Use In Rural Communities Research Articles

FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF CREATING SOURCES OF SHARED WATER USE IN RURAL COMMUNITIES

The purpose of the article is to study the financial and economic aspects of creating sources of shared water use in rural communities, substantiating their feasibility, importance for providing the population with high-quality drinking water and sustainable economic growth.|The article states the fact of deterioration of water supply in rural areas both in quantitative and qualitative aspects. The way out can be seen in the solution of issues regarding the use of underground water, which is better protected than surface water resources, by increasing the number of sources of shared water supply. It has been substantiated that as a result of free water use, rural communities can receive such advantages as the improvement of the quality of drinking water, the efficiency of water resources, use the reliability, security and stability of the water supply source. The measures of financial and economic regulation of the use of groundwater, among which the diversification of funding sources for the renewal of water management infrastructure facilities, the attraction of credit and grant funds to renew the technical and technological base of water management enterprises, and to improve monitoring procedure for the extraction of groundwater from deep wells, have been systematized.The article reflects the results of a survey conducted in order to find out the opinion of the respondents regarding the sources of water intake, the presence of interruptions in the water supply of populated areas of Chernihiv Oblast, the need to create shared water use facilities in the community and the sources of funding for their creation. The vast majority of respondents have reported that in their communities they use wells, their own boreholes and there are interruptions in water supply, there are problems with wells drying up.

Exploring Water Source Preferences and Agricultural Water Use in Rural Communities in the Changing Climate in Yobe State

In the face of a changing climate, rural communities in Yobe State, Nigeria, are experiencing increased water scarcity, impacting agricultural productivity and livelihoods. Despite the abundance of studies on rural water use, gaps remain in understanding the interplay between economic factors, traditions, and agricultural practices in shaping these preferences and utilization. Therefore, this study investigates water source preferences and agricultural water use among rural households in Yobe State, examining the implications of climate change on these dynamics. A mixed-methods approach combining surveys, interviews, and focus groups was employed to collect data from 300 rural households. Statistical Analysis, such as logit, and multinomial regressions were used for the data analysis. Results show that rural households prefer traditional water sources like rivers and wells over modern sources like boreholes and piped water. However, climate change has altered the reliability and quality of these traditional sources, forcing households to adapt their water use strategies. The study reveals a significant shift towards groundwater use for irrigation, increasing the risk of over-extraction and land degradation. The findings highlight the need for climate-resilient water management strategies, improved water infrastructure, and sustainable agricultural practices to ensure food security and livelihood resilience in rural Yobe State. This research contributes to understanding the complex relationships between water sources, agricultural water use, and climate change in rural communities, informing policy and interventions to support climate adaptation and sustainable development.

Islamic Law in the Rule of Sadd Adz-Dzari'ah on the Transfer of Agricultural Land Function to Housing in Grobogan

This research provides an in-depth exploration of Islamic legal aspects related to the conversion of agricultural land into residential areas, with a focus on the principle of Sadd Adz-Dzari'ah. This principle serves as the primary foundation for the research, playing a crucial role in regulating the land transformation process and establishing legal boundaries that must be adhered to. Through a case study conducted in the Grobogan Regency, this research aims to evaluate the application of the Sadd Adz-Dzari’ah principle in the context of agricultural land conversion. The research methodology employs a qualitative approach, utilizing in-depth interviews and document analysis. The collected data is analyzed using content analysis techniques to identify patterns and key themes related to the implementation of the Sadd Adz-Dzari’ah principle in land conversion. The main objectives of this study include gaining a profound understanding of the principle, evaluating its implementation in the conversion of agricultural land to residential areas in Grobogan Regency, analyzing the social, economic, and environmental impacts of the land-use changes, and presenting policy recommendations to enhance justice and sustainability, considering Islamic values. The research found that Islam with its sadd adz-dzariyat concept does not prohibit the conversion of agricultural land into housing as long as it provides maslahat for the community and is carried out based on existing statutory provisions and instead encourages the utilization of agricultural land for various purposes so that the land is not neglected and eventually dies without being utilized. Thus, this research is expected to significantly contribute to understanding the relevance and implementation of the Sadd Adz-Dzari’ah principle in the context of changing land use in rural communities. It also aims to provide a foundation for better policies aligned with Islamic values.

