis of LC, barriers to early diagnosis, current referral pathways, LC risk patterns, use of artificial intelligence (AI) and risk calculators for risk assessment, and a multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach to diagnosis LC. We used the existing international LCS guidelines, data from published literature, and clinical experience to depict the characteristics of the population at risk of LC in India-young age (<40 years), smoking, especially the predominance of bidi smoking (an indigenous form of tobacco smoking), exposure to biomass fuel smoke, especially in rural women, and air pollution being the prominent features. LC in India is characterized by a higher rate of driver mutations and adenocarcinomatous histology. Here, we present the expert opinion on risk-based LCS in India and discuss the challenges, facilitators, and research priorities for the effective rollout of LCS in India.

Empowering her drive: Unveiling the resilience and triumphs of women entrepreneurs in rural landscapes

Rural women entrepreneurship plays a pivotal role in poverty eradication and inclusive development, yet many women in developing nations, including Tanzania, grapple with challenges hindering their enterprise success. This study delves into these challenges and explores resilience strategies for positive transformations. Primary data was collected from 540 women-led enterprises in the Tabora region between April and June 2022, analyzed using the One-parameter logistic, and Ordinary Robust Least Square models. The One-parameter logistic model, suited for binary outcomes, reveals nuanced challenges faced by rural women entrepreneurs, with government policy, regulatory environment, and education and training showing positive and significant relationships to discrimination, while cultural factors, infrastructure, and socioeconomic characteristics exhibit negative significant relationships. The Ordinary Robust Least Square model indicates that resilience strategies, including diversification of income streams, access to credit, skills development training, sustainable agriculture practices, and value addition programs, significantly influence women entrepreneurs' performance. These strategies empower women to overcome challenges and thrive. Conclusively, the study advocates for targeted policy interventions fostering education, financial inclusion, and sector-specific support to empower and enhance the resilience of women entrepreneurs, contributing to broader socioeconomic development.

Time to first birth and its predictors among reproductive-age women in Ethiopia: multilevel analysis using shared frailty model

ObjectiveTo determine the time to first birth and its predictors among reproductive-age women in Ethiopia.Design, setting and participantsNationwide secondary data analysis using mini Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey, 2019. A...

Technology Adoption by Rural Women: A Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2) Analysis

This article analyses the factors that affect the adoption of technology by rural women in the Umguza district of Zimbabwe. The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT2) model, provides the theoretical framework for understanding the factors that influence rural women’s adoption of technology. By situating the investigation within the UTAUT2 framework, the study seeks to offer a more refined understanding of the determinants affecting technology adoption among rural women and the implications for inclusivity. A deductive approach was used, and information was collected through a survey of 250 rural women in the 19 wards of Umguza district, as well as reviewing secondary data in the form of government, non-governmental, industry reports and scholarly articles. Regression analysis was used to draw insights into the factors influencing the adoption of technology by rural women. The study concluded that Performance Expectancy (PE), Facilitating conditions (FC), Social Influence (SI) and Effort Expectancy (EE) influence technology adoption by rural women in Zimbabwe. However, Hedonic Motivation (HM), Price Value (PV) and Habit (HT) were found not to influence the decision to adopt the technology. The results of this study help to shed light on the factors affecting technology adoption among rural women and map strategies to promote technology adoption. The recommendations from this study can provide insights to government, private sector, and civil society seeking to promote the adoption of technology by rural women and contribute to the body of research on digitalisation and adoption of technology by rural women.

Digitalisation and Economic Inclusion: Lessons from Rural Women in Umguza District Zimbabwe

Digitalisation and Economic Inclusion: Lessons from Rural Women in Umguza District Zimbabwe

WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP THROUGH PATTACHITRA AND THEIR SUSTAINABILITY IN RURAL AREAS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO RAGHURAJPUR

