Perceptions of water, sanitation and health: a case study from the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

In the Mekong Delta in the south of Vietnam about 5.7 million people lack access to safe drinking water and 10 million people in rural areas live without adequate sanitation. Between May and August, 2007 a survey was carried out in An Bin, a peri-urban ward in the Mekong Delta, to gain insight into water, sanitation and health as well as to health-related hygiene behaviour. The study employed a combination of quantitative (standardized questionnaire) and qualitative (focus group discussions, semi-structured interviews) methods. The most important features in the choice of drinking water sources are matters of hygiene and the taste of the water. The majority (74%) of the 120 households surveyed indicated their ownership of a sanitation facility, but the fish pond toilet (64%) which is predominantly utilized is considered to be unimproved sanitation. The local peri-urban population link water and hygiene to health, but sanitation instead to environmental pollution. This and other outcomes lead to the assumption that people have a basic knowledge of proper hygiene behaviour. However, hygiene measures such as hand washing are put into practice in an untimely manner, most likely due to a misconception of risks and/or a lack of background knowledge of cause–effect relationships as well as ingrained habits.

Download Full-text

The Exclusive Nature of Inclusive Productive Employment in the Rural Areas of Northern Ethiopia

Work Employment and Society ◽

10.1177/0950017017716882 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 32 (6) ◽

pp. 1044-1060 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Crelis F Rammelt ◽

Maggi Leung ◽

Kebede Manjur Gebru

Keyword(s):

Rural Areas ◽

Development Policy ◽

Northern Ethiopia ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Sociology Of Work ◽

Poverty Threshold ◽

Self Reliance ◽

Shed Light ◽

Productive Employment

Inclusiveness, with its emphasis on productive employment, has become central in development policy. From this perspective, unwaged-work is condemned for not being sufficiently productive; that is, for failing to lift incomes above a poverty threshold. However, insights from the sociology of work reveal a range of unwaged activities that are potentially highly productive in their contribution to self-reliance. The article explores whether these activities are undermined by the promotion of inclusiveness. The case study takes place in Tigray, Ethiopia. Through semi-structured interviews, the activities of different households were classified according to a typology of work based on the work of Gorz, Illich, Wheelock, Taylor, Williams and others. Results show the heterogeneous character of work and shed light on the meaning of productivity. The article ends with a discussion on the risk that inclusiveness may be achieved by replacing activities ‘that count’ with activities ‘that can be counted’.

Download Full-text

Implementing English-medium instruction

Australian Review of Applied Linguistics ◽

10.1075/aral.20094.sah ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 44 (2) ◽

pp. 129-153

Author(s):

Kari Sahan

Keyword(s):

Teaching And Learning ◽

Teaching Practice ◽

State University ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Language Preference ◽

Group Discussions ◽

Engineering Programs ◽

English Medium Instruction ◽

University Department

Abstract As part of the trend toward internationalization of higher education, governments and universities have introduced policies to encourage the expansion of English-medium instruction (EMI). However, top-down policies do not necessarily translate to teaching and learning practices. This article provides a case study examining the implementation of undergraduate EMI engineering programs at a state university in Turkey to explore the gaps that exist between national- and institutional-level EMI policies and classroom-level practices. Data were collected through policy documents, classroom observations, semi-structured interviews with teachers, and focus group discussions with students. The findings suggest that the implementation of EMI varies across classrooms, even within the same university department. Despite policies that envision one-language-at-a-time instruction, the EMI lecturers in this study varied in terms of language preference and teaching practice in their EMI lectures. Implications are discussed with respect to policy planning, teacher training, and the expansion of EMI across university contexts.

