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

Author(s):  
Chensong Lin ◽  
Longfeng Wu

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.

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 22-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Myung-Bae Park ◽  
Chun-Bae Kim ◽  
Chhabi Ranabhat ◽  
Chang-Soo Kim ◽  
Sei-Jin Chang ◽  
...  

Happiness is a subjective indicator of overall living conditions and quality of life. Recently, community- and national-level investigations connecting happiness and community satisfaction were conducted. This study investigated the effects of community satisfaction on happiness in Nepal. A factor analysis was employed to examine 24 items that are used to measure community satisfaction, and a multiple regression analysis was conducted to investigate the effects of these factors on happiness. In semi-urban areas, sanitation showed a positive relationship with happiness. In rural areas, edu-medical services were negatively related to happiness, while agriculture was positively related. Gender and perceived health were closely associated with happiness in rural areas. Both happiness and satisfaction are subjective concepts, and are perceived differently depending on the socio-physical environment and personal needs. Sanitation, agriculture (food) and edu-medical services were critical factors that affected happiness; however, the results of this study cannot be generalized to high-income countries.


Author(s):  
Shamsul Azhar Shah ◽  
Nazarudin Safian ◽  
Saharuddin Ahmad ◽  
Wan Abdul Hannan Wan Ibadullah ◽  
Zulkefley bin Mohammad ◽  
...  

Happiness is an essential component to experience healthy ageing. Hence, understanding the factors that contribute to happiness is important. This study aimed to determine the factors associated with happiness among the elderly population in Malaysia. In this study, 1204 respondents were recruited from urban and rural areas in Selangor. A face-to-face interview was conducted using the Bahasa Malaysia version of the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study questionnaire. The inclusion criteria include Malaysians who are 60-years old and above and can converse in the Malaysian language. Those who encounter less than seven scores for the Abbreviated Mental Test were excluded from the study. Among the 1204 respondents, 953 (79.2%) were happy. Sociodemographic characteristics showed that being a men, age of 60 to 74 years, and living in urban areas were significantly associated with happiness. A logistic regression model showed that locality (aOR 1.61), income category (Bottom 40% aOR 0.49; Middle-class group 40% aOR 1.40), social engagement (active aOR 1.77; less active aOR 1.25), receiving emotional support (aOR 2.11) and handgrip strength (aOR 1.02) were significantly associated with happiness. Thus, ensuring the elderly population in receiving emotional support and active social engagement among them can enhance their happiness level.


2021 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
pp. e51421
Author(s):  
Roberta Dayanny Soares ◽  
Aíla Maropô Araújo

Population aging in Brazil increases on a large scale due to declining fertility and mortality. This phenomenon can be influenced by several factors (demographic, biological and social), making them determinants for the health conditions of the elderly populations residing in different geographic areas. The present study aims to identify the functional limitation in elderly residents of urban and rural areas of Brazil. This is a descriptive epidemiological study with a quantitative approach. It was evidenced that the functional limitation for activities of daily living   and instrumental activities of daily living are concentrated in the northeast region, mainly in the urban area. The following states presented the highest proportions of daily life activity limitation in urban areas: Alagoas (11.60%), Rio Grande do Norte (10.95%), Pernambuco (10.36%) and Paraíba (9.62%). For activities of daily living in the rural area were found in the states of Paraíba (12.19%), Maranhão (8.93%), Piauí (8.85%) and then Pernambuco (7.24%). Data from the functional limitation for instrumental activities of daily living again highlighted the Northeast region, with the states of Rio Grande do Norte (26.01%), Paraíba (25.96%), Maranhão (25.72%) and Alagoas (24.57%). Lastly, it was verified that the elderly woman exhibits greater proportions of functional limitation in relation to the elderly of the masculine sex, standing out again the northeastern region of the country.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Baojing Li ◽  
Hong Tang ◽  
Zilu Cheng ◽  
Yuxiao Zhang ◽  
Hao Xiang

