Rural-urban residence and life expectancies with and without pain.

This paper analyzes rural-urban disparities in life expectancy with and without pain among upper-middle age and older adults. Data are from the nationally representative Health and Retirement Study, 2000-2018, N = 18,160, age 53+. Interpolated Markov Chain software, based on the multistate life tables, is used to calculate absolute and relative pain expectancies by age, sex, rural-suburban-urban residence and U.S. regions. Results show significant rural disadvantages versus those in urban and often suburban areas. Example: males at 55 in rural areas can expect to live 15.1 years, or 65.2 percent pain-free life, while those in suburban areas expect to live 1.7 more years, or 2.6 percentage points more, pain-free life and urban residents expect to live 2.4 more year, or 4.7 percentage points more. The rural disadvantage persists for females, with differences being a little less prominent. At very old age (85+), rural-urban differences diminish or reverse. Rural-urban pain disparities are most pronounced in the Northeast and South regions, and least in the Midwest and West. The findings highlight that rural-urban is an important dimension shaping the geography of pain. More research is needed to disentangle the mechanisms through which residential environments impact people's pain experiences.

Critical role of model organism selection in assessing weak urban electromagnetic field effects: Implications for human health.

The impact of electromagnetic fields on human health has been investigated in recent years using various model organisms, yet the findings remain unclear. In our work, we examined the effect of less-explored, weak electromagnetic fields commonly found in the urban environments we inhabit. We studied different impacts of electromagnetic fields with a frequency of 50 Hz and a combination of 50 Hz and 150 Hz, on both yeasts (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and human macrophages. We determined growth, survival, and protein composition (SDS-PAGE) (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and morphology of macrophages (human monocytic cell line). In yeast, the sole observed change after 24 h of exposure was the extension of the exponential growth phase by 17 h. Conversely, macrophages exhibited morphological transformations from the anti-inflammatory to the pro-inflammatory type within just 2 h of exposure to the electromagnetic field. Our results suggest that effects of electromagnetic field largely depend on the model organism. The selection of an appropriate model organism proves essential for the study of the specific impacts of electromagnetic fields. The potential risk associated with the presence of pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages in everyday urban environments primarily arises from the continual promotion of inflammatory reactions within a healthy organism and deserves further investigation.

Prospective Spatiotemporal Cluster Detection Using SaTScan: Tutorial for Designing and Fine-Tuning a System to Detect Reportable Communicable Disease Outbreaks.

Staff at public health departments have few training materials to learn how to design and fine-tune systems to quickly detect acute, localized, community-acquired outbreaks of infectious diseases. Since 2014, the Bureau of Communicable Disease at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has analyzed reportable communicable diseases daily using SaTScan. SaTScan is a free software that analyzes data using scan statistics, which can detect increasing disease activity without a priori specification of temporal period, geographic location, or size. The Bureau of Communicable Disease's systems have quickly detected outbreaks of salmonellosis, legionellosis, shigellosis, and COVID-19. This tutorial details system design considerations, including geographic and temporal data aggregation, study period length, inclusion criteria, whether to account for population size, network location file setup to account for natural boundaries, probability model (eg, space-time permutation), day-of-week effects, minimum and maximum spatial and temporal cluster sizes, secondary cluster reporting criteria, signaling criteria, and distinguishing new clusters versus ongoing clusters with additional events. We illustrate how to support health equity by minimizing analytic exclusions of patients with reportable diseases (eg, persons experiencing homelessness who are unsheltered) and accounting for purely spatial patterns, such as adjusting nonparametrically for areas with lower access to care and testing for reportable diseases. We describe how to fine-tune the system when the detected clusters are too large to be of interest or when signals of clusters are delayed, missed, too numerous, or false. We demonstrate low-code techniques for automating analyses and interpreting results through built-in features on the user interface (eg, patient line lists, temporal graphs, and dynamic maps), which became newly available with the July 2022 release of SaTScan version 10.1. This tutorial is the first comprehensive resource for health department staff to design and maintain a reportable communicable disease outbreak detection system using SaTScan to catalyze field investigations as well as develop intuition for interpreting results and fine-tuning the system. While our practical experience is limited to monitoring certain reportable diseases in a dense, urban area, we believe that most recommendations are generalizable to other jurisdictions in the United States and internationally. Additional analytic technical support for detecting outbreaks would benefit state, tribal, local, and territorial public health departments and the populations they serve.