Download Full-text

Sustainable Entrepreneurship, Family Farms and the Dairy Industry

10.4018/978-1-6684-3550-2.ch041 ◽

2022 ◽

pp. 898-916

Author(s):

Vanessa Ratten ◽

Leo-Paul Dana

Keyword(s):

Rural Communities ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Family Farms ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Regional Competitiveness ◽

Agricultural Industry ◽

Study Approach ◽

International Standing ◽

Entrepreneurial Strategies

There has been increasing recognition that for regional competitiveness in rural areas there needs to be a focus on sustainable farming initiatives especially for family farms that are competing with global conglomerates. Family farms, whilst declining in number, are the purpose of this paper studying the rural entrepreneurship in family farms as they are at the heart of rural communities and the overall agricultural industry and comprise a high percentage of total farms. This paper takes a case study approach using in-depth semi structured interviews to delve into the types of entrepreneurial strategies that are distinctive of family farms in terms of their sustainability approach to farming. Dairy farms in the West Victorian area of Australia are studied and the findings suggest that family farms can increase their regional competitiveness and international standing by focusing on their collaborative, social and sustainable entrepreneurial strategies.

Download Full-text

Canadian Rural Youth and Role Tension of the Police: ‘It’s Hard in a Small Town’

Youth Justice ◽

10.1177/1473225419872406 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 20 (3) ◽

pp. 199-214

Author(s):

Rosemary Ricciardelli ◽

Michael Adorjan ◽

Dale Spencer

Keyword(s):

Police Officers ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Rural Youth ◽

Eastern Canada ◽

Group Discussions ◽

Resource Officers ◽

Pros And Cons ◽

Youth Perceptions ◽

And Gender

This article presents findings from a case study examining youth perceptions of the police in rural areas of Eastern Canada. A total of 20 semistructured focus group discussions were conducted with 60 youth from Canadian rural Atlantic areas, who were purposively recruited, with groups stratified by age and gender. Discussions centered on role tension regarding the police’s role, that is, along a continuum between law enforcement and public protection versus community policing and crime prevention. Our discussions highlight the arguably ironic view that it is harder to maintain trust when there are strong personal relations with the police. Discussions highlight the ‘pros and cons’ of informal familiarity with police officers, especially the presence of school resource officers and policing in the context of monitoring youth on modes of transportation germane to rural Atlantic Canada (i.e. skidoos). Implications from this study suggest that when dealing with youth, identifying and addressing youth perceptions of the police role can help improve police–youth interactions.

Download Full-text

Where are they working? A case study of twenty Cuban-trained South African doctors

African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine ◽

10.4102/phcfm.v11i1.1977 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Munirah Motala ◽

Jacqueline Van Wyk

Keyword(s):

Rural Communities ◽

South African ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Career Choices ◽

Medical Training ◽

Sampling Strategy ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Primary Care Level

Background: The year 2017 marked the 21st anniversary of the South African Cuban Medical Collaboration (SACMC) programme that offers disadvantaged South African (SA) students an opportunity for medical training in Cuba. Graduates are expected to return to practice at a primary care level in rural communities; however, little is known about the professional trajectories and career choices of graduates from the programme.Aim: This study explored the reasons why students enrolled in the programme, their professional and career choices as graduates and their career intentions.Setting: The study setting was the whole of SA although participants were primarily drawn from KwaZulu-Natal.Methods: An exploratory, qualitative case study used a purposive sampling strategy to gather data through semi-structured interviews from participants.Results: Graduates (N = 20) of the SACMC programme were all practicing in local SA settings. Participants preferred the SACMC programme as it offered them a full scholarship for medical training. Nineteen doctors had fulfilled their obligation to work in rural areas. Thirteen doctors are engaged in primary healthcare practice, either as private practice generalists or as public service medical officers. Three doctors had completed specialty training: one doctor was training towards specialisation, one doctor was employed at national government and two doctors were employed as medical managers. At the time of the study, 11 doctors were practicing in rural locations and 19 had indicated a long-term intention to work and live within South Africa.Conclusion: The participants of this study who graduated from the SACMC programme are fulfilling their obligations in rural communities. They all intend to contribute to the SA medical workforce in the long-term.

