Volume fourteen, Issue 1

Even in rural areas of developed regions, low birth weight neonates have the high level of care often required. However in rural areas of low-income countries, low birth weight may not even be detected. This study evaluated the impact of an existing volunteer workforce using a simple intervention to identify infants at risk.

With increasing efforts to address the complexity of Aboriginal health status, this timely article reports on an Outdoor Adventure Leadership Experience (OALE) among Aboriginal youth participants in Canada. The lessons learned may apply to your own work with Aboriginal participants.

This Australian model may help supply and retain skilled clinicians where they are much needed: the paediatric physiotherapy workforce.

If your question is "Why might rural parents inaccurately estimate their child's BMI?", this US research may provide some understanding.

More Australian data on whether regionally-located medical schools and undergrad rural placements translate to boosts in rural practice?

How the combination of distance learning modules with faculty contact sessions helped recent Indian medical graduates to perform in small rural hospitals.

A national Australian survey identified barriers to rural and remote GPs' evidence-based management of diabetes.

Nations in transition are concerned about avoiding the tendency to obesity increasingly seen in the West. Can Brazil improve education and nutrition while avoiding obesity and worsening chronic disease in its developing rural populations?

Nurse shortage represent a serious problem for rural facilities. This article from the US offers a tool to assist communities address recruitment and retention in this important area.

With COPD morbidity higher in rural areas and disease management more difficult, this Polish study examined an addressable contributing factor - the socioeconomic status of farmers.

Chronic disease management in rural settings often involves women as caregivers. Concerns about the health of this group are the focus of this study which linked levels of hope to mental and physical health.

What is 'purple crying', and how does it relate to Australian rural infant health and wellbeing? This short communication is from far north Queensland.

A review of an international rural issue with an Australian focus highlights the shortfalls of research.

Can a mobile-phone communication network inform and improve the crucial activities of lay health workers in the developing world?

What are the challenges of rural rehabilitation practice? This study from British Columbia explored the rehabilitation practice of physical and occupational therapists with this question in mind.

More Australian data on the rural medical workforce impact of extended undergraduate rural clinical placement: this study tracked early career movements of University of Adelaide Rural Clinical School students.

This obituary celebrates the life of an exceptional African academic, teacher, mentor and person.

In common with other nations, in the Lao People's Democratic Republic there is a shortage of qualified rural and remote health workers. This unique study of the rural practice intention of Lao health science students yielded clear and specific strategies for use in this location, as well as adding to the global literature.

Research can help to raise awareness of specific risk factors and their prevalence in certain populations. These authors review existing studies involving rural and Aboriginal populations in Iberoamerica and the Caribbean.

Are you curious about the concept of age friendliness? Then read this article that presents findings from a rural Manitoba survey to discover if the chosen communities are 'age friendly'.

What is "the green referral channel", and how can it contribute to reduced hospitalisation costs for rural patients in China?

The Appalachian literature illustrates folk remedies, rituals and moonshine but do Appalachians use complementary and alternative medicine at higher rates? The authors explore this question with rural Appalachians.

What are the mutual benefits when rural health researchers actively collaborate with community-based stakeholders? This innovative editorial is from Canada.