Rural and Remote Health

08/05/2026

New Project Report in RRH: Educational strategy for the prevention and basic care of chronic wounds in Mayan–Yucatecan Indigenous communities by Cinthya Cadena-Trejo, Nancy Facio-Escalona, María Fernández-García, Daniela Flores-Aguilar, Kenya López-Herrera, Emilio Motte-García and Ingris Peláez-Ballestas.

https://www.rrh.org.au/landing/newarticle10454/nafb/

The incidence of chronic wounds (eg diabetic foot ulcers, venous ulcers, pressure ulcers, surgical wound dehiscence, and skin tears), is expected to rise alongside the increase in non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs). Mexico faces significant healthcare challenges due to high rates of NCDs, a situation that is exacerbated in rural populations, which experience high rates of malnutrition, marginalization, discrimination, lack of access to specialized services, and a shortage of trained personnel. This Project Report examines the success of a co-constructed educational strategy for the prevention and basic care of wounds in Maya-Yucatecan Indigenous communities in the municipality of Chankom, Mexico.


Centro Médico ABC UNAM Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México .oficial

07/05/2026

New Review Article in RRH: Evolving patterns of child malnutrition in northern Nigeria: trends in stunting, wasting, and underweight from 2013 to 2018 by Felix Olaniyi Sanni, Abike Elizabeth Sanni, Oluwadare Peter Akeju, Tukwasi Ahamuefula and Onyeagwaibe Collins Isioma.

https://www.rrh.org.au/landing/newarticle9803/nafb/

Child malnutrition is a critical global health challenge, disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income countries, where it contributes significantly to morbidity and mortality among children under 5 years of age. Northern Nigeria presents a unique case of child malnutrition due to its complex socioeconomic and geopolitical challenges. This Review article explores the trends and determinants of child malnutrition in Northern Nigeria, particularly the prevalence of stunting, wasting, and underweight among children aged under 5 years and the underlying factors contributing to these conditions.

06/05/2026

rNew Original Research article in RRH: When eggs in the same basket are apples and oranges: length of stay for public sector allied health professionals in regional, rural and remote southern Queensland, 2010–2021 by Anthony Fallon, Clara Walker, Anna Coghlan, Priya Martin, Ansmarie Van Erp, Jessica Elliott, Lee O'Malley, Bahram Sangelaji and Hwee Sin Chong.

https://www.rrh.org.au/landing/newarticle9871/nafb/

Despite recognition that the term ‘allied health’ encompasses disparate professions (differing markedly in their background, training, scope of practice and client populations), evidence related to retaining the allied health workforce in regional, rural and remote areas often treats these professions as a homogeneous group. Grouping allied health professions together risks missing professions and/or geographic differences that could be targeted for the development of specific retention strategies. This Original Research study assesses the retention patterns of different allied health professionals employed in regional, rural and remote regions of Southern Queensland.


Queensland Science University of Southern Queensland - Australia Darling Downs Health

05/05/2026

New Original Research article in RRH: Reducing the phenomenon of medical deserts by identifying the career plans of future doctors in Poland. Quo vadis? by Magdalena Łoś, Michał Henzler, Paweł Żuk, Alicja Domagała, Iwona Kowalska-Bobko, Monika Kaczoruk and Aneta Nitsch-Osuch.

https://www.rrh.org.au/landing/newarticle9879/nafb/

Provision of equal access to medical services for all citizens is a challenge for public healthcare systems across many European countries. Medical deserts, where medical services are inadequate for the local population, are caused by insufficient local workforce distribution and service availability, and commonly occur in rural and peripheral regions. A recent audit in Poland highlighted a lack of target numbers for medical professionals and a lack of analytical instruments or data necessary for long-term workforce planning. This Original Research study examines the determinants of professional plans (planned specializations and geographic locations) for future doctors.

05/05/2026

New Original Research article in RRH: Employment status and healthcare utilization in Indonesia: a multilevel analysis across developed and underdeveloped districts by Mardiana Dwi Puspitasari, Beni Teguh Gunawan and El Bram Apriyanto.

https://www.rrh.org.au/landing/newarticle10494/nafb/

Informal workers have few formal legal protections and tend to have more exposure and susceptibility to health-threatening situations than formal workers, they also represent the predominant form of employment globally, making them a key population for improving health equity. In Indonesia, informal workers make up 57.95% of the working population. This Original Research study uses a multilevel modelling approach to monitor disparities in healthcare utilization between formal and informal workers in Indonesia and examines how geographic context and health insurance coverage shape these utilization patterns.