India obtains a recognition in world scenario due to its wealthy artistic, cultural background through its historic art and crafts. These historic art and crafts now reputedly have a prominent prospect in the global market due to their customary beauty, delicacy and legitimacy. Among all the art and crafts of India, Pattachitra of Raghurajpur, Odisha inhabited an eminent place due to its novelty, creative patterns, designs and depictions of simple ideas, usually mythological description. Earlier this artwork was confined only in Odisha and used in the devoted purposes of lord Jagannath. But at present due to new marketing technologies this artwork has outstretched each and every corner of the globe and generated a noticeable source of income for the country. The present study on, “Women Entrepreneurship through Pattachitra and their sustainability in rural areas with special reference to Raghurajpur”, is carried on in the coastal districts of Odisha focusing mainly in the village Raghurajpur. Field data were collected from 25 rural women entrepreneurs through survey cum personal interview taking into consideration their socio-economic condition, business dimension and employment opportunities created by them, problems faced, and promotional strategies adopted by them. The outcome reveals that rural women entrepreneurs play an indispensable role not only in the publicity of this rare artwork all around the globe but also furnish a lot for the whole upliftment of socio-economic situations of the rural crafts women.

Accessibility and availability of maternal and reproductive health care services: ensuring health equity among rural women in Southern India

IntroductionThe health of women is of particular concern because they often have greater health needs than men and many women still lack access to quality healthcare services, preventing their ability to attain the best possible level of health. Hence, this study aimed to assess the accessibility and availability of health services among rural women.MethodsA household survey was conducted by using a multi-stage sample with 407 married women aged 18–45 years, having at least one child and living in Tiruchirappalli District, Tamil Nadu were recruited for this study. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data about the demographic status, and accessibility and availability of health services.ResultsOf the 407 respondents, 70% were aged between 26 and 40 years, 73% were working as farmers and labourers and 77% were living in nuclear families. 71% of them had enjoyed hospital facilities near their residence and 83% of the hospitals were run by the government. In village health nurse service (VHN), 34% of the respondents had received all services from VHN and 86% did not face any kind of gender inequality and almost all of them were satisfied with the service provided by the VHN. Almost all the respondents (98%) were satisfied with the availability of health services and 92% of them benefited from the government scheme related to childbirth.ConclusionThis study showed that overall, the women were satisfied with the availability of healthcare services and reproductive health services. Moreover, almost all of them benefited from the government scheme related to childbirth.

The Influence of Education on Women and Food Security

The study analysed the influence of education on women and food security in South Africa. The methodological approach was a qualitative analysis using focus group discussions and an in-depth desktop review of relevant literature on the education system. The focus group discussions were about rural women's farming initiatives, looking at the influence of education on productivity. According to the study, educational level and farm productivity are directly correlated. The women in the focus group discussions mentioned that education and training were critical for food production and household food security. In addition, education is essential for women to imagine and implement strategies and opportunities to gain employment and move up the commodity value chain. Furthermore, a specialised curriculum in technical subjects at primary and secondary levels targeting girls was essential for establishing a strong foundation for them. Adult education, especially in primary education courses targeting women, improves women's agriculture participation. Since women are the custodians of smallholder agriculture, gender transformative approaches such as tailor-made financial and leadership support are also critical for the socio-economic development of agriculture in South Africa.

Feasibility of using bean crop residues for feeding sheep during dry season shortage: implications for economic and environmental resilience

ABSTRACT In Cuba, beans are part of the traditional gastronomy and livelihood of the people. During bean harvest, farmers generate high volumes of stubble, which they burn, thus adversely affecting soil health and organic matter, air quality, and greenhouse gas emissions. Bean harvest occurs during the dry season, a period of feed shortage for livestock, such that integrating farming and livestock production could be a way to feed and fatten sheep at little cost. We assessed the feasibility of feeding bean stubble to sheep by determining 1) volumes produced and nutritional value of stubble, 2) acceptability, performance, and carcass yields of lambs fed stubble, and 3) feasibility for this integrated farming-livestock system at local and regional levels. During harvest, 650 tons of stubble are produced in the municipality of Morón by 190 farmers, which represents a potential to feed more than 3,500 lambs, with acceptable average daily gains of 90 g per day with minimal supplementation. We thus affirm this is a viable technological practice with economic, ecological, and social implications as an acceptable alternative to burning stubble to enhance food security and livelihoods of small and medium-sized farms, while generating new employment opportunities, especially for rural women. Future studies are needed to evaluate the economic, ecological, and social impacts of this agriculture-livestock integration technology.

