			Home About us Contact

Rural Differences (rural + difference)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	100%

Selected Abstracts

URBAN,RURAL DIFFERENCES IN THE MANAGEMENT OF SCREEN-DETECTED INVASIVE BREAST CANCER AND DUCTAL CARCINOMA IN SITU IN VICTORIA

ANZ JOURNAL OF SURGERY, Issue 11 2006
David L. Kok
Background: At least one-third of primary breast cancers in Australia are discovered by population-based mammographic screening. The aim of this study was to determine whether there were any differences in the surgical treatment of women diagnosed with breast cancer by BreastScreen Victoria between urban and rural populations and to investigate temporal changes in their pattern of care. Methods: An analysis of women diagnosed with breast cancer (invasive and non-invasive) by BreastScreen Victoria from 1993 to 2000 was conducted. Descriptive analyses of the proportion of women undergoing each surgical treatment type over time were carried out. Logistic regression was used to assess the effect of urban,rural residence on each treatment outcome while accounting for possible confounding factors. Results: Rural women with invasive breast cancer were less likely to undergo breast-conserving surgery (BCS) compared with urban women (odds ratio, 0.42; 95% confidence interval, 0.35,0.50). The same was also true for rural women with ductal carcinoma in situ (odds ratio, 0.53; 95% confidence interval, 0.29,0.96). This difference was independent of patient and tumour characteristics, including tumour size, surgeon caseload, patient's age and socioeconomic status. It also persisted over time despite a steady overall increase in use of BCS for both invasive and non-invasive cancers over the study period. Conclusions: Among Victorian women with screen-detected breast cancer, urban women consistently had higher rates of BCS compared with rural women despite increased overall adoption of BCS. Reasons for this disparity are still unclear and warrant further investigation. [source]

Dental Service Utilization among Urban and Rural Older Adults in China , A Brief Communication

JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH DENTISTRY, Issue 3 2007
Bei Wu PhD
Abstract Objectives: China's health care system is bifurcated in nature between rural and urban areas. In addition, there is a huge gap in socioeconomic status between rural and urban residents. The purpose of the study was to examine the factors related to dental visits among elders in rural and urban areas of Shanghai, China. Methods: Using a stratified random sampling method, a cross-sectional, face-to-face survey was conducted among elders aged 60 years and above in Shanghai during 2003-04. A total of 1,044 older respondents were included in the sample. Results: There was a significant urban and rural difference in dental visit rates over the 12-month period of the study. Results from the logistic regression analysis suggested that residing in urban areas was a significant positive factor related to dental visits. In addition, being younger, being able to pay out-of-pocket medical expenses, having had regular medical checkups, having a higher number of limitations because of chronic conditions, and being more concerned about eating a healthy diet were associated with increased odds of dental visits. Conclusions: Results suggest that urban,rural differences, as reflected in the socioeconomic status gap, disparity in medical insurance coverage, and access to dental care, have a significant impact on the use of dental services by Chinese elders. Individual sociodemographic characteristics, health status, and health attitude are important explanatory variables. [source]

The current status of urban-rural differences in psychiatric disorders

ACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 2 2010
J. Peen
Peen J, Schoevers RA, Beekman AT, Dekker J. The current status of urban,rural differences in psychiatric disorders. Objective:, Reviews of urban,rural differences in psychiatric disorders conclude that urban rates may be marginally higher and, specifically, somewhat higher for depression. However, pooled results are not available. Method:, A meta-analysis of urban,rural differences in prevalence was conducted on data taken from 20 population survey studies published since 1985. Pooled urban,rural odds ratios (OR) were calculated for the total prevalence of psychiatric disorders, and specifically for mood, anxiety and substance use disorders. Results:, Significant pooled urban,rural OR were found for the total prevalence of psychiatric disorders, and for mood disorders and anxiety disorders. No significant association with urbanization was found for substance use disorders. Adjustment for various confounders had a limited impact on the urban,rural OR. Conclusion:, Urbanization may be taken into account in the allocation of mental health services. [source]

Prevalence and correlates of late-life depression compared between urban and rural populations in Korea

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY, Issue 5 2002
Jae-Min Kim
Abstract Background The aetiology of late-life depression has received relatively little research in developing countries. Urban and rural populations have rarely been sampled in the same study. Objectives To investigate demographic factors associated with depression and depressive symptoms in an urban and rural sample of older Korean people. Methods A community survey of residents aged 65 or over was conducted in an urban and a rural area within Kwangju, South Korea. The Korean Form of the Geriatric Depression Scale (KGDS) was administered. Associations with demographic, socio-economic factors and cognitive function (MMSE) were investigated for depression categorised according to a previously validated cut-off. Results The sample comprised 485 urban-dwelling and 649 rural-dwelling participants. No difference was found between urban and rural samples for prevalence rates of depression. However associations with independent variables varied between the areas. In the urban sample, increased age, low education, manual occupation and current rented accommodation were independently associated with depression. Only low education was associated with depression in the rural sample. The interaction with sample area was strongest for age (p,<,0.01) and persisted after further adjustment for cognitive function. Conclusions Adverse socio-economic status was strongly associated with depression and appeared to operate across the life-course. While no evidence was found for urban,rural differences in prevalence rates of depression, factors associated with depression differed between these populations. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Dental Service Utilization among Urban and Rural Older Adults in China , A Brief Communication