Factors Influencing Smokeless Tobacco Use in Rural Communities of Bangladesh

Smokeless tobacco, SLT is a tobacco product used for chewing, sniffing, placing between teeth and gum. The situation and tradition of SLT use, influential personal and socio-cultural factors and awareness about harmful effect were observed from 552 SLT users using a semi-structured questionnaire for comparative analysis. Rural communities were selected in 2-districts where tobacco is cultivated traditionally (Kushtia) and tobacco is not cultivated (Khulna). Respondents’ mean age was 48.6±14.4 and about half without any formal education. Most of the respondents (92%) use SLT daily and among them three-fourths were the user of zarda followed by gul and sadapata. More number of respondents in Khulna use gul (27.9%) than Kushtia (20.7%), reversely sadapata is used more in Kushtia (22.1%) compared to Khulna (11.9%). Almost half of the respondent’s (45.7%) parents and wives (41.7% and 32.6% respectively) were more likely to use SLT in Kushtia (37.0%) than in Khulna (30.0%). Only 13.0% of the respondents were influenced to intake SLT by their family members. The reasons behind consuming SLT as mentioned by the respondents in Khulna are to reduce depression (32.7%), remove mouth odor (27.7%) and control vomiting (19.8%). Irrespective of the locations, almost half of the respondents (47.3%) were influenced by social factors such as peer group (79.3%) and gossiping partners (64.4%). It was also noted that, 95.8% of the respondents offer SLT to the guests during the wedding ceremony. A good portion of the respondents (84.6%) believe that SLT has harmful effects as they got such information from product cover (31.7%), medical professionals (23.6%) and television (14.1%). About 40% of the respondents believe that cancer may be caused by regular consumption of SLT, though yet they use SLT for the remedy from toothache and gum pain (31.9%), on peer pressure (28.6%) and for amusement only (10.1%). It could be concluded that, the use of SLT in the study areas is at an alarming level which should be noticed by the concerned authority to control the promotional activities and to imposing restrictions on the availability of SLT as traditional items. South Asian J. Agric., Vol. 9, No.1&2, 2022-‘23: 11-21

Selection of a diagnostic tool for microbial water quality monitoring and management of faecal contamination of water sources in rural communities

The aim of the current study was to evaluate, validate and select microbial water quality monitoring tools to establish their suitability and feasibility for use in rural communities. The monitoring of water quality was performed at three different levels: i) basic level focusing on sanitary inspection and hydrogen sulphide (H2S) test; ii) intermediate level via enumeration of faecal indicator bacteria (faecal coliforms, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus spp. and Clostridium perfringens); and iii) advanced level based on qPCR detecting host-associated genetic markers (BacHum, BacCow, Cytb, Pig-2-Bac, and BacCan) and pathogens (Vibrio cholerae, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli). A positive correlation was recorded between sanitary risk and faecal coliforms (r = 0.613 and p < 0.002), E. coli (r = 0.589 and p < 0.003), and Enterococcus spp. (r = 0.625 and p < 0.003). The H2S test showed positive correlations with sanitary risk score (r = 0.623; p < 0.003), faecal coliforms (r = 0.809; p < 0.001), E. coli (r = 0.779; p < 0.001) and Enterococcus spp. (r = 0.799; p < 0.001). Similar correlation patterns were also found with advanced techniques used for detecting host-associated genetic markers, excepted between Clostridium perfringens, and Pig-2-Bac (pig), BacCan (dog), and V. cholerae. The H2S test and sanitary inspections are therefore suitable and cost-effective tools to capacitate rural areas at household level for the monitoring of faecal contamination and management of water sources.

