This innovative resource offers a unique, multidisciplinary approach for the utilization of planning theory to eliminate health disparities in rural communities. The book provides tools in the public health, policy, and planning disciplines to help resolve significant differences in life expectancy and quality of life in these communities, concluding with a progressive vision for alleviating geographical health disparities on a local, national, and global scale. Chapters highlight models and approaches best suited to addressing this public health concern, suggesting action strategies focused around each of the three focus areas: 1. Public health: Elucidation of the contextual factors impacting the health of rural communities by: reporting statistical updates on a range of chronic and infectious diseases that disproportionately affect rural populations both globally and in the U.S.; providing discourse on the importance of addressing critical social determinants (global and national) that impede optimal health outcomes among rural populations; and, acknowledging the compositional factors of individuals who reside in rural spaces. 2. Public policy: Application of specific policy models to garner both public and political will towards sustainable policy change to improve healthy living in rural spaces. 3. Rural planning: Identification of national and international planning models that can be used to design strategic plans targeted to improve quality of life, create sustainable development, and establish economic well-being and growth in rural communities. Rural Health Disparities: Public Health, Policy, and Planning Approaches will find an engaged audience among non-profit organizations, planners, public health practitioners, policy analysts, and public interest groups, as well as rural health advocates and students enrolled in planning, public policy, and/or public health courses.

Rapid urbanisation, inequalities in income and service levels within and between communities, and population and economic decline are challenging the viability of rural communities worldwide. Achieving healthy and viable rural communities in the face of rapidly changing social, ecological and economic conditions is a declared global priority. As a result, governments all over the world, in both developed and developing countries, are now prioritizing rural and regional development through policies and programs aimed at enhancing the livelihoods of people living in rural regions. In recognition of the important roles that research can play in rural development, a range of systematic literature reviews have rightly examined key priorities in rural development including education, gender, economic development (especially agriculture), and health and nutrition (see Department for International Development [DFID], 2011). However, none of these works has systematically examined the extent to which rural development as a field of research is progressing towards facilitating sustainable change. This book evaluates trends in rural development research across the five continental regions of the world. Specifically, it assesses the total publication output relating to rural development, the types of publications, their quality and impact over the last three decades. Additionally, it evaluates the continental origins of the publications as well as the extent to which such publications engage with issues of sustainability. The aim is to determine whether the rural development field is growing in a manner that reflects research and policy priorities and broader social trends such as sustainability. Development policy makers, practitioners, those teaching research methods and systematic literature reviews to undergraduate and graduate students, and researchers in general will find the book both topical and highly relevant.

Applying a trans-disciplinary approach, this book provides a comprehensive, research-based guide to understanding, implementing, and strengthening sustainable community health in diverse international settings. By examining the interdependence of environmental, economic, public health, community wellbeing and development factors, the authors address the systemic factors impacting health disparities, inequality and social justice issues. The book analyzes strategies based on a partnership view of health, in which communities determine their health and wellness working alongside local, state and federal health agencies. Crucially, it demonstrates that communities are themselves health systems and their wellbeing capabilities affect the health of individuals and the collective alike. It identifies health indicators and tools that communities and policy makers can utilize to sustain truly inclusive health systems. This book offers a unique resource for researchers and practitioners working across psychology, mental health, rehabilitation, public health, epidemiology, social policy, healthcare and allied health.

Ob in Europa oder Nordamerika - ländliche Gemeinden kämpfen in den Industriestaaten überall mit ähnlichen Problemen: Der Niedergang der landwirtschaftlichen Familienbetriebe durch technologieintensive Bewirtschaftung führt zur Abwanderung der Bevölkerung in die Städte. In diesem Buch findet nicht nur der Politiker oder Städteplaner Anregungen, wie die Attraktivität der Kleinstädte wieder gesteigert werden kann. Ausführlich werden spezielle Aspekte von Vorstädten und Nahtzonen zwischen Großstadt und Land diskutiert.

