scholarly journals Private for-profit rural water supply in Nigeria: Policy constraints and options for improved performance

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Chukwuma Obeta
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Universal Access ◽  
Water Shortages ◽  
For Profit ◽  
Water Users ◽  
Services Delivery ◽  
Improved Performance ◽  
Questionnaire Surveys ◽  
Depth Interviews

Abstract Water scarcity is a major and growing problem in Nigerian rural areas, leading to the emergence of private for-profit water services providers (PPWSPs). This paper characterizes the landscape of PPWSPs in Nigerian rural communities using information collected from field observations, in-depth interviews, questionnaire surveys, and from published water resources literature. The data collected were analysed through the use of descriptive statistical tools. The results revealed the characteristics, categories, contributions and concerns of water users regarding water supplies by PPWSPs. Responses show that PPWSPs are helping to engender development, guarantee end-users with access to sufficient and reliable supplies and reduce water shortages in the study communities. Sixty four percent of sampled households depend on PPWSPs for their water requirements. Many PPWSPs operate outside the purview of government regulations and have differentiated service modes and prizes to gain wider acceptability. Despite the progress made by PPWSPs, however, the strategy can neither guarantee universal access nor the supply of safe drinking water. Significant barriers to the operations of PPWSPs, how to close the policy-gaps that constrain services delivery by PPWSPs and improve performances through setting of standards and regulatory reforms are discussed.

scholarly journals Utilization of Mosquito Nets and Malaria Related Under-Five Mortality in Abia State, Nigeria

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (21) ◽  
pp. 209
Author(s):  
Imo, Chukwuechefulam Kingsley ◽  
Isiugo-Abanihe, Uche Charlie
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Universal Access ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Contributory Factor ◽  
Childbearing Age ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Under Five ◽  
Under Five Children ◽  
Mosquito Nets

In spite of huge global investments in the production and distribution of mosquito nets to protect people from malaria; it has continued to militate against the reduction of mortality in Nigeria. The study, therefore, examined the nexus between utilization of mosquito nets and malaria related under-five health outcome. Two local government areas were randomly selected from each of the three senatorial districts, and stratified along urban and rural communities. Purposive sampling technique was used to select 609 mothers within childbearing age and who had under-five children across the communities. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests and logistic regression at p<0.05, and thematic content analysis were used for data analyses. The respondents’ age was 32.6±5.8 years, 84.6% were married/living together, 55.0% had secondary education, while 42.7% were in paid/civil service jobs. Under-five mortality was 19.3% higher amongst rural than urban dwellers. Ownership of mosquito nets (treated or untreated) varied by place of residence with 60.1% and 39.9% for urban and rural areas respectively. About 62% of the dead under-five children never slept under mosquito nets. The likelihood of under-five mortality significantly increased by nonownership of mosquito nets (Odds-Ratio (OR): 2.476) and reduced by number of mosquito nets (OR: 0.278). Wrong methods adopted by mothers in using mosquito nets, was deduced as a contributory factor causing underfive mortality for home with fewer nets. Information on the proper use of the mosquito nets would help achieve the goal of universal access for the atrisk populations of children under age five and pregnant women.

scholarly journals The Dilemmas of Rural Planning and Planners in Oyo State, Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (47) ◽  
pp. 75-93
Author(s):  
Ayobami Abayomi Popoola ◽  
Hangwelani Hope Magidimisha
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Urban Development ◽  
Capacity Building ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Rural Planning ◽  
Global Literature ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
And Training

AbstractThe focus on urban planning continues to flood the global literature. However, there is continued silence and neglect with regard to rural planning. The study examined the state of rural planning in Oyo State, Nigeria. Primary data was sourced using structured questionnaires and in-depth interviews. Questionnaires were administered to two hundred and fifty (250) rural households in six (6) rural local government areas (LGAs) of Oyo State. It was revealed that rural areas remain neglected and behind in planning activities. A majority of respondents believe that no planning takes place in the rural communities in which they reside. The study concludes that improved communication on planning issues between the tiers of the bureau of physical planning and urban development offices remains the route to effective planning. Improved capacity building (expertise) and training are suggested for rural planners. It is also suggested that understanding the local culture is important in contributing towards effective and responsive rural planning.

