Population-based study in a rural area

Abstract

OBJECTIVETo describe the planning, sampling, operational aspects of the field, and the sample obtained during a research conducted in a rural area, specifying and discussing the main logistical difficulties unique to these places and the solutions adopted.METHODSWe carried out a population-based, cross-sectional survey between January and June 2016, with a representative sample of the population aged 18 years or over living in the rural area of Pelotas (approximately 22,000 individuals), State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. We collected demographic, socioeconomic, and health-related information, such as alcohol consumption, cigarette consumption, depressive symptoms, quality of diet, quality of life, physical activity, satisfaction with the health unit, overweight or obesity, and sleep problems.RESULTSIn the 720 domiciles sampled, 1,697 individuals were identified and 1,519 were interviewed (89.5%). The study initially drew 24 census tracts and proposed the visit to 42 households per tract; however, we need to adjust the method, such as decreasing the number of households per census tract (from 42 to 30) and identifying housing centers in each tract. The main reasons for these changes were difficulty accessing the area, large distances between households, misconceptions in the satellite data available (which did not fit the reality), and high cost of the field work.CONCLUSIONSThe previous detailed recognition of the research environment was crucial for decision making as the maps and territory had geographical inconsistencies. The strategies and techniques used in studies for the urban area are not applicable to the rural area given the outcomes observed in Pelotas. The decisions taken, keeping the methodological rigor, were essential to ensure the timely execution of the study with the financial resources available.

Health-Disease-Care Process in Older Adults Living in Rural Areas: Perspective of Culturally Coherent Care

“…Because, unlike the urban area, it is characterized by a reality in which low income and low schooling level predominate, precariousness of homes and roads, as well as the lack of public transportation and, consequently, social isolation and difficulty in accessing social and health services, causing social and health inequalities to increase progessively. 3 Furthermore, based on a literature review regarding research studies that contemplate the health-disease-care process of the older adults living in rural areas, it was identified that these are still incipient, since few scientific publications were found. This gap allows for the justification of the development of new research with the purpose of understanding it in different social and cultural contexts and, therefore, of contributing to the planning, implementation, development, evaluation and (re)formulation of health policies, programs and actions with a view to providing culturally congruent care.…”

Fontes de acesso e utilização de medicamentos na zona rural de Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, em 2016: estudo transversal de base populacional

“…The study is part of a broader research project on the health of the rural population. 12 The municipality of Pelotas has a population of around 340,000 inhabitants. Approximately 7% of those individuals live in the rural area of the municipality.…”

“…9 We found few studies that assessed medication use in rural areas of Brazil. 10,11 Limitations of a logistical and financial nature hinder studies being conducted in rural areas, 12 where there is also less availability of health services and pharmacies close to people's homes. 13 These factors can interfere in the pattern of medication use.…”

“…Further details on the methodology can be found in a previous publication. 12 Data collection took place by means of face-to-face interviews in each participant's household between January and June 2016. The questionnaire comprised sociodemographic and behavioral questions and questions on health.…”

Assessment of Primary Health Care for rural workers exposed to pesticides

“…This is a descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach 15 , conducted in rural areas of a regional health department based in Alfenas, Minas Gerais, with 26 municipalities, whose PHC is primarily governed by the Family Health Strategy (FHS). According to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) 9 , the study's target population was 66,266 working-age rural dwellers, of which 28,837 women between 18 and 60 years and 37,429 men between 18 and 65 years.…”