Leukemia is one of the most common cancers. We conducted this study to comprehensively analyze the temporal trends of leukemia mortality during 2003–2017 and project the trends until 2030. We extracted national-level data on annual leukemia mortality from China Health Statistics Yearbooks (2003–2017). We applied the Joinpoint regression model to assess leukemia mortality trends in urban and rural China by sex during 2003–2017. We also produced sex-specific leukemia mortality using the adjusted Global Burden Disease (GBD) 2016 projection model. In urban areas, age-standardized leukemia mortality decreased significantly among females during 2003–2017 (APC = −0.9%; 95% CI: −1.7, −0.1%). In rural areas, significant decreases of age-standardized leukemia mortality were both found among males (APC = −1.7%; 95% CI: −2.9, −0.5%) and females (APC = −1.6%; 95% CI: −2.6, −0.7%) from 2008 to 2017. Rural-urban and sex disparities of leukemia mortality will continue to exist until the year 2030. According to projection, the leukemia mortality rates of males and rural populations are higher than that of females and urban populations. In 2030, leukemia mortality is projected to decrease to 3.03/100,000 and 3.33/100,000 among the males in urban and rural areas, respectively. In females, leukemia mortality will decrease to 1.87/100,000 and 2.26/100,000 among urban and rural areas, respectively. Our study suggests that more precautionary measures to reduce leukemia mortality are need, and more attention should be paid to rural residents and males in primary prevention of leukemia in China.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 2598 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liangwen Zhang ◽  
Sijia Fu ◽  
Ya Fang

An aging population and an increase in the proportion of elderly people who are disabled have created an unprecedented global challenge, especially in China. This study aimed to predict the number of, and the care costs for, disabled elderly from 2020 to 2050 in China. A comparison was made between urban and rural areas, and we analyzed what must be done to maintain the sustainable development of China’s long-term care insurance (LTCI) system. An overall simulation model and a Monte Carlo simulation were used to estimate the number of disabled elderly and their related care costs, in both urban and rural areas. According to the forecast, the total disabled population will increase rapidly, rising from 43.75 million in 2020 to 91.4 million in 2050. Of that total, 69.7% are expected to be urban elderly. Starting in 2020, the growth rates of the elderly with mild, moderate, and severe disabilities will be 108%, 104%, and 120%, respectively, by 2050. Accordingly, the total care costs will increase from 538.0 billion yuan in 2020 to 8530.8 billion yuan in 2050, of which 80.2% will be required in urban areas. In addition, the per capita costs of care in urban and rural areas in 2050 will be 6 times and 11 times higher than in 2020, respectively. The predicted results show that the number of disabled elderly and the related care costs will increase sharply from 2020 to 2050, especially the growth rate of the number of severely disabled elderly. This study provides strong evidence of the need for the establishment of a unified national LTCI system in China.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Azam David Saifullah ◽  
Nur Latifah ◽  
Eria Riski Artanti ◽  
Kadek Dewi Cahyani ◽  
Umi Rahayu ◽  
...  

Background: There is a higher prevalence of mental distress in rural areas compared to urban areas in Indonesia. The rural areas of Indonesia have various socio-demographic and sophisticated cultural characteristics, but less exposed to foreign cultures. Thus, the study about the prevalence, associated factors, and predictors of mental distress in rural areas is necessary.Purpose: This study aimed to identify the population's status and related factors of mental distress in rural areas in Indonesia.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to achieve the aims of the study. An Indonesian version of the Self-Rated Questionnaire, consisting of 20 items, was used to measure mental distress status of population in rural areas in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. A number of 872 records were included and analyzed using both univariate and bivariate analyses in this study.Results: The prevalence of mental distress in this population was 6%. The correlated factors of mental distress were age (χ2=6.93, p=0.01), gender (χ2=0.07, p=0.03), occupation (χ2=0.26, p=0.02), housing dimension (χ2=5.45, p=0.02), and illness status (χ2=0.01, p<0.01).Conclusion: The prevalence of mental distress in rural areas of Indonesia is relatively lower than that of the national level. Future mental health programs may be focused on improving mental health on the elderly, male, vulnerable workers, overcrowded housing, and people who got a chronic illness.


2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tunjung Sri Yulianti ◽  
Anggit Ike Prascika

AbstractElderly will fail maintaining a balance of physiological conditions, thereby increasingvulnerability to depression. Factors that influence is the socio-economic changes, socialvalues, awareness among individuals and others. More urban environment isindividualistic and socioeconomic pressures are higher, while rural areas have theeducational background lower. The results showed not a few elderly people who returnedto the village because they felt pressured by the situation in the city, the elderly should bealone in the house and no neighbors who could be invited to communicate, so it isdifficult to be happy. But there are also elderly who live in the village reveal feelingdepressed and showed signs of depression. Purpose of the study to determine the levelof depression in the elderly in urban, rural and differences in the level of depressionamong the elderly who live in rural and urban areas.Subjects were elderly who live in the village of Palur Sukoharjo and Kampung SewuSurakarta. Methods of analytical study comparative research design. Measuringinstrument used is the Geriatric Depression Scale. Test data normality using theKolmogorov-Smirnov Test. Statistical test with independent t test.The results of the study obtained significancy value of t-test (two-tailed) 0.001.Conclusion of research is significant difference in rates of depression among the elderlyin urban and rural areas, the elderly in urban areas have higher levels of depression thanelderly people in rural areasKeywords: Elderly Depression Level, Rural, Urban


