Volume twenty, Issue 1

As the world desperately attempts to mount a coordinated and effective response to the recent pandemic outbreak of COVID-19, it is becoming recognised that the greatest impact will likely be felt by the most vulnerable populations. This Editorial examines what we know that could prepare our rural health systems to be more resilient, responsive and reassuring to our patients.

This article reports on the results of a study evaluating a pilot mentorship program for rural nurses. Findings indicate that mentorship programs can be useful in supporting rural nurses; however, more attention to creating and supporting mentorship relationships is needed.

Indigenous populations in low-income regions are often the most acutely affected by social gradients that impact health, including high burdens of infectious disease. Using a mixed methods approach, this study characterized the lived experience of acute gastrointestinal illness in an Indigenous Batwa population in southwestern Uganda.

Self-assessment of health status can be considered a good predictor of population morbidity and mortality. However, in rural areas, the identification of morbidities that affect worker’s health and their general health condition is unknown. This study evaluates the relationship between health self-perception and the occurrence of morbidities according to type of work.

Early diagnosis and treatment of diabetic retinopathy, the leading cause of blindness in working-age adults in most developed countries, can reduce the incidence of severe vision loss, but fewer than 50% of the diabetic patients in rural areas are reviewed periodically. This study evaluated a teleophthalmology-based screening programme for diabetic retinopathy in a rural area in Castilla y León, Spain.

In Lao People's Democratic Republic, despite a policy to provide free maternal health services in health care facilities, many rural women continue to deliver at home, without a skilled birth attendant. These women are at high risk of postpartum haemorrhage, the leading cause of maternal mortality in the country. This study examined community perceptions and management of postpartum bleeding during home-births in remote Lao communities.

The Prevocational Integrated Extended Rural Clinical Experience (PIERCE) was developed to increase the training capacity of the Queensland Rural Generalist Pathway and strengthen trainee commitment to rural practice. This study evaluated whether trainees believed PIERCE and/or traditional regional hospital specialty placements achieved their learning objectives.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) impacts almost one in four women in Canada, with rural women facing additional challenges related to delivery of and access to care. This analysis of IPV policy in a rural community in Canada identified a lack of integration between provincial, hospital and women's shelter policies. The impact this has on services and support for women experiencing IPV is explored, with recommendations made for improvement.

This study explored how lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) young adults in rural Australian communities experience online mental health services. Online technologies hold potential to overcome health access barriers, but little is known in practice for this community.

To address the regional differences in the distribution of health workers between rural and urban areas, the Nepalese government has adopted the policy of deploying fresh medical graduates to remote areas for 2 years under a compulsory bonding service programme. This study examines the experience of the medical graduates who participated in the bonding service programme and suggests ways to improve the programme.

Migration status of women and their children (urban, rural, urban to rural, rural to urban) may influence the birth outcomes and health status of children under five years. This study determined the distribution of internal migration and the socio-demographic and socio-economic factors on the child health indicators of birth weight, stunting and overweight / obesity in children under five years of age in Turkey.

Chronic conditions, including heart disease and diabetes, significantly contribute to the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous life expectancy in Australia. This study found that health promotion initiatives over 3 years may have helped with body weight stabilisation, improved blood pressure and good cholesterol in the community. However, policies that address social and economic disadvantage are needed alongside funding support for community-led health promotion initiatives.

This study determined the prevalence of food insecurity, dietary diversity and nutritional status of mothers and children under five years old from vulnerable families residing in the rural community of La Punta, after the earthquake in Ecuador on 16 April 2016.

Iran's Health Transformation Plan (HTP) has been implemented from 2014 to decrease household expenditures. This study measured the household financial contribution to healthcare expenditures in Sistan-Baluchistan Province after the implementation of HTP.

This article describes the results of a study examining correlates of mental health among men and women in rural Canada, with on-farm / off-farm residence as an explanatory variable. Findings of this study, which included a cross-sectional sample of 1701 women and 1700 men, indicated that non-farm rural residents demonstrate higher levels of binge drinking and depression (as measures of mental health) when compared with on-farm residents.

Rural health services throughout the world face considerable challenges in the recruitment and retention of medical specialists. This study describes the factors that contribute to specialist workforce retention and attrition in a health service in rural Tasmania.

Parent–Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is an evidence-based parent training program for the treatment of childhood disruptive behaviour disorders. In Australia, there is a lack of services in regional, rural and remote areas and the program is not accessible to all families who might benefit. This study presents the first qualitative investigation into the experience of I-PCIT for rural or regional Australian families.

In the Solomon Islands, diarrhoea is the second leading causes of under-five mortality with about 1 in every 10 children dying from it before reaching five years of age. This study assesses environmental factors that are associated with under-five diarrhoea prevalence in the Mataniko informal settlements in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

Very little is known about the long-term workforce outcomes for nursing and allied health rural placement programmes. This study reports on the long-term (15–17 year) rural practice outcomes for nursing and allied health graduates who have completed an undergraduate rural placement of 2–18 weeks through a University Department of Rural Health.

This article reports on an evaluation of an online diabetes education program, intended to improve rural school personnel's knowledge and capacity to deliver care to students. Findings demonstrate significant change in knowledge and self-efficacy in delivering care following use of the online educational tool.

This article describes the results of a study that used a qualitative approach to provide an in-depth examination of the support needs of female family physicians practicing in rural areas. Findings reflect on specific support needs, how physicians find or access those supports, as well as how their needs change over time. The authors also identify identify information for training to better prepare women for rural family practice.

Rural primary health care (PHC) is a field that specifically lacks well-designed randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Electronic search filters on family medicine or general practice studies have been developed and validated in previous work, but there has been no systematic effort to specifically identify and record RCT protocols in PHC. This study systematically identifies published RCT protocols in PHC and captures information about specific protocol characteristics that may describe this field.

This Commentary examines food insecurity in remote northern Canada. The authors draw attention to dietary challenges for residents of these communities who are living on restricted or therapeutic diets due to chronic disease, particularly advanced chronic kidney disease. Further research into potential solutions is recommended to address the interplay between food insecurity, the ability to maintain a therapeutic diet, and health outcomes for those living with chronic conditions in rural and remote communities.

Organophosphates are a class of insecticides used globally by the agricultural industry for insect control. Acute consequences of organophosphate exposures are well known, but there has been limited research on their long-term effects. This review discusses the health effects of chronic organophosphate exposure in farmers.
 

In Australia, tuberculosis (TB) has been virtually eradicated in non-Indigenous Australian-born populations but presents a rare but significant public health issue in remote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities. This Case Report outlines the process for diagnosis and treatment of a TB patient in a remote Cape York community and highlights the importance of early collaboration between medical, nursing, Indigenous health worker and allied health services.

The Rural Adversity Mental Health Program (RAMHP) connects people who need mental health assistance in rural and remote NSW, Australia with appropriate services and resources. This article reports on an assessment of RAMHP program data collection methods for management, monitoring and evaluation.

The phenomenon of ‘brain drain’ is defined as the international transfer of resources, in the form of highly educated workforce, from developing to more developed countries. This study examines the main causes of Greek medical doctors immigrating while their country suffers from a financial crisis.

This Original Research article reports on the implementation of an opportunistic cancer screening and education program for residents of remote First Nations communities while accessing health services in an urban centre. Consideration of the program's successes and challenges may assist others who are interested in improving cancer screening rates among remote populations.

This study describes the availability, use and comfort with ophthalmic equipment and medications by mid-level eye care workers in Papua New Guinea and Pacific Island Countries and Territories, as indicators of the state of eye care in the Pacific.