Pediatric Firearm Trauma on the Rise: A Retrospective Review of Over 1,100 Cases in 12 Years at One Center.

BACKGROUND: Gunshot injuries are the leading cause of death among children in the United States. The goal of this study was to better understand if certain age groups, mechanisms of injury, and type of firearms were associated with the increasing rates of pediatric gun-related trauma. We hypothesized that the extremities were disproportionately targeted when compared with the random likelihood of striking specific body-surface areas. METHODS: This study includes pediatric firearm-related injury (FRI) patients who presented to a single free-standing level 1 pediatric hospital or died at the scene from 2010 to 2021. The hospital data was collected prospectively as part of a level 1 trauma system electronic database. Death data was collected from the local coroner's office. RESULTS: Between 2010 and 2021, 1,126 pediatric FRI occurred in the geographic region studied. Demographic information available for 1,118 patients showed that 897 (80.23%) were male, and that black individuals had a statistically significant increased rate of FRI compared with white or Hispanic individuals. Mean age was 13.69 years. Most injuries were caused by handguns. CONCLUSIONS: This data could help leaders design strategies to combat the violence, such as legislation that limits handgun access to all, especially children, and mandates safe storage of handguns. Gun-lock programs, universal background checks, and firearm-ownership education also might help stem this tide of violence. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II Prognosis study.

Zika Virus Infection Knowledge and Communication Preferences Among Women of Reproductive Age in Central Brooklyn, New York: A Thematic Analysis.

The 2016 outbreak of Zika virus (ZIKV) infected millions and resulted in thousands of infants born with malformations. Though the clusters of severe birth defects resulting from this outbreak have subsided, ZIKV continues to be a concern throughout much of Latin America and the Caribbean. Travel and sexual intercourse remain the dominant transmission risk factors for women of reproductive age and their partners. This is particularly true for communities in Brooklyn, New York, that comprise large immigrant and foreign-born populations. Practitioners of public health understand little about how women at risk for ZIKV are most likely to receive information about the virus or who they trust most to provide that information. In the context of five focus group discussions, this study explored the knowledge and communication preferences of 20 women of reproductive age in Central Brooklyn. Results derived from a thematic analysis suggest that while most women are familiar with mosquitos as ZIKV vectors, knowledge of sexual transmission is considerably lower. Many respondents believe that only women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant are at risk, and public health agencies, such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, remain the most trusted sources of information. These findings can support more effective communication about the risks of ZIKV infection and other vector-borne diseases to women in New York City and similar urban communities.

Research Translation to Promote Urban Health in Latin America: The SALURBAL Experience.

In highly urbanized and unequal Latin America, urban health and health equity research are essential to effective policymaking. To ensure the application of relevant and context-specific evidence to efforts to reduce urban health inequities, urban health research in Latin America must incorporate strategic research translation efforts. Beginning in 2017, the Urban Health in Latin America (SALURBAL) project implemented policy-relevant research and engaged policymakers and the public to support the translation of research findings. Over 6 years, more than 200 researchers across eight countries contributed to SALURBAL's interdisciplinary network. This network allowed SALURBAL to adapt research and engagement activities to local contexts and priorities, thereby maximizing the policy relevance of research findings and their application to promote policy action, inform urban interventions, and drive societal change. SALURBAL achieved significant visibility and credibility among academic and nonacademic urban health stakeholders, resulting in the development of evidence and tools to support urban policymakers, planners, and policy development processes across the region. These efforts and their outcomes reveal important lessons regarding maintaining flexibility and accounting for local context in research, ensuring that resources are dedicated to policy engagement and dissemination activities, and recognizing that assessing policy impact requires a nuanced understanding of complex policymaking processes. These reflections are relevant for promoting urban health and health equity research translation across the global south and worldwide. This paper presents SALURBAL's strategy for dissemination and policy translation, highlights innovative initiatives and their outcomes, discusses lessons learned, and shares recommendations for future efforts to promote effective translation of research findings.

