scholarly journals ‘Menstruation means impurity’: multilevel interventions are needed to break the menstrual taboo in Nepal

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Subash Thapa ◽  
Arja R. Aro
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Traditional Healers ◽  
Cultural Groups ◽  
Menstrual Hygiene ◽  
Management Interventions ◽  
Community Stakeholders ◽  
Menstrual Taboo

Abstract Background During their menstrual period, women are generally considered impure in Nepal; in the rural areas of the western part of the country, they are even banished to stay in sheds (called chhaupadi) during this time, which increases their vulnerability to a variety of health consequences. There is lack of clarity regarding the effectiveness of interventions that have been implemented to address menstrual taboo and improve menstrual hygiene and practices in Nepal (e.g., public awareness, community sensitization and legislation). In this paper, we discuss why menstruation management interventions, particularly those implemented to change the menstrual taboo might not work, and the opinions and experiences regarding the implementation of such interventions. Main text Anecdotal reports from the field and empirical studies suggest that interventions to address menstrual taboos have only been effective for short durations of time due to several reasons. First, local community stakeholders have been reluctant to take actions to abandon retrogressive menstrual practices in rural areas. Second, women who have stopped practising chhaupadi have faced stigma (e.g., fear of exclusion) and discrimination (e.g., blaming, physical and verbal abuse). Third, contextual factors, such as poverty and illiteracy, limit the effectiveness of such interventions. Fourth, community sensitization activities against chhaupadi have faced resistance from community leaders and traditional healers. Fifth, the law prohibiting chhaupadi has also faced implementation problems, including poor filing of complaints. Conclusion Multilevel, multisectoral interventions could be more effective than single-component interventions in breaking the prevailing menstrual taboo and in improving menstrual health and hygiene practices among young girls and women in the rural areas of Nepal. Moreover, interventions that have an active community mobilization component could be effective within local contexts and cultural groups.

scholarly journals Assessment of Trinidad community stakeholder perspectives on the use of yeast interfering RNA-baited ovitraps for biorational control of Aedes mosquitoes

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. e0252997
Author(s):  
Nikhella Winter ◽  
Akilah T. M. Stewart ◽  
Jessica Igiede ◽  
Rachel M. Wiltshire ◽  
Limb K. Hapairai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vector Control ◽  
Product Design ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Community Stakeholder ◽  
Public Health Burden ◽  
Biorational Control ◽  
Community Stakeholders ◽  
Interfering Rna

Dengue, Zika, chikungunya and yellow fever viruses continue to be a major public health burden. Aedes mosquitoes, the primary vectors responsible for transmitting these viral pathogens, continue to flourish due to local challenges in vector control management. Yeast interfering RNA-baited larval lethal ovitraps are being developed as a novel biorational control tool for Aedes mosquitoes. This intervention circumvents increasing issues with insecticide resistance and poses no known threat to non-target organisms. In an effort to create public awareness of this alternative vector control strategy, gain stakeholder feedback regarding product design and acceptance of the new intervention, and build capacity for its potential integration into existing mosquito control programs, this investigation pursued community stakeholder engagement activities, which were undertaken in Trinidad and Tobago. Three forms of assessment, including paper surveys, community forums, and household interviews, were used with the goal of evaluating local community stakeholders’ knowledge of mosquitoes, vector control practices, and perceptions of the new technology. These activities facilitated evaluation of the hypothesis that the ovitraps would be broadly accepted by community stakeholders as a means of biorational control for Aedes mosquitoes. A comparison of the types of stakeholder input communicated through use of the three assessment tools highlighted the utility and merit of using each tool for assessing new global health interventions. Most study participants reported a general willingness to purchase an ovitrap on condition that it would be affordable and safe for human health and the environment. Stakeholders provided valuable input on product design, distribution, and operation. A need for educational campaigns that provide a mechanism for educating stakeholders about vector ecology and management was highlighted. The results of the investigation, which are likely applicable to many other Caribbean nations and other countries with heavy arboviral disease burdens, were supportive of supplementation of existing vector control strategies through the use of the yeast RNAi-based ovitraps.

scholarly journals Study of ethno-botanical shrub and its utilization in Agra district Uttar Pradesh

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-38
Author(s):  
Brajesh Kumar ◽  
Subhash Chandra
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Uttar Pradesh ◽  
Variable Region ◽  
Traditional Healers ◽  
Body Parts ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Shrub Species ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Botanical Medicine