Rethinking community-based tourism initiatives through community development lens: A case study in Vietnam

ABSTRACT Guided by the Social Vocation of Territory (SVT) framework, this research delves into the challenges encountered by Community-Based Tourism (CBT) initiatives in Vietnam, using Quang village as a focal point. Conducted through two fieldwork expeditions spanning 2019 to 2022, the study unveils key hurdles, including elite capture, social exclusion, disruption of community solidarity, and an increased burden on rural women. Aligned with the SVT framework, these findings emphasize the potential risk of undermining social cohesion when tourism overlooks local realities and norms. This research underscores the significance of adopting a community development perspective, offering insights to assess tourism’s impact on the social fabric. The current work advocates for implementing flexible, context-conscious CBT approaches grounded in a realistic understanding of local sociocultural dynamics.

Towards gender equality in forestry, livestock, fisheries and aquaculture

The forestry, livestock, fisheries and aquaculture sectors are critical for sustaining rural livelihoods and achieving food and nutrition security around the world. Yet, these sectors are marred by significant gender and social inequalities. This review examines gender gaps in these sectors and what has worked to reduce inequalities. We show that gender norms underpin the invisibility, undervaluation, and weight of women's labor; rural women's typically limited and precarious control over resources; gender-unequal influence over decision-making and agency; and gender-blind and discriminatory policies, data systems, and governance in these sectors. We evidence the diverse and multipronged strategies that have been used to lift these barriers, from the individual-to the system-level and spanning informal to formal institutions, to promote gender equality.

A study about the impact of indoor air pollution on cognitive function among middle-aged and older adult people in India

BackgroundIn the 21st century, people still use solid fuel for cooking at home, resulting in poor indoor air quality. Prolonged exposure to such conditions may negatively affect one’s cognitive function. So, the present study examines the possible association between IAP and the cognitive function of individuals aged 45 years or above in India.MethodsThe study utilizes secondary data, procured from the longitudinal ageing study in India (2017-18). Treatment effects through regression-adjusted models were applied to represent the association between IAP and cognitive health and the results are represented by beta coefficient (β). Three separate models with a 95% confidence interval adjusting with the other factors like housing environment, individual and behavioural were framed.ResultsThe study revealed that households without a separate kitchen (β = -0.64; 95%CI: -0.90 to -0.39) and electricity (β = -0.97; 95%CI: -1.34 to -0.61) significantly affect cognitive strength. Cognitive decline is likely more pronounced among older adults (β = -1.19; 95%CI: -1.42 to -0.96) than the middle-aged population. Moreover, the cognitive ability of rural residents (β = -1.11; 95%CI: -1.49 to -0.73) and women (β = -2.05; 95%CI: -2.29 to -1.81) is negatively associated with IAP exposure. Older adults with no reading habits (β = -6.28; 95%CI: -6.72; to -5.85) and physical inactivity (β = -0.96; 95%CI: -1.22 to -0.70) had a sign of notable decline in cognitive ability.ConclusionsFindings revealed that cognitive function is negatively associated with IAP, demanding a deep intervention plan to minimize the detrimental effect.

Medical Management of Uterine Fibroids-A hope for Fertile Women!

Uterine fibroids or Myomas or Leiomyoma of uterus are the most common type of benign tumor of uterus and most common pelvic tumour in women with unclear etiology. Uterine fibroids or Myomas or Leiomyoma of uterus are the most common type of benign tumor of uterus. In India the incidence of fibroids is most common in women of 31- 40 years of age i.e. as more than 1/3 (35%) of them get affected. Recent understanding of etiology suggests increased number of estrogen and Progesterone Receptors, increased COMT gene expression and TGF-B3. Risk factors for developing fibroids are age, early age at menarche, reduced fertility, frequent caffeine consumption, obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, alcohol consumption and previous pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Rural women are at a much higher risk of uterine fibroids than urban women in India. (37.65% vs.24%) probably due to multiparty at a young age disturbing Estrogen and Progesterone Receptors. Treatment options for symptomatic uterine fibroids include medical, surgical, and radiologically guided interventions. Although curative treatment relies on surgical therapies- either myomectomy or hysterectomy, medical treatments are considered the first-line treatment to preserve fertility and avoid or delay surgery. Medical therapy is in nascent stage in India. Medical treatment must be individualized based on age, signs &amp; symptoms, sustained reduction of the size and sustenance of fertility if desired with minimal side effects. Materials and Methods: This article is based on a literature review on medical therapy being tried on a case the author is managing now. The initial results are encouraging and need to monitor the reduction of the size or volume of the Fibroid in coming months.