The Interplay Between Household Risk Perception of Parasitic Infections and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Practices: Evidence From an Urban Poor Community in the Philippines.

BACKGROUND: Parasitic diseases pose challenges in impoverished urban settlements with limited access to clean water, proper hygiene, and sanitation (WASH). This study assesses WASH practices and risk perceptions of parasitic infections among households in the Bataan Shipyard and Engineering Corporation (BASECO) Compound in Manila, an urban poor community in the Philippines. METHODS: A cross-sectional study design was employed to collect data through a self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed to assess the sociodemographic profile, household WASH practices, and respondents' risk perception of parasitic infections. Linear regression analysis was utilized to examine the relationship between these variables. RESULTS: A survey was conducted with 363 households, of which 237 (65.3%) used distilled and purified water from the water refilling stations in the community for drinking. Meanwhile, 120 households (33.10%) consumed tap water. Boiling water was a commonly used method (n=146; 56.60%) for treating drinking water. Most households had flush toilets with septic tanks (n=244; 67.20%), water sources for handwashing (n=307; 84.57%) and soap for handwashing (n=356; 98.10%). On average, they washed their hands 6-10 times daily (n=159; 43.80%). Most households were aware that drinking untreated water (n=318; 87.6%), improper food washing (n=309; 85.1%), using contaminated water sources (n=301; 82.9%), and consuming raw or undercooked meat (n=298; 82.1%) could lead to parasitic infections. 316 respondents (87.1%) identified diarrhea as the most common symptom of parasitic infection. Relationships were found between access to drinking water and the number of household members (B=0.191; p-value=0.001), personal hygiene and the respondents' knowledge of parasitic infections (B=0.112; p-value=0.047), and the overall WASH score with household income (B=0.105; p-value=0.045). CONCLUSIONS: The WASH conditions in BASECO, Manila need improvement. Factors associated with their WASH practices include risk perception of parasitic diseases, socioeconomic disparity, and household overcrowding. These factors play a crucial role in identifying areas for improvement and promoting health policies for urban poor communities in the Philippines.

Erosion of the Capital City Advantage in Child Survival and Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Intervention Coverage in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The place of residence is a major determinant of RMNCH outcomes, with rural areas often lagging in sub-Saharan Africa. This long-held pattern may be changing given differential progress across areas and increasing urbanization. We assessed inequalities in child mortality and RMNCH coverage across capital cities and other urban and rural areas. We analyzed mortality data from 163 DHS and MICS in 39 countries with the most recent survey conducted between 1990 and 2020 and RMNCH coverage data from 39 countries. We assessed inequality trends in neonatal and under-five mortality and in RMNCH coverage using multilevel linear regression models. Under-five mortality rates and RMNCH service coverage inequalities by place of residence have reduced substantially in sub-Saharan Africa, with rural areas experiencing faster progress than other areas. The absolute gap in child mortality between rural areas and capital cities and that between rural and other urban areas reduced respectively from 41 and 26 deaths per 1000 live births in 2000 to 23 and 15 by 2015. Capital cities are losing their primacy in child survival and RMNCH coverage over other urban areas and rural areas, especially in Eastern Africa where under-five mortality gap between capital cities and rural areas closed almost completely by 2015. While child mortality and RMNCH coverage inequalities are closing rapidly by place of residence, slower trends in capital cities and urban areas suggest gradual erosion of capital city and urban health advantage. Monitoring child mortality and RMNCH coverage trends in urban areas, especially among the urban poor, and addressing factors of within urban inequalities are urgently needed.

Imagining and implementing healthy city interventions: Combined results from parallel concept mapping exercises in Montreal with community members and stakeholders.