A bucket sand filter and Moringa Oleifera drinking water treatment hybrid system for rural households

The Bucket filter (BF) is a modification of the conventional BioSand filter (CBSF) meant to make it more adaptable for use in rural communities. Unfortunately, it has a low microbial efficiency compared to the CBSF. This paper explored the potential of integrating Moringa Oleifera with the bucket filter by creating a hybrid system that would work as efficiently as the CBSF but lower in cost and lighter in weight. Four filters, including BF, CBSF, Moringa High dose (125 mg/l) bucket filter (MUBFHigh) and Moringa Low dose (75 mg/l) bucket filter (MUBFLow) were set up. For 91 days, they were evaluated for turbidity, pH, organic matter and E. coli. Results indicate that the MUBFHigh system had an E. coli removal efficiency of 81–98%, which was comparable to the CBSF. MUBFHigh also yielded water that met the WHO guidelines for turbidity, organic matter and pH although the pH was slightly lower than the initial water. The MUBFHigh also weighed between 15 and 20 kg compared to 230 kg for the CBSF. The initial cost of the CBSF was more than double the cost of the MUBFHigh system. Although more work is needed to operationalize the filter, this study provides a baseline for future research.

Declining trend of tobacco use in a rural community of Bangladesh: Results of eight years of community interventions

Tobacco use in Bangladesh has been high, but there is no report on community-level intervention to reduce tobacco use. The aim of this article is to report the experience of eight years of community intervention to reduce tobacco use in a rural area of Bangladesh. We have done four householdbased surveys (2006, 2008, 2012, and 2014) in Ekhlaspur village of Chandpur district. One man and one woman aged ≥18 years from each of 600 households were selected for each survey randomly to monitor tobacco use in this village concomitant with community interventions. The intervention package included yard meetings, health facility-based counselling, observance of the world no-tobacco days, and periodic lectures in schools. Chi-square for linear trend analysis was done to examine declining trends of prevalence of tobacco use. There were 953 to 1015 participants, approximately half being men in each survey. Their mean age was 44 to 45 years in all surveys. A decline in tobacco use has been observed from 58.8 in 2006 to 43.4% in 2014 (Ptrend=0.000). There has not been any perceivable change in smoking in women because it was either zero or close to zero across surveys. A similar trend was observed in age groups, educational achievements, and hypertension (Ptrend=0.000). Smoking in men declined from 58.3 to 35.2% (Ptrend= 0.000). Community interventions in a sustainable manner can reduce tobacco use in rural communities of Bangladesh. BSMMU J 2022; 15(3): 157-161

Need and Potential Use of Telemedicine in Two Rural Areas

ABSTRACT Using technology as a way to ensure Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) as an option for older adults in rural areas is of increasing interest as a result of the pandemic. Literature suggests older adults do not adopt telehealth and/or medicine practices due to barriers and do not use telemedicine as a form of communication with medical staff. This study evaluates the potential for telehealth/medicine use in rural communities through two case studies of older persons (N = 176) age 65+ aging in place in the Eastern Plains of Colorado (n = 88) and rural Western Nebraska (n = 88). Demographic data collection is followed by nominal data collection (yes/no) for telehealth exposure, use, and potential. Two separate open-ended, qualitative questions seeking further details are subsequently asked. Results from the convenience sample indicate that the main themes emanating from older persons responding to telehealth/medicine interview questions include support for its potential use with some using teleconferencing, health portals, along with the expectation that telehealth/medicine would be part of new health care systems. These findings provide evidence that older adults residing in rural areas need to be trained with a certain set of technology skills, which allows for the breaking of barriers toward the use and recognized value of telemedicine. Agencies supporting rural older adults must emphasize this form of training within the framework of service offerings especially for the older adult who has poor technological capacity. Lack of awareness for such services inhibits service use, thereby impacting overall well-being.

