Introduction: Self-medication is a global phenomenon which has potential risks. Patients with chronic diseases like hypertension are most likely to self-medicate. Despite several studies about self-medication among general population, there are no studies done regarding self-medication on hypertensive patients in the rural settings in the Philippines. Objective: This study aimed to determine the factors on self-medication among adult hypertensive individuals in a rural community. Reason influencing self-medication, antihypertensive drugs used, source of medication and information about the medication were identified. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study used simple random sampling on adult hypertensive patients who consulted at the Barangay Health Station and during Sitio visits. Data were gathered using Interview-guided Questionnaire that was validated, piloted and reliability tested. Data were analyzed by SPSS Version 26. Results: One hundred fifty patients participated in the study. 94.7 % of them practice self-medication of antihypertensives mostly with Calcium Channel Blocker (68.3%) and Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (58.5%). Prevalent reasons influencing self-medication were availability of the drug (72.5%), previous experience with the disease or medication (68.3%), perception that disease is simple (67.6%) and reasons that revolve on saving time and money. 61.9% of respondents who practice self-medication obtain their medications at Barangay Health Center while 65.5 % bought from Community Private Pharmacy. Previous prescription is pervasive among the sources of information about the medications (93.7%). Other sources of information were family, and health center midwife or nurse. Conclusion and Recommendation Self-medication practice is prevalent among hypertensive patients in the rural community. Practices revolve on availability of medication, previous experience on the disease and medication, and saving time or money. Since the study was conducted on a rural community, further research could be done which would include urban setting, impact of self-medication on the blood pressure, and correlation of sociodemographic factors.
Rural Population

Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA) is a systematic, semi-structured activity carried out in the field by a multidisciplinary team that is designed to obtain new information and hypotheses about rural life. This article reports the results of an RRA conducted in Kampung Paris 1 (KGP1), Kinabatangan, Sabah under the Annual Health Promotion Program of the School of Medicine, Universiti Malaysia Sabah. A systematic random sampling was used to recruit the villagers and data was obtained through compilation of pre-existing data, field observation, structured interviews with key informants and villagers. Cardiorespiratory diseases were prevalent in KGP1. Common water sources such as rain water collected in dug wells in KGP1 were unhygienic. Dangerous toxic fumes were produced by the burning of municipal wastes nearby village houses. The villagers of KGP1 were exposed to various farm animals, which may harbor zoonoses. Health care services are limited in KGP1. Villagers who were not poor (>RM897) represented 48% of the population, followed by the poor (RM503-897), 20% and the hardcore poor (1.00 person per bedroom. Poor water hygiene, polluted air from open burning, exposure to farm animals, poverty, poor education, overcrowding and inadequate health care services were among the few possible factors affecting the health of villagers in KGP1. Formal rigorous research should be conducted in the future to facilitate specific health interventions in areas of need such as KGP1.
Rural Population ; Rural Health ; Rural Health Services ; Health Status ; Malaysia

Background: Domestic-related violence against women appears in every country, culture and socioeconomic classes. Yen Phong district of Bac Ninh province is in the economic transformation process from agricultural to industrial and service economic structure. The domestic-related violence trend is increasing, but there are no study on this situation. Objectives: The study was conducted to investigate the situation of domestic violence against women in Yen Phong district, Bac Ninh province. Subjects and method: The study used cross-sectional descriptive design. Participants were married women who were less than 50 years old. The participants were interviewed with structured questionnaires. The group involved the men who have a history of violent activities against women and the women who suffered from violence was thoroughly interviewed and discussed. Results: A total of 452 women had participated in the study. Mean age of participants was 34.6 years old (ranging from 19 to 49 years old). About half of participants have never suffered from domestic violence. The violence in the last 12 months was lower, affected to one out of every 5 women. The mental violence accounted for highest rate, followed by physical and sexual violence (29.2%, 28.3% and 10.4%, respectively). Sharing economy and household responsibility, gambling habit of husbands and talkative habit of wives were main reasons of violence. The consequences of violence were mainly related to mental and social factors. Some women suffered from mental, physical and sexual health consequences (73.2%, 20.5%, and 13.7%, respectively). Conclusion: In order to increase the awareness on domestic violence, it requires improve access to information on gender violence for both men and women.
Gender violence ; Rural women

For 4 years, Thua Thien - Hue province has been implemented 3844/1 PAM project in 45 communes. The results showed that: malnutrition rate of children under 5 years was reduced. The underweight malnutrition decreased from 49.6% to 37.1%; wasting malnutrition decreased from 56.8% to 45.7%. Mother's knowledge on nutrition has been improved.
Nutrition ; Rural Health