Internet Portals in Rural Areas

2010 ◽  
pp. 104-117
Author(s):  
Laura Galloway ◽  
David Deakins ◽  
John Sanders
Keyword(s):  
Ownership Structure ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Operating Characteristics ◽  
For Profit ◽  
Internet Portal ◽  
Not For Profit ◽  
Part Time ◽  
Internet Portals ◽  
Privately Owned ◽  
Depth Interviews

This paper investigates the ownership structure, operating characteristics and sustainability of six rural internet portals located in Scotland. It builds upon a previous study conducted by Deakins et al. (2003), which examined the characteristics of internet portals. In-depth interviews were conducted with six owners or the operators responsible for maintaining and developing the internet portal. The study discovered that two distinct forms of ownership structure existed. The first form of ownership structure involved dedicated private individuals who self-funded their internet portal activities, while the second form were managed by not-for-profit organisations, such as charitable trusts, that either hired part-time staff or employed volunteer staff to operate their internet portal. The privately owned portals were most effective because they demonstrated a higher degree of commitment via content richness, fullness of the services offered, and the extent of community and local business usage. In contrast, the not-for profit owned internet portals suffered from limited content, a narrow selection of services, some political infighting, low employee commitment, and modest community and business usage. Despite the differences both forms of ownership structure struggled to achieve commercial viability.

scholarly journals Assessing the Impact of a Risk-Based Intervention on Piped Water Quality in Rural Communities: The Case of Mid-Western Nepal

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (8) ◽  
pp. 1616 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorian Tosi Robinson ◽  
Ariane Schertenleib ◽  
Bal Kunwar ◽  
Rubika Shrestha ◽  
Madan Bhatta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Universal Access ◽  
Water Safety ◽  
Household Water Treatment ◽  
Microbial Water Quality ◽  
Global Challenge ◽  
The Impact

Ensuring universal access to safe drinking water is a global challenge, especially in rural areas. This research aimed to assess the effectiveness of a risk-based strategy to improve drinking water safety for five gravity-fed piped schemes in rural communities of the Mid-Western Region of Nepal. The strategy was based on establishing community-led monitoring of the microbial water quality and the sanitary status of the schemes. The interventions examined included field-robust laboratories, centralized data management, targeted infrastructure improvements, household hygiene and filter promotion, and community training. The results indicate a statistically significant improvement in the microbial water quality eight months after intervention implementation, with the share of taps and household stored water containers meeting the international guidelines increasing from 7% to 50% and from 17% to 53%, respectively. At the study endline, all taps had a concentration of <10 CFU Escherichia coli/100 mL. These water quality improvements were driven by scheme-level chlorination, improved hygiene behavior, and the universal uptake of household water treatment. Sanitary inspection tools did not predict microbial water quality and, alone, are not sufficient for decision making. Implementation of this risk-based water safety strategy in remote rural communities can support efforts towards achieving universal water safety.

scholarly journals Training for Rural Radiology and Imaging in Sub-Saharan Africa: Addressing the Mismatch Between Services and Population

2012 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael G. Kawooya
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Rural Health ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Plain Radiography ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Training Interventions ◽  
For Profit ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
And Training

The objectives of this review are to outline the needs, challenges, and training interventions for rural radiology (RR) training in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Rural radiology may be defined as imaging requirements of the rural communities. In SSA, over 80% of the population is rural. The literature was reviewed to determine the need for imaging in rural Africa, the challenges, and training interventions. Up to 50% of the patients in the rural health facilities in Uganda may require imaging, largely ultrasound and plain radiography. In Uganda, imaging is performed, on an average, in 50% of the deserving patients in the urban areas, compared to 10–13 % in the rural areas. Imaging has been shown to increase the utilization of facility-based rural health services and to impact management decisions. The challenges in the rural areas are different from those in the urban areas. These are related to disease spectrum, human resource, and socio-economic, socio-cultural, infrastructural, and academic disparities. Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, for which information on training intervention was available, included: Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Zambia, Ghana, Malawi, and Sudan. Favorable national policies had been instrumental in implementing these interventions. The interventions had been made by public, private-for-profit (PFP), private-not-for profit (PNFP), local, and international academic institutions, personal initiatives, and professional societies. Ultrasound and plain radiography were the main focus. Despite these efforts, there were still gross disparities in the RR services for SSA. In conclusion, there have been training interventions targeted toward RR in Africa. However, gross disparities in RR provision persist, requiring an effective policy, plus a more organized, focused, and sustainable approach, by the stakeholders.

scholarly journals Bridging Digital Inequalities in Rural Schools in Germany: A Geographical Lottery?