A Telehealth Diabetes Intervention for Rural Populations: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

BackgroundDiabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) is a crucial component of diabetes care associated with improved clinical, psychosocial, and behavioral outcomes. The American Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists, the American Diabetes Association, and the American Academy of Family Physicians all recommend DSMES yet accessing linguistically and culturally appropriate DSMES is challenging in rural areas. The Diabetes One-Day (D1D) program is an established DSMES group intervention that has not been adapted or evaluated in rural communities.ObjectiveThe specific aims of this paper are (1) to adapt the existing D1D program for use in rural communities, called rural D1D (R-D1D); and (2) to conduct a patient-level randomized controlled trial to examine the effects of R-D1D and standard patient education, guided by the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance framework.MethodsThis is a protocol for a pilot type II hybrid implementation-effectiveness trial of a culturally adapted virtual DSMES program for rural populations, R-D1D. We will use Boot Camp Translation, a process grounded in the principles of community-based participatory research, to adapt an existing DSMES program for rural populations, in both English and Spanish. Participants at 2 rural primary care clinics (4 cohorts of N=16 plus care partners, 2 in English and 2 in Spanish) will be randomized to the intervention or standard education control. The evaluation is guided by the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance framework. Patient-level effectiveness outcomes (hemoglobin A1c, diabetes distress, and diabetes self-care behaviors) will be assessed using patient-reported outcomes measures and a home A1c test kit. Practice-level and patient-level acceptability and feasibility will be assessed using surveys and interviews.ResultsThis study is supported by the National Institute of Nursing. The study procedures were approved, and the adaptation processes have been completed. Recruitment and enrollment started in July 2021.ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this will be the first study to evaluate both effectiveness and implementation outcomes for virtually delivered DSMES, culturally adapted for rural populations. This research has implications for delivery to other rural locations where access to specialty diabetes care is limited.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT04600622; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04600622International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/34255

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of parents towards antibiotic use in rural communities in Peru: a cross-sectional multicentre study

BackgroundThe inappropriate use of antibiotics significantly contributes to the development of antibiotic resistance. There is limited information about the use of antibiotics among parents from rural areas in Peru. This study aimed to describe the knowledge, attitudes and practices towards antibiotics among parents of children < 5 years of age from rural communities in Peru; to explore the association between knowledge and attitudes towards antibiotics and to explore determinants of low knowledge and self-medicating his/her child with antibiotics.MethodsCross-sectional study in six rural primary health centres in Peru using a self-administered survey. Crude and adjusted Prevalence Ratios (PR), and 95% Confidence Intervals (95% CI) were calculated to explore determinants of low knowledge and of having self-medicated his/her child with antibiotics. Linear regression was used to explore the association between knowledge and attitudes.ResultsA total of 231 parents were included. The largest gap in knowledge was among 183 parents (79%) who did not know that antibiotics cannot cure viral infections. The largest gap in attitudes was among 185 participants (80%) that did not disagree with “If I want my child to receive antibiotics, I would not be satisfied if the doctor refuses to prescribe them”. More than half of parents (n = 120, 52%) reported having self-medicated his/her child with antibiotics. A positive correlation was found between knowledge and attitudes (Coefficient 0.53, 95% CI 0.38–0.68) after adjusting for the age and the education of the parent. Parents who were < 20 years old were more likely to have low knowledge about antibiotics (crude PR 2.39, 95% CI 1.32–4.34) compared to those aged > 40 years.Parents who had self-medicated his/her child with antibiotics (n = 120, 52%) were more likely to have purchased antibiotics without prescription (aPR 2.70, 95% CI 1.74–4.19) and to have received antibiotics after the recommendation of a pharmacist (aPR 1.79, 95% CI 1.13–2.82).ConclusionsKnowledge about antibiotics among parents from rural settings in Peru is limited and highlights the need for educational interventions. Public health policies to limit the acquisition of antibiotics without prescription should be implemented.

