Landless female peasants living in resettlement residential areas in China have poorer quality of life than males: results from a household study in the Yangtze River Delta region

Urban/Rural Disparity in Quality of Life among the Older Adults in China: Mediation Effect of Leisure Activity

The current study revisits the urban/rural quality of life (QOL) disparity among the older adults in China. It aims to test the potential leisure activity mechanism. Data for this study come from the 2011 and 2014 wave of Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). Sample is restricted to the respondents who are 65 years old and older who are alive for both waves. Ordered logistic regression model is used to test the relationship between QOL and urban/rural residency. Mediation test is used to investigate the mediation effect of leisure activities. Findings from the analysis show that urban older adults have higher QOL, as well as higher frequency of participating leisure activities compare to their rural counterparts. Results also show that leisure activities, especially the cognitive stimulation activities mediate the relationship between urban/rural residency and QOL. The current study adds the role of leisure activities as an intervening variable between urban/rural residency and QOL among older adults in China. Policy application to reduce the QOL disparity through leisure activities is also discussed.

Blood glucose control among type 2 diabetic farmers in Chinese resettlement areas: a mixed methods study

BACKGROUND

Due to China's rapid urbanization, many farmers have relocated to urban resettlement regions. There is limited research on the glycemic control of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) farmers in these areas. This study examined their blood glucose control and its determinants.

METHODS

This study took place from March 2021 to January 2022 in a resettlement community in Yiwu, Zhejiang Province, China. In the first phase, a quantitative survey of 181 T2DM farmers was conducted using a questionnaire to gather demographic data, blood glucose control status, disease cognition levels, and treatment compliance. Inclusion criteria were migrant workers with ≥ 3 months of residence and local household registration and T2DM patients who met the diagnostic criteria of the Chinese guidelines. In the second phase, qualitative research involved face-to-face, semi-structured interviews with 15 patients with varying blood glucose control levels to analyze their experiences.

RESULTS

The blood glucose control rate in this particular group was 27.62%, and the average disease cognition score was 2.5 ± 0.75. Many patients (67.96%) had inadequate treatment compliance, specifically in monitoring compliance (4.45 ± 1.92) and regular review compliance (3.58 ± 1.74).

CONCLUSION

There is a need for tailored programs to improve glycemic control among resettled farmers. Enhancing disease awareness and treatment compliance through targeted education and support is crucial. Further studies are needed to evaluate different treatment regimens' impact on glycemic control.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER

Not applicable.

Two Time Point Analysis of the Change in Risk and Aging Factors for Major Cancers: A 10-Year Longitudinal Study in China

OBJECTIVE

To quantify the change in risk and aging factors with a two time point analysis for major cancers to assess supportive strategies.

METHODS

The 2004 and 2015 mortality statistics in China were accessed. The standardized mortality rates of the two periods were used to calculate the ratio of change (RC) value to assess the risk of death associated with time (social development with time) for cancers. The role of age in mortality with time was evaluated by the interaction between time and age using a Poisson regression.

RESULTS

In ascending order of RC, the factors were uterus; other malignant neoplasms; esophagus; stomach; skin; liver; leukemia; "lip, oral cavity, and pharynx"; bladder; "colon and rectum"; breast; prostate; lung; ovary; pancreas; "lymphoid, hematopoietic, and related tissue"; and cervix cancers. According to their location on the scatter diagram, the 17 neoplasms could be divided into three groups, comprising undeveloped cancers (including four cancers), developed cancers (including three cancers), and cancers insensitive to social development. Unexpectedly, about 60% (as assessed by type of cancer) and two-thirds (as assessed by constituent ratio of death from all cancers) of cancers did not change with time.

CONCLUSIONS

Most cancers may be insensitive to social development. Internal factors, including aging, may be a key factor for the occurrence of cancer.

Evolution of the Physical and Social Spaces of 'Village Resettlement Communities' from the Production of Space Perspective: A Case Study of Qunyi Community in Kunshan

Village resettlement communities (VRCs) are a special type of urban community that the government has promoted considerably during China’s rapid urbanization. This study uses the theory of the production of space as a basis to explore the processes and mechanisms of the physical and social space evolution of VRCs through a case study of Qunyi Community, one of the largest VRCs in Kunshan. Questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were employed in this study. Results indicate that the coupling relationship between local government power and diversified capital is the fundamental reason that promotes the production of macrophysical space. Moreover, the economic and social relationships among residents promote the reproduction of microsocial space. Landless farmers are the most important spatial producers in the microsocial space. The individual needs and cultural differences of immigrant workers also have significant effects on microspatial production. Furthermore, the production and reproduction of the physical and social spaces, respectively, of VRCs deduce the adjustment relationship among the urbanization processes of land, population, and individuals. Results also indicate that the urbanization of individuals appears to lag behind the previous two processes. This study can provide a theoretical basis for the spatial renovation and management optimization of VRCs, as well as the promotion of a new type of “people-centered” urbanization.