BMJ Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. e020955 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheng-Yu Lin ◽  
Yen-Cheng Tseng ◽  
How-Ran Guo ◽  
Der-Chung Lai

ObjectiveChildhood hearing impairment (CHI) is a major developmental disability, but data at the national level are limited, especially those on different severities. We conducted a study to fill this data gap.DesignA nationwide study on the basis of a reporting system.SettingTo provide services to disabled citizens, the Taiwanese government maintains a registry of certified cases. Using data from this registry, we estimated prevalence rates of CHI of different severities from 2004 to 2010 and made comparisons between urban and rural areas.ParticipantsTaiwanese citizens ≤17 years old.Primary outcome measuresTo qualify for CHI disability benefits, a child must have an unaided pure-tone better ear hearing level at 0.5, 1 and 2 kHz with an average ≥55 decibels (dB), confirmed by an otolaryngologist. The severity was classified by pure-tone better ear hearing level as mild (55–69 dB), moderate (70–89 dB) and severe (≥90 dB).ResultsThe registered cases under 17 years old decreased annually from 4075 in 2004 to 3533 in 2010, but changes in the prevalence rate were small, ranging from 7.62/10 000 in 2004 to 7.91/10 000 in 2006. The prevalence rates of mild CHI increased in all areas over time, but not those of moderate or severe CHI. Rural areas had higher overall prevalence rates than urban areas in all years, with rate ratios (RRs) between 1.01 and 1.09. By severity, rural areas had higher prevalence rates of mild (RRs between 1.08 and 1.25) and moderate (RRs between 1.06 and 1.21) CHI but had lower prevalence rates of severe CHI (RRs between 0.92 and 0.99).ConclusionWhile rural areas had higher overall prevalence rates of CHI than urban areas, the RRs decreased with CHI severity. Further studies that identify factors affecting the rural–urban difference might help the prevention of CHI.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S847-S847
Author(s):  
liangwen zhang ◽  
Ya Fang

Abstract Disability for the elderly has become a crucial policy concerns in rapidly aging Asia counties, especially in China. This study aimed to predict the trend of the number of and care costs for disabled older adults from 2020 to 2050 in urban and rural areas in China. Population Administration Decision Information System was used to predict the population of China by urban and rural areas and age group from 2020 to 2050. Monte Carlo simulation and Policy Simulation Model were used to estimate the number and care costs of disabled elderly between urban and rural areas, based on the Chinese latest census data, statistical yearbook, and national survey database. The total disabled population rises rapidly from 43.75 million in 2020 to 91.4 million in 2050, of which 69.7% were urban adults. Compared with the values in 2020, the growth rates of the adults with mild, moderate and severe disabilities were 108%, 104% and 120% in 2050, respectively. The value were 167% and 39% in urban and rural areas, respectively. By 2050, the total care costs increase from 538.0 billion yuan in 2020 to 8530.8 billion yuan, of which 80.2% occurs in urban areas. The predicted results indicate that the numbers and care costs for disabled older adults increase sharply from 2020 to 2050, especially in urban areas of China. It provided a series of evidence for the establishment of the long-term care insurance system in China.


2021 ◽  
Vol 29 ◽  
pp. 526-543
Author(s):  
Linh Hoang Vu ◽  
◽  
Thuy-Anh Nguyen ◽  

Adopting data from the 2010 and 2016 Vietnam Household Living Standard Surveys, this paper identifies factors of elderly poverty incidences and depth in Vietnam. Our analysis shows that overall, elderly poverty is lower than the overall poverty headcount in Vietnam. Yet, some elderly groups are more vulnerable to poverty than others. In particular, the elderly living in rural areas are more susceptible to poverty than those living in urban areas. The ethnic minority elderly are likewise more vulnerable to poverty than those who belong to the Kinh-Hoa ethnic majority. We found several determining factors for elderly poverty in urban and rural areas, including region, ethnicity, education, and household age composition. Remittances and social assistance are also crucial in reducing elderly poverty in rural areas. With these findings, this study proposes several policy implications, including improving the social assistance support for the elderly, reducing regional and ethnic disparities, and supporting the employment of older people.


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