India has been known as a rich source for valuable medicinal Shrubs. These Shrubs are found and distributed in throughout India and various parts of world. Since the ancient time, Shrub species have been used as the source of botanical medicine by the human beings. Shrubs are the richest source of medicine due to the presence of biochemical, which are useful to cure the various diseases. Usefulness of medicinal Shrubs is well documented since the time immemorial. The present study includes ethno-botanical importance in which vegetative parts of Shrubs which is commonly used by different local community. Ethno-botanical density as well as diversity may variable region to region and habitats to habitats. Keeping this in view an extensive survey work was carried out in Agra (Western part) of Uttar Pradesh state of India, for the medicinal Shrubs resources of Agra, Uttar Pradesh to obtain info about the traditional uses, knowledge of local people and traditional healers about these popular shrubs. Based on the results obtained, it was concluded that find 21 species is a useful medicinal used to treat different human and livestock ailments. Their body parts are using for curing different types of serious diseases such as tuberculosis, leprosy, asthma, piles, dengue fever, typhoid fever, blood bleeding etc. in human beings, domestic animals and other wild animals. Present paper advocated to local peoples (especially of rural areas), for protection of these Shrubs and secure their life for better survival.

Sludge Treatment and Disposal Systems for Rural Areas in Germany

1993 ◽  
Vol 27 (9) ◽  
pp. 159-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eberhard Steinle
Keyword(s):  
Sewage Sludge ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Sewage Treatment ◽  
Treatment Needs ◽  
Sludge Treatment ◽  
Sewage Treatment Plants ◽  
Sewage Purification ◽  
Treatment And Disposal ◽  
Nitrogen Phosphorus

First an overview of the systems currently in use and being discussed for sludge treatment is presented will) particular emphasis on distinguishing between the object of the system (conditioning objective of the various phases in the system) and a system concept (concept of various phases of the system in sequence to attain the disposal objective). More detailed information is given as to the salient systems as used with smaller sewage treatment plants in rural areas, such as digestion, dewatering, hygienization, composting and thermal drying. A further item of discussion is how sludge treatment influences the sewage treatment process. For the critical emissions (nitrogen, phosphorus) demanded in Germany, and thus for the degree of sewage treatment required, the load of the sewage treatment system resulting from sludge treatment needs to be taken into account. Accordingly, operation of sludge treatment and sewage purification must always be harmonized. The extent of these return loads also limits the spatial centralization of the system phases; this applies in particular to smaller sewage treatment plants in rural areas. In conclusion, an attempt is made to present a perspective for the agricultural utilization of such sludge in Germany. Since the critical values for emissions have been further tightened by new regulations, thus considerably elevating the associated sophistication of monitoring techniques, it is to be expected that the use of sewage sludge in agriculture will also be further reduced in rural areas, especially since public awareness of emission control has considerably reduced the acceptance of sewage sludge as fertilizer.

scholarly journals Does Social Support Affect the Health of the Elderly in Rural China? A Meta-Analysis Approach

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (18) ◽  
pp. 3471 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natuya Zhuori ◽  
Yu Cai ◽  
Yan Yan ◽  
Yu Cui ◽  
Minjuan Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Rural China ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Meta Regression ◽  
The Impact

As the trend of aging in rural China has intensified, research on the factors affecting the health of the elderly in rural areas has become a hot issue. However, the conclusions of existing studies are inconsistent and even contradictory, making it difficult to form constructive policies with practical value. To explore the reasons for the inconsistent conclusions drawn by relevant research, in this paper we constructed a meta-regression database based on 65 pieces of relevant literature published in the past 25 years. For more valid samples to reduce publication bias, we also set the statistical significance of social support to the health of the elderly in rural areas as a dependent variable. Finally, combined with multi-dimensional social support and its implications for the health of the elderly, meta-regression analysis was carried out on the results of 171 empirical studies. The results show that (1) subjective support rather than objective support can have a significant impact on the health of the elderly in rural areas, and there is no significant difference between other dimensions of social support and objective support; (2) the health status of the elderly in rural areas in samples involving western regions is more sensitive to social support than that in samples not involving the western regions; (3) among the elderly in rural areas, social support for the older male elderly is more likely to improve their health than that for the younger female elderly; and (4) besides this, both data sources and econometric models greatly affect the heterogeneity of the effect of social support on the health of the elderly in rural areas, but neither the published year nor the journal is significant. Finally, relevant policies and follow-up studies on the impact of social support on the health of the elderly in rural areas are discussed.