Download Full-text

An integrated eco-model of agriculture and small-scale industry in craft villages toward cleaner production and sustainable development in rural areas – A case study from Mekong delta of Viet Nam

Journal of Cleaner Production ◽

10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.06.146 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 137 ◽

pp. 274-282 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Le Thanh Hai ◽

Hans Schnitzer ◽

Tran van Thanh ◽

Nguyen T.P. Thao ◽

Gerhart Braunegg

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Mekong Delta ◽

Cleaner Production ◽

Small Scale ◽

Viet Nam ◽

Small Scale Industry

Download Full-text

Assessment of Social Infrastructure Due to Growth and Development in Roads: A Case Study

Asian Review of Social Sciences ◽

10.51983/arss-2021.10.1.2682 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 52-56

Author(s):

Joyoti Gayen ◽

Debashis Sarkar

Keyword(s):

Economic Development ◽

Drinking Water ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Growth And Development ◽

Transportation Systems ◽

Social Infrastructure ◽

Rural Roads ◽

Socio Economic Development ◽

Long Time

Rural connectivity is essential for the socio-economic development of rural areas. Various studies reveal that a higher socioeconomic progress is occurring in areas with paved roads for a long time. The linkages are either direct or indirect. It has been observed in this study that places with better transportation systems lead to improved accessibility to education, healthcare and drinking water facilities. It has been found that improved road infrastructure also increases the transport facility which gives better access to healthcare and education. It has been observed that enrolment in secondary/higher secondary schools increases due to access to rural roads.

Download Full-text

Experiences of LNU Neophyte Teachers: Cues for a Viable Mentoring Program

The Qualitative Report ◽

10.46743/2160-3715/2017.3434 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Evelyn Aguirre ◽

Solomon Faller

Keyword(s):

Teaching Practice ◽

The Philippines ◽

Mentoring Programs ◽

Mentoring Program ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Focus Group Discussions ◽

Group Discussions ◽

The University ◽

Lack Of Knowledge

The usefulness of teachers’ mentoring program cannot be underestimated. Some universities and colleges in the Philippines have been implementing this kind of program with different approaches, content, and scope. The extent of mentoring programs to improve teaching careers has been studied here and abroad. Results remain inconclusive. This case study with a phenomenological peg has explored the lived experiences of neophyte teachers through semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. Their experiences in the first years of teaching were characterized by uncertainties, anxieties, struggles, and difficulties emanating from their lack of expertise on various aspects related to teaching practice, lack of knowledge about the culture and context of the university in which they were teaching, and lack of knowledge about the learners. With these specific inadequacies identified and the novice teachers’ implicit desire to be mentored, cues for a viable neophyte teacher’s mentoring program are drawn in the context of a teacher-training university.

Download Full-text

Youth Conversion from Mainstream to Pentecostal Churches: A Case of Selected Churches in Matero and Emmasdale Townships in Lusaka District

Journal of Law and Social Sciences ◽

10.53974/unza.jlss.4.2.468 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 14-20

Author(s):

Audrey Muyuni ◽

Austin M. Cheyeka

Keyword(s):

Service Provision ◽

Real Life ◽

Church Leaders ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Focus Group Discussions ◽

Group Discussions ◽

Case Study Design ◽

Pentecostal Churches ◽

The Church

The study sought to investigate the reasons that led to youth conversion from mainstream to Pentecostal churches in Emmasdale and in the neighbourhood of Matero. The study was guided by Horton’s intellectualist theory of conversion in Africa. It used a case study design. The method of data collection included semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and questionnaire. Findings of the study were that, there was automatic conversion taking place among the youths in mainstream churches to Pentecostalism. This was evident in all respondents in mega Pentecostal Church who had a mainstream background. Church leaders in mainstream churches were aware of youth converting to Pentecostal churches by accepting back the youths who had converted to a Pentecostal Church but had later made up their minds to go back. The study further revealed that non-Pentecostal parents supported and encouraged their children who converted to a mega Pentecostal Church owing to incentives such as; scholarships, employment and supportive programmes provided to their children. The study recommends that: sermon presentation should be revised in some mainstream churches. Explaining scriptures should not be exegetical only but linking scriptures to real life struggles of the youth. The church leaders in mainstream churches must formulate programmes that are more practical and youth oriented like charismatic prayer service, provision of scholarship, employment and positions of responsibilities through different ministries within the mainstream churches. Non-Pentecostal parents should not be too sceptical about children who associate themselves with Pentecostalism but encourage them to genuinely convert to this brand of Christianity.

Download Full-text