OBJECTIVE: Built environment interventions provide structural solutions to complex urban challenges. Though community voices are part of municipal decision-making, planners and public health professionals need tools to better integrate their perspectives for desired changes (what) when implementing built environment interventions (how). We present two simultaneous concept mapping exercises conducted in Montréal, Canada, to facilitate the consideration of these dimensions. METHODS: Community members were prompted about neighbourhood changes that could improve their quality of life; stakeholders were prompted about factors that contribute to successful implementation of interventions. Through each exercise, items were generated, grouped, and rated on importance and feasibility. Concept maps were produced using multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analysis. The clusters identified by community members and stakeholders were combined into a Community × Stakeholder Matrix, which supported discussions on interventions with the research's Advisory Committee. RESULTS: Thirty-two community members generated 41 responses, which resulted in 6 clusters: (1) strengthen public transportation, (2) reduce space dedicated to cars, (3) foster local social connections, (4) develop quality cycling infrastructure, (5) improve pedestrian accessibility, and (6) green the city. Thirty-seven stakeholders generated 40 items, which resulted in 5 clusters: (1) collaboration with stakeholders and citizens, (2) planning and evaluation, (3) common vision for the future, (4) regulatory framework and funding, and (5) context-informed approach. CONCLUSION: Capturing the collective vision of our urban environments and the processes underlying change through concept mapping can lead to more successful changes. We propose combining understandings of the what and how into a matrix to support evaluation and strategic planning of interventions and better integrate community voices into operational planning.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIF: Les interventions sur le cadre bâti peuvent offrir des solutions structurelles aux défis urbains complexes. Bien que les communautés fassent partie du processus décisionnel municipal, les urbanistes et les professionnels de la santé publique ont besoin d'outils pour mieux intégrer leurs perspectives sur les changements souhaités (le quoi) dans la mise en œuvre réussie des programmes et des interventions sur l'environnement bâti (le comment). Nous présentons deux exercices simultanés de cartographie conceptuelle menés à Montréal, Canada, visant à capter ces dimensions de mise en œuvre. MéTHODES: Les membres de la communauté ont été sondés sur les changements dans leur quartier qui seraient susceptibles d'améliorer leur qualité de vie, tandis que des acteurs municipaux ont été sondés sur les facteurs qui contribuent à la réussite de la mise en œuvre des interventions urbaines. Pour chaque exercice, des items ont été générés, regroupés et notés en fonction de leur importance et de leur faisabilité. Des cartes conceptuelles ont été produites à l'aide d'analyse multivariée d'étalonnage multidimensionnel et d'une analyse hiérarchique ascendante. Les regroupements identifiés par les membres de la communauté et les acteurs municipaux ont été combinés dans une matrice communauté × acteurs municipaux, qui a encadré une discussion sur les interventions sur le cadre bâti avec le comité consultatif du programme de recherche. RéSULTATS: Trente-deux membres de la communauté ont généré 41 réponses uniques, qui ont formé 6 regroupements : (1) renforcer les transports en commun, (2) réduire l'espace dédié aux voitures, (3) favoriser le lien social local, (4) développer des infrastructures cyclables de qualité, (5) améliorer l'accessibilité piétonne, et (6) verdir la ville. Trente-sept acteurs municipaux ont généré 40 éléments uniques, qui ont mené à 5 regroupements : (1) collaboration avec les parties prenantes et les citoyens, (2) planification et évaluation, (3) vision commune pour l'avenir, (4) cadre réglementaire et financement, et (5) approche contextuelle. CONCLUSION: En captant la vision collective sur nos environnements urbains et la compréhension des processus sous-jacents au changement avec la cartographie conceptuelle, les transformations urbaines peuvent être plus réussies et plus inclusives. Nous proposons de combiner les perspectives sur le quoi et le comment dans une matrice pour soutenir l'évaluation et la planification stratégique d'interventions, tout en promouvant l'intégration des voix de la communauté dans la planification opérationnelle de l'aménagement urbain.