The investigation was conducted in one rural commune. Information was gathered about socio-economic status (SES) and food consumption from 544 households with 3 categories of SES. The results showed that the energy intake of household increased with increase of socio-economic conditions. Rice, fat/oil, nut and sesame were most consumed in households of the average socio-economic status. The consumption of meat, fish, eggs and fruits tend to increase with better higher SES. Vegetable consumption was low at all studied households
Social Class ; Rural Health

This research aims to identify the prevalence of reproductive tract infections (RTIs) and to investigate the knowledge of married women with child bearing age about RITs as well as their practices in treatment and prevention of these diseases. The research was conducted in Thuy Dzung commune- Thai Thuy District - Thai Binh province in 1996-1997. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were applied in this research. In cross sectional study, clinical and para clinical examinations and questionnaires were applied in 609 married women aged 15-49. The prevalence of RTIs was 32.8% (95% CI: 32.8% +/- 3.7). Among these infections, 28.5% of the cases were due to candida, 44% due to bacteria and 27.5% due to both candida and bacteria. The qualitative study was implemented in 7 months in 70 married and some men, health workers.The result shows that both local people and health workers perceived STDs as separate diseases,meaning that RTIs do not include STDs and hardly related with them. Free drugs and free health services are not enough, it is more important that the health workers are better able to deal with comon RTIs, and to counsel and help local women to prevent these diseases.
Infection ; Rural Health

Results from some studies in rural area of Vietnam have shown that poor people are likely tend to sell assets while non poor people are able to pay for health care services. This makes poor people fall into poverty trap. Objectives: To identify the average household health expenditure during a year and sources of borrowing money and average amount of borrowing as well for health care services. Methods: 621 households were selected randomly from the Filabavi, Bavi District, Ha Tay Province. A longitudinal descriptive study was conducted for one year from July 2001 to June 2002. All selected households were interviewed one time per month. Results and conslusion: average payment household for health care services for one year was VND 519.000 (6.4% of total annual household income). Annual household income of poor group was VND 6,576,000, among this 8.4% was paid for health care services. There was 16.9% household had to borrow money for health care services average1y, while 23.1% of poor household had to borrow money for health care services. Borrowing sources included relatives (85%), neighbours (50%), Bank (26%), friends (15%), community organizations (9%) and private organizations with some interest (18%).
Health Expenditures, Rural Health

In 2004, a project on environmental hygiene has been conducted at An Duong district to improve water supply system and sanitary latrines in the community. This study was designed for evaluating the project activities at two communes of An Duong, Hai Phong and some encouraging results have been yielded.
Environment ; Water ; Rural Health

A cross-sectional study was conducted with the aim to explore the present status of birth preparedness and complication readiness in rural area of West Bengal and determine the possible factor(s) influencing their knowledge and practice regarding this concern. Thirty villages with homogenous characteristics were identified by cluster sampling methods from a rural block (Bhatar, Burdwan district, West Bengal) of India on April 2013 to November 2013. From every cluster 7 mothers who had delivered baby within the last year and were available first, interviewed consecutively using a guided questionnaire adapted from JHPIEGO Maternal and Neonatal Health Programme survey tools. Multivariate logistic regression was applied in analysis to predict how much the independent variables influenced the birth preparedness of mothers. 62.4% mothers were found to be well prepared. Trained birth attendants and health facilities were identified before delivery in 81.9% and 78.1% cases respectively. Mode of transportation for complication management or delivery was pre-decided by about 60% of family. Only 35.7% family saved money for the same purpose. Logistic regression revealed that well preparedness increased 11 times with every new pregnancy, but it did not depend on caste and education status of the mothers. The overall birth preparedness status of the rural mothers is poor and they acquire more knowledge regarding birth preparedness from their self experience rather than from existing health system. ​
Parturition ; Rural Population ; India

The lower percentage of water, sanitation and hygiene are the root causes of diarrhoea and cholera. Cholera is a sudden onset of acute watery diarrhoea which can progress to severe dehydration and death if untreated. The current pandemic, Vibrio Cholera O1 started in 1961. This study explores water, sanitation, hygiene and cholera and diarrhoea in three affected villages of Beluran District, Sabah Malaysia to support effective and timely public health intervention. This cross sectional study uses purposive sampling. All (114) households were interviewed and household water samples collected. The study reported lower coverage improved sanitation facilities (35.3% to 52.3%), no latrine at home (37% to 63%), improved water supply (52% to 60%), and prevalence of hand washing after toilet (57% - 74%). For water quality, Ecoli was present in household water (32% to 37%) but Vibrio cholerae was not isolated in any of the water samples tested. Statistically significant associations were found for; 1) occupation−non-agriculture and unimproved sanitation facility and 2) house ownership and correct knowledge of ORS preparation. Predictors for household water quality were: latrine at home, and improved household toilet. Aggressive strategies to improve water supply, sanitation and hygiene−hand washing after toilet−were recommended for future prevention of cholera and diarrhoea in the affected area.
Cholera ; Sanitation ; Rural Population