Low-Cost Automated PV Panel Dust Cleaning System for Rural Communities

Dust accumulation on photovoltaic (PV) panels degrades PV panels’ performance; leading to decreased power output and consequently high cost per generated kilowatt. Research addressing the severity of dust accumulation on PV panels has been ongoing since the 1940s, but proposed solutions have tended to increase the cost of PV systems either from oversizing or from cleaning the system. The objective of this work, therefore, is to design and implement a low-cost affordable automated PV panel dust cleaning system for use in rural communities of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA); where financial resources are limited and significantly strained in meeting livelihood activities. Complete design and implementation details of a prototype system are provided for easy replication and capitalization on PV systems for sustainable energy needs. The system detects dust based on the innovative use of light-dependent resistors. Testing and observation of the system in operational mode reveal satisfactory performance; measured parameters quantify a power output increase of 33.76% as a result of cleaning dust off the PV panel used in the study.

Telehealth as an Element of Home and Community-Based Services in a Pandemic: An Intrinsic Case Study in Two Rural Areas

Eating a nutritious diet reduces vulnerability to common chronic diseases. Yet, older adults struggle to meet nutritional guidelines; many have found it particularly challenging to access fresh foods such as fruits and vegetables during the pandemic. Thus, it is vital to better understand how older adults may recruit the help of close others to support healthy dietary intake. This COVID-19 study examines the role of support for promoting fruit and vegetable consumption in daily life. Ninety-seven older adults participated with a close other of their choice (62 % spouse; 38% non-spouse Mage partner1 = 72, SD = 5.26, Mage partner2 = 62, SD = 16.38). Both partners completed two daily questionnaires for 10 days. In the morning they reported their intentions for eating fruit and vegetables. In the evening, they noted their consumed fruit and vegetable servings, the extent to which this matched their intentions, and their partners support in doing so. Consistent with previous research, the older participants were, the more they consumed fruits and vegetables. On days when participants received more support from their partner, they were more successful at reaching their dietary goals. Interestingly, initial findings suggest that associations were stronger when support was provided from a non-spouse than if the support came from spouse. Follow-up analyses, with a larger sample, will further examine some of the underlying mechanisms so as to better understand the role of different kinds of support providers during the pandemic and shed light on who may be best suited to provide support.

Telehealth as an Element of Home and Community-Based Services in a Pandemic: An Intrinsic Case Study in Two Rural Areas

COVID-19 has changed the face of health care delivery. Using technology as a way to ensure Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) as an option for older adults in rural areas is of increasing interest as a result of the pandemic. Literature suggests older adults do not adopt telehealth and/or medicine practices due to barriers (e.g., Internet and computer availability) and do not use telemedicine as a form of communication with medical staff. However, the combination of needing health care during the pandemic and having federal coverage via Medicare for telehealth virtual visit. Still studies suggest older adults may lack the necessary information about how to adopt telehealth and telemedicine and that they do not see their benefits. Additionally, the cost of technology, limited Internet access and rural connectivity issues persist. This study evaluates the potential for telehealth/medicine use in rural communities through two case studies of rural older persons in the Eastern Plains of Colorado and rural Western Nebraska. Results indicate, for older persons responding to the telehealth/medicine questions, there is support for its potential use with some using teleconferencing, health portals, along with the expectation that telehealth/medicine would be part of new health care systems. Resistance was met by some older adults in the Colorado sample who preferred face-to-face contact alongside other concerns about potential usage barriers such as the lack of Internet services or consistent connectivity. These participants indicated a lack of awareness in finding out how to access this form of medical support.

Traditional Cigarette and Poly-Tobacco Use Are Associated with Medical Opioid Use in Rural Areas of the US.