Interfaces of 'being healthy and being Ill': how is health being perceived by individuals with non-communicable chronic conditions?

BACKGROUND: Accommodating chronic care into the everyday lives of individuals diagnosed with non-communicable chronic conditions often poses significant challenges. Several studies in public health literature that addressed the question of non-adherence to treatment by turning their gaze towards individual's perception of their own health restricted the use of perception exploration to visceral states and corporeality without adequately acknowledging the mutual permeance of socio-biological worlds. This study explored the socio-economic genealogies of individuals, to understand the role of structural and intermediate factors that determine health perceptions, by attempting to answer the question 'how do individuals with non-communicable chronic conditions perceive their health as healthy or ill'?. METHODS: This study was conducted in a low-income neighbourhood called Kadugondanahalli in India using qualitative research methods. A total of 20 in-depth interviews were conducted with individuals diagnosed with non-communicable chronic conditions. Individuals were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling. RESULTS: The participants predominantly perceived their health as being healthy and ill in an episodic manner while adhering to their treatment and medications for chronic conditions. This was strongly determined by the factors such as presence of family support and caregiving, changes in work and occupation, changes in lifestyle, psychological stress from being diagnosed, and care-seeking practices. This episodic perception of illness led to the non-adherence of prescribed chronic care. CONCLUSIONS: Due to the episodic manner in which the participants experienced their illness, the paper recommends considering health and illness as two different entities while researching chronic conditions. It is important for the health system to understand and fix the healthy and ill episodes, which often lead to switching between controlled and uncontrolled states of diabetes and hypertension. To do so, it is important to consider the social, economic, behavioural and psychological factors in an individual's health outcome. The interplay between these factors has socialized health perception and various related practices from the individual to the community level. Therefore, the health system needs to re-strategize its focus from individual to community level interventions to address the determinants of health and NCD risk factors by strengthening the NCD prevention approach.

Water sanitation and hygiene at households and its implications on diarrhoea among under-five children of slums at field practice area of a Peripheral Medical College of West Bengal.

Background: Inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) may lead to an increase in water-borne diseases like diarrhoea. The objective of the study was to assess water, sanitation and hygiene in the urban slums of Patpur, Bankura and to determine the implications of WASH on the occurrence of diarrhoea among under-five (U-5) children. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted during January-March 2020 by interviewing persons involved in water collection from each of the 182 slum households of Patpur, by two-stage sampling using a pre-designed structured schedule and the core questions on drinking WASH for household surveys: 2018 update by UNICEF and WHO. For testing the association between categorical variables, a Chi-square test was done. Binary logistic regression and the Hosmer Lemeshow test were done to know the predictors of diarrhoea in U-5 children. A P value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The proportion of diarrhoea among U-5 children was 0.34. Limited drinking WASH services were found in 3.30, 45.05 and 24.18% of households, respectively. Mobile objects users for handwashing were 14.05 times more prone to diarrhoea in U-5 children than those who had fixed handwashing facilities at their dwellings, yards or plots. Feeding children without handwashing had 5.70 times increased chances of diarrhoea among U-5 children than those who washed their hands before feeding. Conclusion: Handwashing facilities (fixed, mobile object or no facility) and handwashing with soap and water before feeding the child significantly affected the occurrence of diarrhoea among U-5 children.

Inaction in Urban Climate Policy Undermines Health.

This paper investigates the critical intersection of urban climate policy and public health, emphasizing the pressing need for integrated strategies to address the intertwined challenges of climate change and health in urban settings. Despite cities being central to global emissions and energy consumption, a significant gap exists in the incorporation of health considerations into urban climate strategies, as evidenced by the analysis of urban content in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The paper highlights the Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships (CHAMP) initiative and the forthcoming Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report as pivotal moments for integrating climate and health agendas. However, it also points out the underwhelming response from cities in adopting comprehensive climate strategies, which undermines potential public health benefits. With substantial investments required to bridge the gap in health-focused climate resilience, the paper calls for a redefined approach to urban climate policy. This approach should prioritize health outcomes, leverage opportunities like the 15-Minute City concept, and foster the development of infrastructures that support both climate resilience and public health. The upcoming NDC revision cycle is identified as a critical opportunity for embedding health imperatives into urban climate strategies, emphasizing the need for a holistic perspective that views urban areas as ecosystems where climate and health are intricately connected. This comprehensive view aims to promote policies that are mutually reinforcing, thus contributing to healthier, more livable cities.