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 181
Author(s):  
Christina Rundel ◽  
Koen Salemink
Keyword(s):  
Distance Learning ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Secondary Schools ◽  
Rural Schools ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Digital Inclusion ◽  
Lower Saxony ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Depth Interviews

Repeatedly, it has been argued that advancements in digitalisation could be beneficial for rural areas. However, digital inequalities persist and affect rural communities as well. Schools can play a key role in bridging digital inequalities, but little attention has been paid to the specific conditions rural schools find themselves in when facing continuous digital developments. Therefore, we apply the digital inclusion lens and explore the impact of digital developments on rural schools in the German context. In 2019, we conducted 16 in-depth interviews with heads and teachers from rural elementary and secondary schools in Baden-Wurttemberg and Lower Saxony. We found that smaller rural schools especially can experience difficulties and conclude that the contribution of schools to a digital-included society is subject to a geographical lottery. This could eventually increase existing rural–urban digital inequalities and these findings are also relevant in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing a sudden switch to distance learning.

scholarly journals TRADISI MASYARAKAT SEBAGAI KEKUATAN SINKRETISME DI TRUCUK, KLATEN

2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sutiyono Sutiyono
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Community Integration ◽  
Social Activism ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Central Java ◽  
Ethnographic Approach ◽  
To Come ◽  
Participant Observer ◽  
Depth Interviews

This study aims to prove that the societal tradition in in Trucuk alive and growing dynamically, because of the strength of syncretism. This research was conducted in rural areas Trucuk District, Klaten, Central Java. The time to conduct field studies began in March to October 2006. As a research subject, namely: farmer, caretaker shrine, the pilgrims, paranormal, dalang, arts reog elders, chairman slawatan, modin, lurah, Muhammadiyah activists, political elites, religious teachers, kyai, mubaligh, congregational recitation, and the priest mosque. Methods of data collection is participant observer, depth interviews, and study of documentation. This study uses an ethnographic approach. The results showed that the societal tradition who are still be regularly performed of rural communities is slametan. Slametan an intangible form of social activism traditional ceremony which was attended by a group of people from different social groups to come together, accompanied by a serving dish and prayed the Islamic way. In gathering together, all of them understand each other and can understand each other. The discrepancies in all respects to be thin and fixed on the formation of community integration or syncretism. The strength of syncretism make the societal tradition in Trucuk alive and growing dynamically. So, the theory mentions that syncretism is the attempt to unify the different sects (Mulder, 1992) proved in this study

TURNING FARMERS INTO SOCIAL FARMER ENTREPRENEURS FOR DISADVANTAGED PEOPLE

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Remus Runcan
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Physical Work ◽  
Healthy Environment ◽  
Rural And Urban Areas ◽  
Rural Development Programme ◽  
Rural And Urban

According to Romania’s National Rural Development Programme, the socio-economic situation of the rural environment has a large number of weaknesses – among which low access to financial resources for small entrepreneurs and new business initiatives in rural areas and poorly developed entrepreneurial culture, characterized by a lack of basic managerial knowledge – but also a large number of opportunities – among which access of the rural population to lifelong learning and entrepreneurial skills development programmes and entrepreneurs’ access to financial instruments. The population in rural areas depends mainly on agricultural activities which give them subsistence living conditions. The gap between rural and urban areas is due to low income levels and employment rates, hence the need to obtain additional income for the population employed in subsistence and semi-subsistence farming, especially in the context of the depopulation trend. At the same time, the need to stimulate entrepreneurship in rural areas is high and is at a resonance with the need to increase the potential of rural communities from the perspective of landscape, culture, traditional activities and local resources. A solution could be to turn vegetal and / or animal farms into social farms – farms on which people with disabilities (but also adolescents and young people with anxiety, depression, self-harm, suicide, and alexithymia issues) might find a “foster” family, bed and meals in a natural, healthy environment, and share the farm’s activities with the farmer and the farmer’s family: “committing to a regular day / days and times for a mutually agreed period involves complying with any required health and safety practices (including use of protective clothing and equipment), engaging socially with the farm family members and other people working on and around the farm, and taking on tasks which would include working on the land, taking care of animals, or helping out with maintenance and other physical work”

scholarly journals Tackling Rural Health, Energy, … and Technological Issues All at Once: A Call for a Global Interdisciplinary Platform for Strengthening Rural Setting Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

Challenges ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 16
Author(s):  
Farshad Amiraslani
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Rural Health ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Rural Setting ◽  
Global Challenges ◽  
Rural Settings ◽  
Research Studies

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has revealed flaws in rural settings where most people live without the necessary tools, income, and knowledge to tackle such unprecedented global challenges. Here, I argue that despite the research studies conducted on rural areas, these have not solved rising rural issues, notably poverty and illiteracy. I propound a global institute to be formed by governments that provides a platform for empowering rural communities through better training, skills, and competencies. Such global endeavour will ensure the remaining rural communities withstand future pandemics if they occur.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document