Introduction: Medical prescriptions for opioids are higher in rural areas of the US as compared to urban areas. Tobacco use may also play a role in this process. This analysis examines the association between differing types of tobacco use and medical opioid use. Methods: We analyze the relationship between tobacco product use and medical opioid use among the US general population living in rural (non-metropolitan) areas using the publicly available sample adult file 2019 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) (n = 5028). Tobacco use was classified into the following categories: only using cigarettes, only using e-cigarettes/vapes, only using cigars, only using smokeless tobacco, or using two or more of the following products. We used a binary logistic regression, controlling for individual differences. Results: Individuals who reported using only traditional cigarettes (and no other tobacco product, OR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.31, 2.01), or who reported being a poly-tobacco users (OR = 2.13, 95% CI: 1.40, 3.22) had higher odds of medical opioid use in the last twelve months. Conclusion: Results suggest a link between tobacco use, particularly cigarette use and poly-tobacco use, and medical opioid use in rural communities. Clinical and structural level interventions need to be implemented in rural communities to reduce comorbid tobacco and opioid use.

Economic evaluation of hybrid electrical systems for rural electrification: A case study of a rural community in Nigeria

ABSTRACT Diesel generators have long been in use in rural communities in Nigeria despite the impact of emissions caused by these generators on the environment. Due to the high cost and fluctuation in the diesel price and the need for a greener environment, such electric generating systems seem not to be economical and environmentally friendly and need to be addressed. The potential of utilizing the major renewable energy sources prevailing in the Umuejim Amorka community was investigated based on related site surveys and data collected from each household. This paper also investigates the feasibility and economic viability of employing a hybrid-electric system in rural communities. The HOMER software that analyzes system configuration was used to study the application and functional limitations of each hybridized arrangement. The results showed that the renewable energy (RE) based system, photovoltaic (PV)//battery(B), has the lowest cost of energy (COE) and net profit cost (NPC) compared to the PV/Diesel Generator (DG)/B and standalone DG systems. Although the diesel generator (DG) hybrid-electric system (HES) has lower NPC and COE values compared to PV/DG/B, the DG system has the highest significant pollution emission. Furthermore, the result revealed that the PV/B system has the lowest capital and total costs compared to the other two HESs. Moreso, the PV/B system, has the highest return on investment (ROI), making the system the most economically viable and adjudged to be a better candidate for rural community electrification demands.

Cumulative disadvantage as a framework for understanding rural tobacco use disparities.

Traditional tobacco product (cigarettes and smokeless tobacco) and polytobacco use rates are significantly higher among rural adolescents and adults compared to their nonrural counterparts. Such disparities are due to several factors that promote tobacco use initiation and continuation, including individual-level psychopharmacological factors and structural-level factors such as fewer tobacco control efforts (e.g., fewer smoke-free policies and lower tobacco excise taxes), targeted tobacco marketing, less access to health-relevant resources, and more positive cultural norms surrounding tobacco use in rural communities. In this review, we use cumulative disadvantage theory as a framework for understanding how psychopharmacological and structural-level factors serve as drivers of tobacco use in rural areas. We start by describing how structural-level differences between rural-nonrural communities impact psychopharmacological influences and, when available, how these factors influence tobacco use. We conclude by discussing the interplay between factors, providing suggestions for ways to assess our application of cumulative disadvantage theory empirically and making recommendations for research and policy implementation in rural areas. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Jail Reentry and Gaps in Substance Use Disorder Treatment in Rural Communities

ABSTRACT There are many barriers to jail reentry, particularly for those suffering from substance use disorder who live in isolated rural communities. This study draws on qualitative interviews conducted with 17 individuals involved in the criminal justice system, either through their own incarceration or probation sentence or as correctional or probation staff, to identify unmet reentry-related needs for individuals with substance use disorder in a rural community. Participants describe fear of continued drug use and a lack of a safe place to stay as the most pressing post-release concerns. The lack of readily accessible local behavioral health services was also consistently recognized as a significant gap by staff and criminal justice involved individuals alike. There was an emphasis on the importance of limiting the time between release and engagement with community-based treatment for ensuring initiation of long-term recovery and successful reentry. Based on these findings, recommendations for closing these gaps include increasing available housing for substance using populations (i.e., inpatient treatment facilities), expanding the quantity and quality of behavioral healthcare services in the community, improving communication between criminal justice agents and treatment providers, expanding jail-based medication assisted therapy (MAT) programs, and reducing the stigma associated with substance use in rural communities.

