Decolonising the Rural-Urban Dichotomy in South Africa: An Asset-Based Approach

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 17
Author(s):  
Bunmi Isaiah Omodan ◽  
Cias T. Tsotetsi ◽  
Bekithemba Dube
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Community Development ◽  
Urban Communities ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Urban Migration ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
Asset Based Community Development ◽  
Rural Dwellers

The rural-urban migration syndrome has eaten deep into the fabric of rural development in South Africa, thereby denying rural dwellers equitable access to social and economic amenities and social empowerment. This study, therefore, seeks to emancipate rural communities through an asset-based community development approach by forming university-community synergies for the purpose of decolonising these rural communities. The study attempted to provide a solution to the question of inequalities between rural and urban communities with a focus on how university engagement can be used to enhance community development in QwaQwa/Harismith Township and its environments. The study adopted a participatory action research design and the free attitude interview technique was used to collect data. The research participants consisted of one research assistant and 10 ordinary community members, members of NGOs and community leaders in QwaQwa/Harrismith Township in the Free State province of South Africa. Data collected were analysed through Laws, Harpes and Marcus’s seven-step model. The study revealed that rural dwellers face challenges of inequitable educational facilities and resources, and a lack of security in terms of their lives, properties, and means of travelling. Likewise, the study also showed a lack of access to health facilities in their communities. It was therefore concluded that community engagement through the asset-based approach and decoloniality would enable the university to empower rural dwellers with the freedom to attain their well-being by ensuring an environment that is sufficient and adequate for social investment.

scholarly journals Developing partnerships in a paradigm shift to achieve conservation reality in South Africa

Koedoe ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Els ◽  
J. Du P. Bothma
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Community Development ◽  
Rural Community ◽  
Wildlife Management ◽  
Paradigm Shift ◽  
Wildlife Conservation ◽  
Management Policy ◽  
Rural Community Development ◽  
The Social

In South Africa, communal rural community development has, for the most part, been viewed as an add-on, rather than as an integral value in the broad spectrum of conservation activities being practised in the country. This paper, therefore, argues for the reality-based adoption of an extension of existing conservation paradigms to incorporate the development of communal rural communities as an integral part of the overall wildlife conservation and management policy in South Africa. The answer to the seeming contradiction in the focus of wildlife conservation and rural development lies in the devel- opment of wildlife management programmes based on multi-disciplinary and multiinstitutional interaction, by also harnessing scientific knowledge and skills found in the social sciences. In this manner, the present largely lip service related to so-called com- munity participation in wildlife management can be changed into programmes which really achieve conservation-based community development enhancing survival for both the communities and their inherent natural resources.

scholarly journals The reality of rurality : parent experiences with best start in two rural communities

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kerri Graham
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Urban Communities ◽  
Care Service ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Systems Perspective ◽  
Parent Experiences ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Rural Service Delivery

Human services literature from a variety of disciplines demonstrates that rural and urban communities pose different challenges and opportunities for service delivery; however, little research specifically explores early learning and care service delivery in rural communities. This qualitative study draws on a critical ecological systems perspective to examine the experiences of rural parents accessing services through a specific service delivery strategy, Best Start networks. Thematic analysis was used to analyze data gathered from two rural communities as part of a larger study examining parent experiences with Best Start in three communities across Ontario (Underwood, Killoran, & Webster, 2010). Three themes emerged that related specifically to the rural experience: (a) Opportunities for Social Interaction; (b) Accessibility of Services; and, (c) Impact of Personal Relationships. Results indicate that certain factors related to rural life and location affected parents' experiences with Best Start services. Drawing on the broadly defined concept of accessibility, implications for rural service delivery are discussed and recommendations for practice and future research are presented.

Community Engagement

2020 ◽  
pp. 261-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tshimangadzo Selina Mudau
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Community Engagement ◽  
Urban Communities ◽  
South African ◽  
Social Transformation ◽  
Historical Background ◽  
Rural And Urban

The chapter presents the use of community engagement as a tool to facilitate rural development in (South) Africa. In its discussion, the researcher used desktop literature review to analyze, compare, and gain insights guiding the use of community engagement to enhance social transformation and sustainable development. The discussion is advanced from the historical background of the emergence of African universities and community engagement. The focus was reflected against the backdrop of the Western approach used among various global universities. In this view, the underpinning objectives, relationship with the researched, and the role of the researching university are detailed. Practical evidence of positive collaborative results within the (South) African communities within the rural and urban communities by universities and other organizations have also been provided. A contrast of various types of community engagement is also provided.

Rapid implementation of outpatient teleneurology in rural Appalachia: barriers and disparities

2020 ◽  
pp. 10.1212/CPJ.0000000000000906 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roy E. Strowd ◽  
Lauren Strauss ◽  
Rachel Graham ◽  
Kristen Dodenhoff ◽  
Allysen Schreiber ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Urban Communities ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
The United States ◽  
Urban Status ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
Academic Medical ◽  
Black Patients ◽  
Rural Appalachia