Purpose: The objective of this paper is to propose a conceptual framework that will assess the scope of social business to collaborate with government through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model in the rural health care system.Design/methodology/approach: This work is a conceptual paper. The study is mainly qualitative in nature which followed systematic literature review including grey literature and developed a conceptual framework on PPP theory for Social Business. Apart from using secondary data, the research is also based on personal observation through visiting different rural part of the country.Findings: The conceptual framework of this paper provides a greater prospect of access to the rural health care through a Social Business-PPP project while indicating the determinants that integrate demand and supply-side-factors all along the process of obtaining health care and benefiting from the services.Limitations: This is a theoretical paper where the validity of the conceptual model can be established by testing the research proposition.Implications: Improving the health and longevity is not only a part of development goals, but also a fundamental object to achieve the economic progress of a nation. Therefore, health care must be addressed in any comprehensive development strategy for a country. Bangladesh is one of the developing countries which has given special attention on its health care policy, but it has failed to improve the health care system significantly especially for the rural people. Similar to many developing countries, majority of the population in Bangladesh lives in rural areas; but they lack the basic public health infrastructure and quality service at an affordable cost. The deficiencies of the public health sector have forced the poor people to seek health services from the private sector which are better equipped but mostly are driven by profit motives and also unregulated. On the other hand, NGOs working in rural health sector have limited coverage and also subject to the availability of foreign aid or donor's fund. Given the inefficiencies and lack of existing players in country's health care sectors, Social Business can be a straightforward solution to address the growing rural public health issue. Social Business, introduced by Professor Muhammad Yunus in 2007, is a competitive business model which is formed with the aim of solving a social problem faced by the poor ensuring adequate profit generation for the sustainability of the firm. As the target group of social business is poor people, operational activities is mainly based on rural areas and is financially self-sustainable, therefore it can be an instrumental factor for the development of the health care system in rural area. In addition, a partnership with government can strengthen the health care activities towards fulfilling the basic health care needs of the poor people. And ultimately, this Public-Private Partnership (PPP) between government and social business firm would make the health care more accessible and affordable to the poor people mostly living in rural area. Contribution: This would bring a greater understanding of the role of 'Social Business' in the business of providing health care to disadvantaged populations. Moreover, our conceptual framework is to guide the discourse and decision making by communities, clinicians, managers and policy makers, with a focus on health care system around the world where rural and poor people are expected to have greater and improved healthcare facilities.

Healthcare Strategies and Planning for Social Inclusion and Development: Volume Two: Social, Economic, and Health Disparities of Rural Women examines rural women, particularly in developing countries, and how social and economic constraints they experience impact their ability to advocate for their own health and impede their access to healthcare. This volume discusses the economic and social barriers rural women confront in exercising their right to health care. It explains how geographical isolation, economic instability, healthcare provider shortages, lack of appropriate funding, resource limitations, and lack of health education are just few factors that make rural health care difficult. The book also covers the impact of social isolation on the health needs of rural women which include chronic diseases, mental health, and OB/GYN services as well as how the lack of opportunities for formal education restrict rural women from working outside the household. This volume will be a useful resource to graduate students in public and global health, public health professionals, health and social work researchers, and health policymakers interested in women's health, especially in developing countries. - Discusses health disparities of rural women in chronic diseases, access to pediatric and ob/gyn services, and mental health treatment - Examines the health consequences of poverty and food insecurity on health - Covers health care access and reproductive health outcomes for rural women

"[A] welcome addition to the rural health care practitioner's tool kit. It will energize those interested in vulnerable rural residents and their unique characteristics through a public health perspective... Highly recommended."--CHOICE: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries "This call to action for healthcare providers is a comprehensive review of issues in rural healthcare, including both obstacles and ways to begin to overcome them. It is easy to read... This enjoyable book encourages healthcare providers working or considering working in rural healthcare with clear direction."--Doody's Medical Reviews "The Warren & Smalley book is an excellent look at the challenges while also presenting solutions and hope. It recognizes the medical challenges that are present and the cost of bring medical care to these communities... There is so much in this book that will be refreshing and encouraging. The book needs to be read. It is also a book that needs to be placed in the hands of the movers and shakers, as well other interested parties who are in a position to 'make this happen.'" -- Illness, Crisis & Loss Rural residents face distinct health challenges due to economic conditions, cultural/behavioral factors, and health provider shortages that combine to impose striking disparities in health outcomes among rural populations. This comprehensive text about the issues of rural public health is the only book to focus on rural health from the perspectives of public health and prevention. It covers specific diseases and disorders faced by rural populations, service delivery challenges, practitioner shortfalls in rural areas, and promising community health approaches and preventive measures. The text also addresses rural health care ethics and international perspectives. Nearly all chapters offer best practice recommendations and evidence-based prevention programs. This book is a cohesive, centralized resource for researchers, public health practitioners, health organizations, and graduate education programs that focus on the public health of rural populations. Key Features: Comprises the only text to address rural health from the perspectives of public health and prevention Includes best practice recommendations and evidence-based prevention programs in each chapter Presents a cohesive, expansive synthesis of current research and practice Addresses specific diseases and disorders of rural populations, service delivery problems, and practitioner shortfalls in rural areas Discusses promising community health approaches and preventative measures

Sustainable Livelihoods and Rural Development looks at the role of social institutions and the politics of policy, as well as issues of identity, gender and generation. The relationships between sustainability and livelihoods are examined, and livelihoods analysis situated within a wider political economy of environmental and agrarian change.

This book examines the underlying concepts, the history of environmental health, and the key factors that affect public health including air pollution, water contamination, industrial hazards and agricultural hazards.The increasing impact of global environmental issues is explored as they affect countries throughout the world.