Faith leaders' perceptions of needle exchange programs in the rural Illinois Delta Region: Religion as a social determinant of health.

Despite increasing drug use in rural communities, potentially life-saving harm reduction interventions, such as needle exchange programs (NEPs), remain underutilized. Religion is an integral component of the rural culture that has been shown to influence health, yet no studies to date have explored rural faith leaders' perceptions of harm reduction strategies. An online cross-sectional survey was conducted among rural faith leaders (n = 133) in the rural Illinois Delta Region. While most of the respondents felt that drug abuse was an issue in their communities, support was mixed regarding whether they were in favor of NEPs with the majority of respondents having never heard of an NEP before this survey. While the majority believed that NEPs would help decrease bloodborne disease transmission, it was also perceived that NEPs would increase drug use. Significant differences in perceptions based on race, marital status, and political party also exist. Congruent with previous harm reduction literature, many rural faith leaders have varied perceptions of NEPs. Rural faith leaders could benefit from education about NEPs, including the possible positive and negative impacts they can have on the community. Future studies should explore contextual differences among rural faith leaders. To date, no studies have examined faith-based organizations' perceptions of NEPs. The findings have the potential to increase the current body of knowledge and provide data to support recommendations for engaging faith-based organizations in behavioral health service delivery.

Efficacy of a Telehealth Parent Training Intervention for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Rural versus Urban Areas

ABSTRACT Parent-mediated interventions are increasingly described in the current literature, and although parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face many challenges in regards to behavioral concerns, there are few parent-mediated interventions that target behavioral problems. There are even fewer that are evaluated for use in rural communities where service access is limited. As such, telehealth-based interventions can be effective in addressing the unmet needs in rural areas. COMPASS for Hope (C-HOPE) is an 8-week parent-mediated intervention that enhances parent competency and reduces parent stress and child problem behavior in children with ASD. In this treatment, parent behavior management and competency are essential to determine the efficacy of C-HOPE. The purpose of this study was to compare the outcomes of telehealth-implemented C-HOPE for rural (n = 12) versus urban (n = 8) parents of children with ASD (3–12 years old) with a focus on parent competency, knowledge, and activation, as well as child problem behaviors. Significant effects were noted in each area. Future directions for telehealth in this population are discussed.

Experimental evaluation of an indirect type solar dryer for agricultural use in rural communities: Relative humidity comparative study under winter season in tropical climate with sensible heat storage material

This research study presents the experimental assessment of two sensible heat materials originating from the State of Yucatán, Mexico, which were incorporated into three compartments within an indirect type solar dryer with a storage system (ITSD-TSS). The experimental tests were carried out under different environmental conditions and were compared with the results obtained from a conventional solar dryer without thermal storage. Temperature and humidity were measured during the different tests and various indicators were used to compare both drying systems. The results revealed that the solar dryer that used limestone as storage material indicated better performance than the dryer that utilized beach sand, since the drying efficiency with limestone was higher by 1.55% and allowed to extract 0.0257 kg more water per unit kWh. Similarly, beach sand stored 1.5 times more energy than limestone, however, this material is very susceptible to variations of solar radiation, so it is not recommended to implement it in areas with high cloudiness. Finally, the implementation of the three storage compartments in the ITSD-TSS allowed an increase between 3 and 4% of the drying efficiency as compared to the conventional solar dryer. The findings of the work can contribute to sustainable development in the agricultural drying process in rural communities.