Trends In Rural Areas Research Articles

Risk factors for childhood drowning in rural regions of a developing country: a case–control study

Background: Descriptive epidemiological studies have shown that childhood drowning rates are higher in developing countries, with an increasing trend in rural areas. Aim: To examine risk factors associated with childhood...

The Determinants of Employment Mode in Chinese Rural Labor

Based on a household survey of Anhui Province's Fuyang County in China, this paper investigates the determinants of employment, checks the effect of human capital on income and seeks to identify the main determinants of the off-farm participation trends in rural areas with high population densities. Econometric models were constructed to evaluate the determinants and effects of human capital on circular migration, local wage employment and self-employment. The results obtained from the model demonstrate that education has no positive effect on circular migration of rural labor. However, it was shown that education has a significant effect on rural labor with high wages and steady jobs. Rural laborers always obtain off-farm jobs from family members, relatives or friends rather than on their own, demonstrating the rural labor market is not mature. It is not likely farmers that own only their own labor can get steady income in urban areas by circular migration. Compared to other factors, investment in skill training is presently low so the final solution is to increase skill training in rural areas.JEL Classification: J23, J24, R23

Mortality from external causes in Lithuania: looking for critical points in time and place

A study was undertaken to analyse trends in mortality from major external causes of death, and to detect urban/rural differences by cut points over the period of socioeconomic transition. Information on deaths from major external causes (traffic accidents, suicides, and homicides) for the 1990-2000 period was obtained from Lithuanian Department of Statistics. Mortality rates were age standardized, using the European standard, and analysed, according to (urban/rural) residence and sex. The Jointpoint analysis was used to identify the best-fitting points, wherever a statistically significant change in mortality occurred. The most critical point for external causes of mortality during the period of transition was the year 1994, when an increasing mortality trend reversed to a decreasing one. Mortality from suicides primarily caused these positive changes. Changes in mortality from traffic accidents were not significantly associated with the period under analysis. Numerous less favourable trends in rural areas, including suicide rates, traffic accidents, and homicides, are likely to stratify urban/rural health outcomes in the future. Despite a recent decline, mortality from external causes remains at an extremely high level in Lithuania. Future progress requires sustained improvements in prevention, and serious attention to external causes of death in health policy development.

Exploring the current and future role of market towns in servicing their hinterlands: a case study of Alnwick in the North East of England

Faced with the problems of access, distance and low population density, the provision of quality services to rural areas is inherently difficult. Although the role of market towns in alleviating problems in the provision of rural services has been given little consideration within the academic literature, they are currently being targeted by UK government policy. Using a case of the hinterland of Alnwick, a market town in the North East of England, this paper explores the current and future role of market towns in servicing their hinterlands. The results suggest a mutual dependence between market town services and hinterland residents and that the continuation of this relationship depends on market towns taking advantage of demographic trends in rural areas. Faced with changing demographics and the wider use of the Internet, potential is identified for ‘clawing-back’ trade from larger urban areas and creating an enhanced role for market towns. Extending the sense of belonging beyond the boundaries of the town itself will also be important in increasing patronage of town services.

Investigating trends in rural health outcomes: a research agenda

Recent research has highlighted the nature of spatial inequalities in health experience in the UK providing evidence of increasing spatial polarisation. However, these studies have tended to be largely concerned with variations in health in urban settings. Recent economic trends, particularly in the agricultural sector, have focused attention on the socio-economic status of rural populations. With a number of notable exceptions, relatively few studies have been concerned explicitly with issues of rural health. The aims of this paper are to firstly, review recent research which has begun to challenge the notion that rural populations are necessarily healthier than their urban compatriots and secondly, to identify a number of possible explanations for the trends identified in these studies. Variations are examined in relation to methodological problems, socio-economic trends in rural areas, changing accessibility to primary and secondary health care and lifestyle/behavioural factors. A research agenda is presented whereby these types of factors can be further investigated through an integrated approach to studying health variations within rural areas. Finally, the paper concludes by suggesting that more research is needed to investigate the main determinants of health experience and health status in a range of rural settings.

Fertility as an Adjustment to Risk

A curious myopia characterizes recent research on the value of children and its relation to fertility levels and trends in rural areas of developing countries. By this I mean that disproportionate theoretical and empirical attention is devoted to the costs and benefits of children to parents while the children are young. The underlying presumption is that positive discount rates pertain (giving greater weight to near-term costs and benefits than to more distant streams). Attention is directed to the time and commodity costs of child care and the labor contributions of young children to their parents' household. Change in these parameters dominates scholarly perceptions of change in the demand for children over the course of economic development. This myopia is evident in the recent National Academy of Sciences report on the determinants of fertility in developing countries. ' Consider, for example, the following passage from the summary chapter on demand for children by Lee and Bulatao:

RURAL COMMUNICABLE DISEASE PROGRAMS

The rural health officer has had his administrative problems in communicable disease control somewhat simplified in recent years by the improved organization of community groups interested in this problem. There is a trend in rural areas toward organization of many professional and lay groups on a county-wide basis and toward thinking in terms of county problems. These larger groups show improved leadership as well as a broader interest in community affairs. They encompass many fields and develop programs in the areas of education, health, recreation and other related subjects. The health officer is taking advantage of this trend to work out solutions to communicable disease problems, as well as to educate the people in his jurisdiction. MAJOR GROUPS CONCERNED IN RURAL COMMUNICABLE DISEASE CONTROL 1. The County Medical Society .—County medical societies are showing improved membership and through committees are taking an active

Social Trends in Rural Areas: Administrative Problems: (a) General Survey

Social Trends in Rural Areas: Administrative Problems: (a) General Survey