Health equity in urban and rural settings: implementation of the place standard tool in Spain.

The physical, social, and economic characteristics of neighborhoods and municipalities determine the health of their residents, shaping their behaviors and choices regarding health and well-being. Addressing local environmental inequalities requires an intersectoral, participatory, and equity-focused approach. Community participation plays a vital role by providing deeper insights into local contexts, integrating community knowledge and values into processes, and promoting healthier, fairer, and more equitable actions. In recent years, various tools have been developed to assess places and transform them into health-promoting settings. One such tool, the Place Standard Tool (PST), facilitates discussions on Social Determinants of Health grouped into 14 themes, serving as a starting point for local health interventions. In this study, that took place between August 2019 and February 2020, we described the resident's perceptions of two municipalities in the Valencian Community, Spain, using the validated Spanish version of the PST. A mixed-method convergent-parallel design was used to gain a holistic insight into residents' experiences concerning their physical, economic, and social environment. A total of 356 individuals from both municipalities participated in the study through discussion groups, structured interviews, and online survey. Descriptive analysis of the individual questionnaire answers was conducted, and differences between municipalities were explored. Qualitative thematic analysis was conducted on structured interviews and discussion groups. Quantitative and qualitative data were integrated to facilitate their comparison and identify areas of convergence or divergence in the findings. Overall, rural areas received more favorable evaluations compared to urban ones. Public Transport as well as Work and Local Economy were consistently rated the lowest across all groups and contexts, while Identity and Belonging received the highest ratings. In the urban area, additional negative ratings were observed for Traffic and Parking, Housing and Community, and Care and Maintenance. Conversely, Identity and Belonging, Natural Spaces, Streets and Spaces, Social Interaction, and Services emerged as the highest-rated themes overall. In the rural context, positive evaluations were given to Walking or Cycling, Traffic and Parking, Housing and Community, and Influence and Sense of Control. Significant differences (p < 0.01) between urban and rural settings were observed in dimensions related to mobility, spaces, housing, social interaction, and identity and belonging. Our study illustrated the capacity of the PST to identifying aspects within local settings that influence health, revealing both positive and challenging factors. Successful implementation requires appropriate territorial delineation, support from local authorities, and effective management of expectations. Furthermore, the tool facilitated community participation in decision-making about local environments, promoting equity by connecting institutional processes with citizen needs.

A Narrative Review of Urbanization and Mental Health: An Indian Perspective.

Urbanization is a phenomenon that shows the expansion of urban areas in conjunction with industrial and economic progress. Rapid world urbanization is caused by the swift rise in urban residents as a proportion of the population. Efforts to examine the quality of urban life and urbanization as distinct risk factors for mental illness within specific age groups have been made. However, the issue remains contentious and largely unresolved. Urban mental health issues, such as substance abuse, fear of crime, poverty, and ethnicity, are associated with factors like depression, aggression, fear, sadness, and personality disorders. The entire gamut of the population, particularly adult males and females, is affected by these impacts of urbanization. The size of the population increases the prevalence of the preview study. India is expected to concentrate highly on the whole urban population, but this might inadvertently cause harm to urban residents. This review discusses the impact of urbanization on mental health and well-being. We search via PubMed (Medline), Google Scholar, and databases like WHO. The language of the study is English, and other language articles are excluded. The mental health challenges associated with urbanization impact the entire population, with a notable emphasis on adult males and females. They are raising awareness about various urban programs designed for urban populations. It will function as a coordinator of change in a rapidly modified Indian society to spread awareness about mental illnesses throughout all segments of society.

