Rural and Remote Health is an open-access international academic journal serving rural and remote communities and publishing articles by rural health practitioners, educators, researchers and policy makers.

Polypharmacy is linked to various health events, including falls, hospitalization, and mortality. However, no previous studies have investigated the association between polypharmacy and off-island referrals that prevent older island residents from remaining on their islands of residence. Okinawa Prefecture comprises a large main island at the southernmost tip of Japan and several smaller remote islands. This Original Research study describes the cases of non-return after off-island referrals in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, and examines the relationship between polypharmacy and non-returned off-island referrals in the primary care setting of remote islands.

Indonesia is predominantly an agricultural country, with 10.5% of its labour force engaged in the agricultural sector, but little is known about the health status of the Indonesian farming population. Several factors contribute to poor health outcomes among farming populations around the world, including living in rural areas, where access to socioeconomic opportunities and health services can be limited compared with urban dwellers, hazardous environmental conditions (including use of agrichemicals) and injuries (including from motorbike and quad bike accidents). This pilot study describes the health and wellbeing status, and the behavioural, lifestyle and safety risk factors, among farmers in Indonesia.

Self-esteem has profound implications for mental and emotional wellbeing, particularly during adolescence, when fluctuations can affect psychological development and have long-term effects into adulthood. Despite recognition of the role of self-esteem in adolescent health and development, it remains understudied. This Original Research study compares self-esteem levels among secondary school adolescents in urban and rural settings in Oyo State, Nigeria, and identifies key predictors of low self-esteem.

Rural and remote health in Australia relies on a consistent health workforce to service the population, but attracting and maintaining health professionals to work in rural locations is a well-documented and ongoing issue. Although allied health professionals are an important part of the health workforce, previous studies have identified a perceived lower priority for research into the allied health workforce compared with the medical workforce. This Scoping review identifies, describes and addresses workforce recruitment and retention issues and initiatives for allied health professionals in rural and remote Australia.

In Malawi, where 42% of the population is aged 0–14 years, the paediatrician-to-child ratio is very low and most paediatricians work in urban areas, where only 18% of the population lives. To address this workforce inequity, the Kamuzu University of Health Sciences initiated a specialised training program in 2012, the Bachelor of Science in Paediatrics and Child Health (BSc PCH) for clinical officers (formerly often referred to as non-physician clinicians). This Original Research article investigates the workplace satisfaction of BSc PCH clinical officers and the likelihood of their retention in current positions.

Between July 2021 and March 2022, 51 experts from around the world contributed to an eight-part webinar series on rural health equity convened by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organization of Family Doctor’s Working Party for Rural Practice (Rural Wonca), with inputs from partners including the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and agencies in the United Nations Inequalities Task Team subgroup on rural inequalities. The webinar series aimed to share technical/operational know-how, insights and lessons learnt for both health systems strengthening and action on social and environmental determinants of rural health inequities. This Original Research article presents an analysis of the expert narratives from the WHO Rural Health Equity webinar series that tests the framing of rural health equity, considers the drivers of rural health inequities within and beyond the health system and explores the implications for governance approaches.