scholarly journals Community readiness for collecting stray dogs in Aradan County: a quantitative‐qualitative study

2021 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tahereh Kamalikhah ◽  
Somayeh Mirrezaei ◽  
Tahereh Rahimi ◽  
Leila Sabzmakan ◽  
Safiye Ghobakhloo
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
City Council ◽  
Community Readiness ◽  
Community Knowledge ◽  
Stray Dogs ◽  
Community Readiness Model ◽  
Six Dimensions ◽  
Community Climate

Abstract Background Paying more attention to free-roaming dogs’ population control seems to be necessary because of public health and environmental problems. The present study used the community readiness model to determine the readiness of Aradan County in terms of collecting stray dogs. Methods This study is a quantitative-qualitative research study conducted in Aradan County in Semnan Province of Iran. The semi-structured questionnaire uses the six dimensions of the Community Readiness Model as guideline, with 36 items used for the interview. The interviews lasted 45 to 100 minutes with 11 key members including the governor, prefect, mayor’s assistant, city council chairman, key trustees, officials responsible for environmental health network, officials responsible for environmentalism of the city, and governors of a rural district. In quantitative part two, assessors read the interviews carefully and assigned scores based on the rating-scale form suggested by the guideline itself for scoring each dimension. A qualitative directed content analysis with deductive approach was used for analyzing the collected qualitative data. Results The study involved 11 key members of Aradan County, all of whom were male. Most of the participants were over 40 years old and with five years of work experience (73.6 %). The mean score of each six dimensions in Aradan County were: Community efforts (4.78), Community knowledge of efforts (4.28), Leadership (4.90), Community climate (4.38), Community knowledge about the issue (4.20) and Resources related to the issue (3.29) respectively. Community readiness in Aradan County and Aradan City was generally estimated to be in the preplanning stage, whereas vague public awareness was found in the rural areas. In the qualitative part, 870 initial open codes, 589 refund codes, 19 subcategories and 6 themes emerged, including (a) community efforts, (b) community knowledge of the efforts (c) leadership, (d) community climate, (e) community knowledge of the issue, and (f) resources related to the issue. Conclusions For improving the process of collecting the stray dogs, it is necessary to focus on holding educational sessions for the public to increase their partnership and justify the responsible organizations’ activities to collaborate and provide the necessary financial resources.

scholarly journals Green and Blue Space Availability and Self-Rated Health among Seniors in China: Evidence from a National Survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 545
Author(s):  
Chensong Lin ◽  
Longfeng Wu
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
National Level ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Coverage Ratio ◽  
Self Rated Health ◽  
Health Promoting ◽  
Major River ◽  
Urban And Rural Areas

Many empirical studies have shown evidence of multiple health benefits provided by green and blue spaces. Despite the importance of these spaces, investigations are scarce in details for blue spaces rather than green. Moreover, most research has focused on developed regions. A limited number of studies on blue spaces can be found in China with a focus on the city level. Outcomes have been mixed due to varying research scales, methodologies, and definitions. This study relies on a national-level social survey to explore how the self-rated health (SRH) of senior individuals is associated with local green and blue space availability in urban and rural areas. Results indicate that the coverage ratio of overall green spaces and waterbodies around a resident’s home have marginal effects on SRH status in both urban and rural areas. In urban areas, living close to a park can is marginally beneficial for older people’s health. Regarding different types of blue spaces, the presence of a major river (within 0.3–0.5 km) or coastline (within 1 km and 1–5 km) in the vicinity of home negatively affects SRH among the elderly in urban areas. Close proximity to lakes and other types of waterbodies with a water surface larger than 6.25 ha did not significantly influence SRH. These findings not only evaluate general health impacts of green/blue space development on senior populations across the county but inform decision makers concerning the health-promoting qualities and features of different green/blue spaces to better accommodate an aging population in the era of urbanization.