Community engagement and social participation in dengue prevention: A cross-sectional study in Dhaka City.

Background: Dengue is a major public health concern in Bangladesh. This study aimed to assess the perceptions and practices of community members in Dhaka regarding community engagement and social participation for dengue prevention. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in Dhaka City from May 2022 to December 2022. The respondents were randomly selected. The association between community participation and prevention practices was tested using the χ 2 test. Results: The findings of this study indicate that the majority of participants (92%) believed that community effort would be relied upon in the event of a dengue outbreak. Environmental cleaning campaigns were the preferred approach, and religious leaders viewed them positively. This study also revealed significant variations in knowledge levels, with those involved in community efforts and mass gatherings demonstrating greater knowledge. This study sheds light on the demographic factors that influence dengue knowledge and provides valuable insights into the development of targeted public health interventions. Conclusion: The study revealed negative perceptions and limited participation in dengue prevention among participants, with the majority demonstrating a poor understanding of preventive measures. While some showed positive attitudes towards community engagement, significant disparities existed in participation, highlighting the need for targeted educational campaigns and enhanced community mobilization efforts. Moreover, the importance of multisectoral collaboration is emphasized, underscoring the need for coordinated efforts among health departments, NGOs, religious institutions, and community leaders to effectively combat dengue transmission. Recommendations include ongoing educational initiatives, targeted interventions to promote community involvement, and fostering collaboration across sectors to strengthen dengue prevention efforts and to safeguard public health.

Cancer survivorship in urban people living with cancer following primary treatment: A secondary analysis of qualitative interview data.

PURPOSE: Urban cancer survivors have been shown to have better opportunities for recovery of health and wellbeing than their rural counterparts. Whilst there is a considerable body of evidence that explores urban people with cancers' experiences and outcomes, there is a dearth of research that explicitly explores 'urban cancer survivorship' in its own right. This study aimed to explore cancer survivorship in urban people living with cancer who have completed primary treatment. METHODS: Secondary analysis of in-depth interview data (n = 18) with adults living with cancer who resided in urban parts of the UK. Data were drawn from a broader study on self-management of people living with cancer. An adapted version of Foster and Fenlon's recovery of health and wellbeing in cancer survivorship framework was used to inform the analysis of the data. RESULTS: Recovery of health and wellbeing was impacted by a variety of contributory factors, which had a largely positive impact. Access to amenities, social support, travel, and healthcare factors were opportunities for urban cancer survivors, whilst pollution, traffic and a lack of green spaces acted as challenges for health management. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated how urban residency acted as both a barrier and a facilitator to recovery of health and wellbeing in urban cancer survivors following the completion of primary treatment. Area of residence should be taken into account by health providers and policymakers supporting cancer survivorship and the views of those with lived experiences should be included in informing future practice.

Changes in food sufficiency among Korean adults in urban and rural areas during the COVID-19 pandemic: an analysis of the 7th and 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Objectives: Understanding changes in food sufficiency within various demographic groups during emergency situations, such as the global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, is crucial in formulating public health policies for future preparedness. This study investigated potential differences between urban and rural residents in food sufficiency trends during the COVID-19 pandemic and examined how these changes varied according to sociodemographic factors. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 19,724 adults aged 20 years and older, utilizing information from the 7th-8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2018-2021). Results: In urban areas, across all subpopulations, food sufficiency improved significantly during the COVID-19 period relative to pre-pandemic levels (p<0.001). However, in rural regions, a significant increase in food sufficiency during the COVID-19 era was observed only among women, with an odds ratio of 1.42 (confidence interval, 1.06 to 1.89). Nevertheless, no significant interaction terms were found between region and various sociodemographic factors regarding changes in food sufficiency during the COVID-19 period. Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic, food sufficiency among urban residents improved compared to the pre-pandemic era, whereas their rural counterparts saw no such improvement. Additionally, no significant interaction was detected between urban versus rural areas and changes in food sufficiency during the COVID-19 period. These findings indicate the need for targeted food policies to prepare for potential future pandemics, particularly in rural areas, where food sufficiency did not improve.

