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Rural Health in Central and Eastern Europe: an Issue for Contemporary Science and Research I.Ciznar, T.Cook, R.Ungar, G.Gulis. Rural. “there is no standard definition…. “. different criteria different levels of analysis different methodologies. - imply rather than explicitly state.
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Rural Health in Central and Eastern Europe:an Issue for Contemporary Science and ResearchI.Ciznar, T.Cook, R.Ungar, G.Gulis
Rural “there is no standard definition…. “ • different criteria • different levels of analysis • different methodologies -imply rather than explicitly state
Different Schemes and Thresholds for Defining RURAL • POPULATION SIZE • -such as areas with “individuals living outside places of more than 1,000 people.” • POPULATION DENSITY • -such as the OECD definition of rural communities as those having less than 150 persons per square km. • LEVEL OF URBANIZATION • -such as not having an urban center with a population of more than 50,000 or being outside the commuting distance to an urban center. • PRINCIPAL ECONOMIC ACTIVITY • -implying an economy based on agriculture.
”…though the characteristics of rural people are different for each definition, in general, each definition provides a similar analytic conclusion.” HIGHER MORTALITY RATES in rural areas, no matter how one chooses to define “rural.”-Du Plesis, et al
Life Expectancy at Birth WHO Report 2001
Mortality from Cardiovascular Diseases Central/Eastern Europe Western Europe WHO Report 2001
Mortality from Cancer Central/Eastern Europe Western Europe WHO Report 2001
RURAL in our study is defined on the basis of: • level of urbanisation. • principal economic activity. • Nothern regionis typical industrial, with high level of urbanisation (commuting zone) and higher population density. • Southern regionis typical agricultural, with people living in small villages close to working place.
Questionnaire Survey ‘94-’97 Northern - Urban Southern - Rural SK Statistical Office WHO 2002 Report
Mortality Rates in Two Districts*RURAL URBANmale female male female CVD 696 620 472 402Cancer 266 259 185 162 *per 100.000
Drinking Water Local Wells (20%) - High Contamination (80%)
Usage of Local Well Water • in Rural Areas • Hygiene = 97% • Cooking = 95% • Drinking = 85% • Irrigation = 57%
Waste Disposal/ Sewage Lack of Sewage Facilities - Animal Deposits Near Drinking Water Sources - Insect Breeding Sites
Waste Water Treatment/Sewage in Rural Areas • 50% of the population is using municipal sewageand waste water treatment systems. • 90% are located in urban areas. • 70% of the local wells users in rural areas also use septic tanks. • most septic tanks are emptied into a field, garden, pasture, etc.
Air Pollution Local Heating & Burning Household Waste
Chemical Exposures Agricultural Workers - Household Gardeners (50-75%)
Socio- economic Factors High Unemployment - Poor Diet - Stress - Unhealthy Lifestyles
Health Care Limited Health Care Services - Inadequate Preventive Services