Menstrual Hygiene Practices of Adolescent Girls in Rural Maharashtra

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 127-137
Author(s):  
Sumit Aggarwal ◽  
Deepti Ambalkar ◽  
Jayaprakasam Madhumathi ◽  
Vijay Badge ◽  
Arun Humne
Keyword(s):  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Cultural Beliefs ◽  
Knowledge Dissemination ◽  
Personal Interview ◽  
Menstrual Hygiene ◽  
Hygiene Practices ◽  
Sanitary Products ◽  
Sanitary Pads ◽  
The Right

Menstrual practices of adolescent girls in rural parts of India are greatly influenced by taboos and socio-cultural beliefs. In this study, the menstrual hygiene practices and beliefs of 122 adolescent girls between the ages of 13 and 19 years from rural Maharashtra were evaluated by personal interview and questionnaires. None of the girls had the right scientific knowledge about menstruation and were isolated during menstruation. They used cloth or home-made sanitary pads and were at risk of infections. There is a dire need for knowledge dissemination among school children and their families, increased awareness of menstrual hygiene and access to the requisite sanitary products in rural areas.

scholarly journals Perspectives of wild medicine harvesters from Cape Town, South Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol 113 (9/10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leif Petersen ◽  
Andrew M. Reid ◽  
Eugene J. Moll ◽  
Marc T. Hockings
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
National Park ◽  
Cape Town ◽  
Traditional Healers ◽  
Cape Floristic Region ◽  
Cultural Groups ◽  
Conservation Areas ◽  
Economic Survival ◽  
Wild Resources ◽  
The City

Cape Town is a fast-growing cityscape in the Cape Floristic Region in South Africa with 24 formally protected conservation areas including the World Heritage Table Mountain National Park. These sites have been protected and managed as critical sites for local biodiversity, representing potentially one-third of all Cape Floristic Region flora species and 18% of South Africa’s plant diversity. Cape Town is also inhabited by a rapidly growing culturally and economically diverse citizenry with distinct and potentially conflicting perspectives on access to, and management of, local natural resources. In a qualitative study of 58 locally resident traditional healers of distinct cultural groups, we examined motivations underlying the generally illicit activity of harvesting of wild resources from Cape Town protected areas. Resource harvester motivations primarily link to local economic survival, health care and cultural links to particular resources and practices, ‘access for all’ outlooks, and wholesale profit-seeking perspectives. We describe these motivations, contrast them with the current formal, legal and institutional perspectives for biodiversity protection in the city, and propose managerial interventions that may improve sustainability of ongoing harvest activities.

scholarly journals Penguatan peran warga masyarakat dalam mitigasi dan adaptasi menghadapi wabah Covid-19 di Kabupaten Kolaka

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-21
Author(s):  
Sudarman Rahman ◽  
Sahidin Sahidin
Keyword(s):  
Local Community ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Healthy Living ◽  
Public Places ◽  
Mitigation And Adaptation ◽  
Corona Virus ◽  
Questions And Answers ◽  
Rapid Transmission ◽  
The Village

WHO China Country Office reported pneumonia cases in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. The virus was lately identified as a new strain of corona virus called Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2. The new cases grow massively and became pandemic. Regarding this rapid transmission, there is a need for socialization to strengthen people’s awareness and role in mitigation and adaptation against this  COVID-19 pandemic. The method used was counseling with socialization or lectures and supported interactions in the form of questions and answers by using power points and leaflets/brochures as information media. This community engagement included the activities of the Movement for Healthy Living Society (GERMAS), Clean and Healthy Living Behavior (PHBS), Use of Personal Protective Equipment such as using masks, Use of Antiseptics and Disinfectants, and Planting Family Medicines (TOGA). The implementation of this activity began with socialization to the local community at the village hall, then to the houses of residents to deliver the subject contained in the brochure/leaflet, and last by placing pamphlets in public places to provide information to the community related to the activities that had been done. This socialization is expected to increase public awareness to face against this corona virus disease outbreak.

scholarly journals Increasing the socio-cultural influence of immovable cultural heritage on local communities – the case of historic residential buildings in Wielkopolska used as hotels

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 43-57
Author(s):  
Zdzisława Elżbieta Niemczewska
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Heritage ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Historic Buildings ◽  
Cultural Impact ◽  
Local Authorities ◽  
Property Owners ◽  
Cultural Functions

The article presents results of a study of how immovable cultural heritage used for commercial purposes of tourism affects local communities. The study is based on data collected in direct interviews with property owners and representatives of local authorities and a questionnaire survey of local residents concerning sixteen historic buildings used as hotels, which are located in rural areas of Wielkopolskie province. It was found that the provision of additional, free cultural functions for local communities by property owners and/or local authorities exerts a greater socio-cultural impact and contributes to local, sustainable development. Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that when historic buildings of this kind are used for commercial purposes it is important to ensure that they are part of the cultural experience not only for hotel guests but also for the local community. In this way, entire communities can appreciate their local cultural heritage (socio-cultural impact), which in turn strengthens cultural sustainability.

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