ABSTRACTObjective:To describe rapid implementation of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic and assess for disparities in video visit implementation in the Appalachian region of the United States.Methods:A retrospective cohort of consecutive patients seen in the first four weeks of telehealth implementation was identified from the Neurology Ambulatory Practice at a large academic medical center. Telehealth visits defaulted to video and when unable phone-only visits were scheduled. Patients were divided into two groups based on the telehealth visit type: video or phone-only. Clinical variables were collected from the electronic medical record including age, sex, race, insurance status, indication for visit, and rural-urban status. Barriers to scheduling video visits were collected at the time of scheduling. Patient satisfaction was obtained by structured post-visit telephone call.Results:Of 1011 telehealth patient-visits, 44% were video and 56% phone-only. Patients who completed a video visit were younger (39.7 vs 48.4 years, p<0.001), more likely to be female (63% vs 55%, p<0.007), be White or Caucasian (p=0.024), and not have Medicare or Medicaid insurance (p<0.001). The most common barrier to scheduling video visits was technology limitations (46%). While patients from rural and urban communities were equally likely to be scheduled for video visits, patients from rural communities were more likely to consider future telehealth visits (55% vs 42%, p=0.05).Conclusion:Rapid implementation of ambulatory telemedicine defaulting to video visits successfully expanded video telehealth. Emerging disparities were revealed, as older, male, black patients with Medicare or Medicaid insurance were less likely to adopt video visits.

Narratives of internal migration experiences, health/well-being issues among females working as head-porters (Kayayei) in Ghana

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 511-525
Author(s):  
Ahmed Bawa Kuyini ◽  
Abdulai Abukari ◽  
Abdulai Kuyini Mohammed ◽  
Hughlett Omris Powell
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Human Resource Development ◽  
Internal Migration ◽  
Child Protection ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Urban Migration ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Family Issues ◽  
Migration Experiences

Purpose This study aims to explore the internal migration experiences and health/well-being issues of 38 girls and women working as Kayayei (head-porters) in Accra, Ghana. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from seven focus group interview sessions, and thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Findings The results revealed the geographic, structural and family issues that promote increased migration of females to the cities. The findings betray the potential negative effects of migration on the participants’ quality of life, including accessing health services. They also suggest that the Kayayei phenomenon is a significant child protection, health/well-being concern yet to be given adequate attention in ways that consider the implications of such large internal migration of females on the overall human resource development capacities of rural communities. Originality/value This is an original study with data collected to explore internal rural to urban migration and its effect on health and well-being of young girls and women.

scholarly journals Community stakeholders' perceptions of crime and victimization: A mixed-methods approach to understanding collective efficacy and social cohesion in the rural heartland

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 96-115
Author(s):  
Ashley Lockwood ◽  
April Terry
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Urban Communities ◽  
Collective Efficacy ◽  
Social Cohesion ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Neighborhoods ◽  
Mixed Methods Approach ◽  
Community Stakeholders ◽  
Rural And Urban

Previous criminological literature has mostly neglected rural communities, often treating these places as smaller pieces of urban culture. Literature suggests rural communities operate differently than urban neighborhoods, with distinctive values, norms, and community cohesion. For example, concepts surrounding collective efficacy may work counterproductively in rural areas—further exploiting outed community members within "close-knit" environments. The current study sought to compare perceptions of collective efficacy and social cohesion, crime, and victimization between rural and urban counties across one Midwestern rural state. Using a mixed-methods approach, community stakeholders from a variety of professions were surveyed. Quantitative results suggest similar perceptions of collective efficacy and social cohesion in rural and urban communities while qualitative responses paint a much different picture—an image of rural communities "minding their own business" and both formally and informally intervening only in the most extreme and personalized scenarios.

scholarly journals Rural and Urban Differences in Household Food Insecurity and Diet Diversity of Preschool Children (PSC) in Occidental Mindoro

2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim Leonard G. Dela Luna ◽  
Ernani R. Bullecer
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Preschool Children ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Urban Communities ◽  
Dietary Diversity ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Household Food Insecurity ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Rural And Urban

Objective. Rural and urban differences affect food availability, accessibility, and sustainability; thus, it has a greatimpact on household food security and dietary diversity. The relationship between the human environment andother factors threatens different domains of food systems resulting in food security. The objective of this study isto determine significant differences between the prevalence of household food security and diet diversity betweenurban and rural communities in Occidental Mindoro. Specifically, to determine the pattern of usual food intake ofpreschool children between rural and urban communities Methods. This study utilized a comparative, cross-sectional, analytic study design in order to determine theprevalence of each variable of interest in the two study areas. Radimer-Cornell Tool was utilized to assess the foodsecurity status of the household while the FAO-Dietary Diversity Score Questionnaire was used to the diversityof diet among PSC. A total of 480 (rural: n=240; urban: n=240) preschool children were recruited to participatein this study. Ratio and proportion using the point and interval estimate were used to determine the prevalencein different areas, meanwhile, chi-square of homogeneity was used to determine significant difference in the twoareas under study. Results. Food insecurity in rural communities was found to be at 56.25% (95% CI: 49.97% to 62.53%) while theprevalence in urban communities was 45.83% (95% CI: 39.53% to 52.14%). There was a significant differencein the prevalence of household food insecurity between rural and urban communities (p=0.0224). Meanwhile,the prevalence of less dietary diversity among preschool children in rural communities was 37.08% (95%: 30.97%to 43.19%) and 26.25% (CI: 20.68% to 31.82%) for urban communities. There was a significant differencein prevalence of low dietary diversity score among preschool children between rural and urban communities(p=0.0107). Conclusion. There were significant differences in terms of household food insecurity and less diverse dietbetween two community settings. Higher prevalence in rural areas signifies that there is a need to prioritize thesevulnerable communities in terms of hunger mitigation and nutrition programs. A combination of milk-rice-meat-fishwas observed in the diet of preschool children for both communities however, higher prevalence of less dietarydiversity was detected among rural communities.

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