Quantifying the effects of aging and urbanization on major gastrointestinal diseases to guide preventative strategies

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to quantify the effects of aging and urbanization on major gastrointestinal disease (liver cirrhosis, hepatitis B, diarrhea, liver cancer, stomach cancer, pancreas cancer, hepatitis C, esophagus cancer, colon/rectum cancer, gastrointestinal ulcers, diabetes, and appendicitis).

METHODS

We accessed 2004 and 2011 mortality statistics from the most developed cities and least developed rural areas in China using a retrospective design. The relative risk of death associated with urbanization and age was quantified using Generalized linear model (the exp.(B) from model is interpreted as the risk ratio; the greater the B, the greater the impact of urbanized factors or aging factor or effect of aging factor with urbanization). The interaction between region (cities and rural areas) and age was considered as indicator to assess role of age in mortality with urbanization.

RESULTS

Greater risk of disease with urbanization were, in ascending order, for diabetes, colon/rectum cancer, hepatitis C and pancreas cancer. Stronger the effect of aging with urbanization were, in ascending order, for stomach cancer, ulcer, liver cancer, colon/rectum cancer, pancreas cancer, diabetes, hepatitis C, appendicitis and diarrhea. When the effects of aging and urbanization on diseases were taken together as the dividing value, we were able to further divide the 12 gastrointestinal diseases into three groups to guide the development of medical strategies.

CONCLUSIONS

It was suggested that mortality rate for most gastrointestinal diseases was sensitive to urbanization and control of external risk factors could lead to the conversion of most gastrointestinal disease.

The aging population in China: Subjective well-being of empty nesters in rural eastern China

In this article, we explore the subjective well-being of empty nesters who lived in rural eastern China (N = 967). The Memorial University of Newfoundland Scale of Happiness is used to measure subjective well-being. The results indicate that Memorial University of Newfoundland Scale of Happiness is appropriate for empty nesters in rural China due to its reliability and validity. Generally, male empty nesters report greater subjective well-being scores than females. Negative factors include low levels of education, being a widow or widower, or being unmarried. It is argued that the empty nesters' incapability to access adequate social service and home care leads to their poor subjective well-being.

Satisfaction With Economic and Social Rights and Quality of Life in a Post-Disaster Zone in China: Evidence From Earthquake-Prone Sichuan

Objective

This study explored the influence of satisfaction with economic and social rights (ESR) on the quality of life (QOL) of people in post-disaster zones in Sichuan, China.

Methods

Data from a survey conducted in 2013 in the 5 hardest hit counties in the earthquake-prone area of Sichuan were used. QOL was measured by use of the brief version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF). Structural equation models were developed to determine the specific features of the influence of satisfaction with ESR on QOL.

Results

The mean values of both the WHOQOL-BREF scale and the ESR satisfaction scale were lower than the midpoint of the scales. Satisfaction with ESR had a significant effect on psychological health, social relationships, and environment, apart from physical health. Satisfaction with the right to food had the greatest effect on QOL, followed by the rights to education, work, health, social security, and housing.

Conclusions

Satisfaction with ESR had a significant positive influence on the QOL of people in a post-disaster zone, particularly satisfaction with the right to food. Policies on food and education guarantees and mental health intervention are highlighted. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2015;9:111-118)

Medical insurance policy organized by Chinese government and the health inequity of the elderly: longitudinal comparison based on effect of New Cooperative Medical Scheme on health of rural elderly in 22 provinces and cities

Background

The alarming progression of the aging trend in China attracts much attention in the country and abroad. In 2003, the Chinese central government launched the New Cooperative Medical Scheme (NCMS) to resolve the inequity problem of health in regions with inadequate infrastructure and relative poverty. The rural elderly are the main beneficiaries of this policy; the improvement of their health through the medical insurance policy require exploration.

Methods

This study used data obtained from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) conducted in 2005 and 2008. Elderly people living in rural areas and aged 60 and above were screened for the investigation. A total of 8658 and 9904 elderly people were selected from 2005 and 2008, respectively. By establishing models and employing multi-logistic analysis, stereotype logistic analysis, we examined the effect of NCMS organized by Chinese government on three domains of the health of the rural elderly.

Results

A total of 948 and 6361 elderly people participated in NCMS in 2005 (n = 8658) and 2008 (n = 9904), respectively. With regard to the independent variables, the number of participants in NCMS increased, whereas province distribution, gender, and years of education only slightly changed. As for the dependent variables, the rural elderly in 2005 had poor general health but good psychological health. Differences were found between different moods. Old people who engage in much outdoor activity can take care of themselves. After three-year promotion of NCMS, the differences between 2005 and 2008 indicate that the physical function of the rural elderly worsen, whereas the general health and psychological health improves.

Conclusions

(1) In the 2005 data and 2008 data, result shows that NCMS participation can promote the self-rated quality and health change of the elderly. (2) After three years, the alleviation effect on anxiety and loneliness changed from insignificant to significant. Participants in NCMS have a stronger sense of uselessness, which weakens with time. (3 )NCMS participation passes the significance test in “outdoor activities” and “pick a book up from the floor” model. Elderly participants indicated higher frequencies of outdoor activities.