Body mass index and waist circumference in Mozambique: urban/rural gap during epidemiological transition

OBESITY REVIEWS, Issue 9 2010
A. Gomes
Summary In 2005 we evaluated a nationally representative sample of the Mozambican adult population (n = 2913; 25,64 years old) following the STEPwise approach to chronic disease risk factor surveillance to estimate urban,rural differences in overweight and obesity and waist circumferences. The prevalences of obesity and overweight were, respectively, 6.8% (95% CI: 5.1,8.6) and 11.8% (95% CI: 8.4,15.4) among women, and 2.3% (95% CI: 1.1,3.6) and 9.4% (95% CI: 5.7,13.1) among men. Overweight/obesity was more frequent in urban settings (age-, income- and education-adjusted prevalence ratios; women, 2.76, 95% CI: 1.82,4.18; men, 1.76, 95% CI: 0.80,3.85). The average waist circumference in Mozambique was 75.2 cm (95% CI: 74.3,76.0) in women, significantly higher in urban than rural areas (age-, income- and education-adjusted , = 3.6 cm, 95% CI: 1.6,5.5) and 76.1 cm (95% CI: 75.0,77.3) in men, with no urban,rural differences (adjusted , = 1.3 cm, 95% CI: ,0.9 to 3.5). Our results show urban,rural differences, as expected in a country under epidemiological transition, with urban areas presenting a higher prevalence of overweight/obesity, but age- and education-specific estimates suggesting a trend towards smaller divergences. The development and implementation of strategies to manage the foreseeable obesity-related healthcare demands are needed. [source]

Urban-Rural Differences in Overweight Status and Physical Inactivity Among US Children Aged 10-17 Years

THE JOURNAL OF RURAL HEALTH, Issue 4 2008
Jihong Liu ScD
ABSTRACT:,Context: Few studies have examined the prevalence of overweight status and physical inactivity among children and adolescents living in rural America. Purpose: We examined urban and rural differences in the prevalence of overweight status and physical inactivity among US children. Methods: Data were drawn from the 2003 National Survey of Children's Health, restricted to children aged 10-17 (unweighted N = 47,757). Overweight status was defined as the gender- and age-specific body mass index (BMI) values at or above the 95th percentile. Physical inactivity was defined using parentally reported moderate-to-vigorous intensity leisure-time physical activity lasting for at least 20 minutes/d on less than three days in the past week. The 2003 Urban Influence Codes were used to define rurality. Multiple logistic regression models were used to examine urban/rural differences in overweight status and physical inactivity after adjusting for potential confounders. Findings: Overweight status was more prevalent among rural (16.5%) than urban children (14.3%). After adjusting for covariates including physical activity, rural children had higher odds of being overweight than urban children (OR: 1.13; 95% CI: 1.01-1.25). Minorities, children from families with lower socioeconomic status, and children living in the South experienced higher odds of being overweight. More urban children (29.1%) were physically inactive than rural children (25.2%) and this pattern remained after adjusting for covariates (OR: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.73-0.86). Conclusions: The higher prevalence of overweight among rural children, despite modestly higher physical activity levels, calls for further research into effective intervention programs specifically tailored for rural children. [source]

Urban,rural differences in psychiatric rehabilitation outcomes

AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF RURAL HEALTH, Issue 2 2010
Srinivasan Tirupati
Abstract Objective:,Employing rural and urban patient populations, the aim of the study was to examine the differences in rehabilitation intervention outcomes, particularly in regard to the social and clinical determinants. Design:,The study employed a retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of patient outcome and characteristics. Setting:,Community-based psychiatric rehabilitation service in regional and rural Australia. Participants:,A total of 260 patients were included in the service evaluation phase of the study and 86 in the second part of the study. Participants were community-based and suffered from a chronic mental illness. Main outcome measure(s):,Clinical and functional outcomes were measured using the Health of Nations Outcome Scale and the 16-item Life Skills Profile. The outcome score employed was the difference between scores at intake and at the last complete assessment. Clinical and sociodemographic characters were recorded using a proforma developed for the study. Results:,Patients from rural Maitland had a significantly larger mean reduction in total scores and classified more often as ,Improved' on both the Health of Nations Outcome Scale and Life Skills Profile than patients from either of the urban areas (P < 0.01). Study of randomly selected patients showed that those from an urban area had a more complex illness with multiple needs and less often received family support than their rural counterparts. Conclusions:,For rural communities the improvement in rehabilitation outcomes might be attributable to a more benign form of the illness and the availability of higher levels of social capital. [source]