Using Qualitative Methods to Understand the Interconnections Between Cities and Health: A Methodological Review.

Objective: Using different perspectives and methods to investigate the links between the urban phenomenon and health is critical in an urbanizing world. This review discusses qualitative methods in the context of urban health research. Methods: We conducted a narrative review following these steps: We identified the qualitative data collection, analysis and sampling methods that could be more relevant for the problems researched in the urban health field. We conducted searches for methodological articles and other documents about those methods. We included some influential materials and examples of empirical urban health studies using those methods. Results: We included 88 studies and identified several qualitative data gathering, analysis and sampling methods relevant for urban health researchers. We present those methods, focusing their strengths and limitations, and providing examples of their use in the field of urban health. These methods are flexible and allow in-depth analysis of small samples by collecting and analyzing rich and nuanced data. Conclusion: This article should contribute to a better understanding of how, and when, qualitative methods may improve our knowledge on urban health.

Psychological correlates of physical activity among adults living in rural and urban settings.

Middle-aged and older adults living in rural settings have been consistently less likely to report regular physical activity (PA) than those living in urban settings. While past literature has identified sociodemographic and environmental correlates of PA that may contribute to these differences, consideration of psychological correlates has been limited. A total of 95 rural and urban adults ≥50 years old provided self-reported sociodemographic information, PA level, and psychological correlates of PA including measures assessing motivation, self-efficacy, social support, and attitudes related to PA. The average participant age was 68.6 years, and most were female (62.1%) and married (70.5%). While PA level did not differ significantly between the rural and urban groups, different psychological correlates contributed significantly to separate rural and urban linear regression models considering PA status. Among rural adults, more positive attitudes toward PA, and greater PA self-efficacy and social support were associated with greater amounts of PA while for urban adults, no psychological correlates were significantly associated with PA. Psychosocial factors may be key considerations in developing more effective PA interventions in middle-aged and older adults living in rural areas.

Gaps and opportunities in addressing the needs of older adults in the Philippines and Vietnam: a qualitative exploration of health and social workers' experiences in urban care settings.

Background: Despite numerous government initiatives, concerns and disparities among older adults have continually been growing. Empirical studies focused on older adults in the Philippines and Vietnam appear minimal and mostly regarding perceptions of aging. An effective geriatric care strongly relies on functional service providers requiring their perspectives to be explored toward inclusive service delivery. Objective: To investigate the perceived gaps and opportunities in geriatric care service delivery among health and social care workers in selected urban areas in the Philippines and Vietnam. Methods: A qualitative case study approach drawn on social constructivism theory, examined working experiences, observed characteristics of older adults, geriatric services and needs, difficulties on service delivery, and recommended solutions. A total of 12 semi-structured interviews and 29 focus group discussions were conducted in the Philippines, with 174 health and social care workers, while in Vietnam, there were 23 semi-structured interviews and 29 focus group discussions with 124 participants. An inductive thematic analysis was employed. Results: Interview participants highlighted the increasing unmet needs such as accessibility, availability, and acceptability of geriatric care services. The implementation of interventions on the older population faced multiple challenges, including issues related to older adult conundrums and dilemmas in geriatric care providers and facilities. The participants from the two countries felt that strengthening implementation of collaboration toward an integrated geriatric care structure and expansion of training and capability in handling older adults can be potential in addressing the gaps at both individual and institutional levels. Additionally, a committed leadership was viewed to be the important step to effectively operationalize the strategy. Conclusion: Health and social workers emphasized that the needs of older adults are exacerbated by various challenges within a fragmented geriatric care system. To address this issue, an establishment of an integrated service delivery mechanism with dedicated leadership is needed. The findings from this study may help develop appropriate solutions for addressing the health and social care needs of older adults in similar settings across Southeast Asia. Further examination of the impact of these challenges and solutions on service delivery and the wellbeing of older adults is essential.