Published article 10494 Rural and Remote Health

01/05/2026

New Original Research article in RRH: Awareness of cervical cancer prevention among rural dwellers in Enugu State, Nigeria: findings from Ituku outreach by Polycarp Agu, Cyril Dim, Johnpaul Nnagbo, Godwin Odoh, Eze, Onyemaechi Silas Okoro and Peter Nkwo.

https://www.rrh.org.au/landing/newarticle10083/nafb/

To eliminate cervical cancer as a public health threat, the World Health Organization has set a global strategy that includes achieving 90–70–90 targets by 2030: 90% of girls fully vaccinated against human papillomavirus by age 15 years, 70% of women screened by age 35 years and again by 45 years, and 90% of women identified with cervical disease receiving appropriate treatment. In Nigeria, this need is especially critical in rural populations, which often face disproportionately limited access to health education and preventive services. This Original Research study assesses the level of awareness and perceptions of cervical cancer prevention among participants of a community health outreach program in Ituku, Enugu State, Nigeria

29/04/2026

New Original Research article in RRH: Using the socio-ecological model to appraise the implementation of the provincial health authority model in rural districts of Madang Province, Papua New Guinea: a qualitative study by Gigil Daniel Marme, Andrew Pus, Anna Irumai, Cathy Wale Pamba and Emelda Ariku.

https://www.rrh.org.au/landing/newarticle9777/nafb/

Innovative models are being adopted worldwide to enhance access to essential health services in rural areas. Nevertheless, implementing these models can prove challenging, particularly in low-resource countries. In Papua New Guinea (PNG), there is limited information about the application of health policy frameworks and the challenges affecting their implementation in rural districts. This Original Research study uses qualitative interviews and group discussions with administrators, clinicians, and community members in rural areas of Madang Province, PNG, to examine the socio-ecological factors that influence implementation at all levels of the healthcare system.


Divine Word University

27/04/2026

New Original Research article in RRH: Depression in mothers and early childhood development: rural–urban disparities by Nur Utami, Dwi Sisca Putri, Rofingatul Mubasyiroh, Kencana Sari, Donny Mulyantoro, Elisa Julianti, Nazarina Nazarina, Sudikno Sudikno.

https://www.rrh.org.au/landing/newarticle10419/nafb/

Early childhood development is essential for long-term health, educational, and financial outcomes. Among many determinants of childhood development, the mental health of mothers has emerged as a critical, yet often under-addressed, factor, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Despite this, few studies have explored the relationship between mothers’ mental health and child development in rural Indonesia. Most analyses use aggregated data, obscuring important rural–urban differences. This Original Research study examines nationally representative data to inform equity-focused, context-specific interventions.

22/04/2026

WHO-sponsored Special Edition on Rural Proofing for Health (https://www.rrh.org.au/journal/special_issue/11)
New Policy Report in RRH: Pae Ora – Healthy Futures: lessons learned from the first New Zealand Rural Health Strategy by Liam Glynn, Sarah Clarke, Helen MacGregor, Julia Cronin, Grant Davidson, Garry Nixon, Rachel Pearce, Joseph Scott-Jones, Neta Smith, Jenni Vernon, Nicky Welch, Peter Hayes, Monica Casey, Veronika Rasic and Theadora Koller.

https://www.rrh.org.au/landing/newarticle9922/nafb/

Health equity is a crucial aspect of public health, ensuring that all members of society have equal opportunities to achieve their full health potential. In recent years, Aotearoa New Zealand has increased its focus on rural health equity, leading to the development of, for the first time, a specific Rural Health Strategy. The importance of a specific strategy for rural health, particularly in countries with large rural populations and regions, has been well established. This Policy Report delves into the background and context of rural health in Aotearoa New Zealand and the specifics of the development and implementation of the first New Zealand Rural Health Strategy.


UL School of Medicine Ministry of Health - Manatū Hauora University of Otago .health

16/04/2026

New Review Article in RRH: Digital and community-based health interventions for exercise and education in the management of musculoskeletal- and lifestyle-related health conditions in rural communities in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review by Alda Grethe Geldenhuys, Megan Dutton and Theresa Burgess.

https://www.rrh.org.au/landing/newarticle10304/nafb/

Education, exercise prescription, targeted rehabilitation, and addressing risk factors form the cornerstone of prevention and treatment of many musculoskeletal and lifestyle-related health conditions. Although in-person health care at established facilities remains the gold standard of management, alternative options should be considered to assist with the prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal and lifestyle-related health conditions in rural communities in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This Scoping Review identifies and describes the use of digital and/or community-based health interventions for exercise and education in the management of musculoskeletal and/or lifestyle-related health conditions in rural communities in LMICs and explores the impact, feasibility, barriers, and facilitators of these interventions.


University of Cape Town