Week 8 Flashcards
Intro to lecture?
Approximately 95% of Canada’s land mass can be considered rural and remote
Longstanding debate exists about the definition of geographic communities such as rural, remote, Northern and isolated
Little consensus exists amongst literature, so the choice of index is dependent on the focus of the researcher. Technical & social are both recommended ways to define rural
Technical Approaches to Defining Rural
Locators or geographic regions
Example: location of hospitals, roads, or specific political areas (province or county)
Statistics Canada define rural by emphasizing
Population size
Population density
Settlement or labour market contexts
The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) includes:
Distance to + relationship with urban areas
Census Rural
Refers to “individuals living in the countryside outside centres of 1000 or more population”
First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (Define Degrees of Rurality)
Non-isolated community: communities with road access of less than 90 km to physician services
Semi-isolated community: communities with road access greater than 90 km to physician services
Isolated community: communities with good telephone service, scheduled air transportation flights, but no road access
Remote, isolated community: communities with no scheduled air flights, minimal telephone or radio access, and no road access
Social Approaches to Defining Rural
Refers to the nature of the rural community, and specific services that are normally associated with a larger population
Example: specific restaurants or stores
Includes healthcare delivery, including retention and recruitment of health professionals
Example: Registered Nurses
Statistics Canada identifies “rural and small town” as:
“individuals in towns or municipalities outside the commuting zone of larger urban centres”
Diversity of Rural and Remote Communities
These communities in Canada are diverse
Economies vary by specific geographic region/features
Traditionally these economies have been dependent on natural resources of the landscape
Examples: oil and gas extraction, forestry, fishing and agriculture
The Resource base
Influences the health status of those who live in the community
In rural, remote and isolated communities where there is reliance on industries such as oil, gas, logging, mining, fishing, and agriculture
Injuries and illnesses
In 2015, there were 271 935 farm operators - operators on medium-size farms had the highest incidence of injury from working the longest hours without reliance on hired help compared to larger farms
Risks: Mining
Since 2000, 10 people have died and 50 people have been critically injured in underground mines in Ontario
Injuries may occur due to water accumulating in mines, remote control equipment, explosives, mobile equipment
Occupational illness & disease: Diesel emissions (carcinogenic) and silica are airborne hazards
Risks: Oil and Gas Industry
From 2001-2020 349 people died on the job in Western Canada
Transportation accidents accounted for 40% of the fatalities, followed by exposure to harmful substances or environments (22%), contact with objects/equipment (16%), falls (4%), and finally fires and explosions (4%)
Occupational diseases include asbestosis and mesothelioma
Strains, sprains and tears are typically the most commonly occurring nature of injury and affected a large number of peoples backs (including spine and spinal cord)
Agriculture
Biological hazards
Respiratory disorders from inhaling moulds
Exposure to zoonotic diseases ie. toxoplasmosis, rabies, histoplasmosis, Lyme disease, hantavirus
Needlestick or sharps injuries
Chemical hazards
Hazardous products (fuel, fertilizers, pesticides)
Gases in manure pits
Gases in silos during grain storage
Ergonomic hazards
Standing or sitting for long hours
Awkward working postures, repetitive tasks, lifting
Physical hazards
Excessive noise
Extreme conditions ie heat
UV radiation
Safety hazards (heights, animals, machinery)
WSIB
Provides wage-loss benefits, medical coverage and support to get people back to work after a work-related injury or illness
Nurses and physicians assist patients in reporting workplace injuries and accessing the appropriate care
Health Professionals are typically responsible for filling out a Form 8 on the initial visit
A copy is given to the employee to share with their employer
A copy is sent to WSIB
Diversity of Rural and Remote Communities
Local health regions may be responsible for enforcing environmental and public health regulations for camps
Potential health issues: shift work, obesity, emotional distress, domestic issues, and interrelated substance abuse
Socioeconomic status of rural and remote communities is variable, and when resources are depleted -> communities will shift to alternate economic ventures
Boom-and-bust cycles affect economic stability and availability of services
Employment Opportunities
Not all individuals have access to earn a reasonable living wage, purchase healthier food options, and care for family members
Statistics Canada (2017) reported only 45.6% of rural and 44.6% of remote women were in the labour force
Reserve-based First Nation women’s income was lower than non-Indigenous women working on reserves and Indigenous women living in rural or urban settings
Education
Only 56% of women living in remote communities reported to have a certificate, diploma, or degree compared to rural (69%) and urban (78%)
For rural Indigenous women, 41% were fund to have no certificate, diploma, or degree compared to 35% of urban-based Indigenous mown
Statistics demonstrate a strong relationship between residing in urban areas and obtaining a higher level of education
Being Rural and Remote
It’s important to not generalize regarding people who live in rural or remote areas, it’s inaccurate!
The definition of health has been found to vary between remote, rural, and urban dwellers
Example: Two western provinces found being healthy was defined as a holistic relationship between mental, social, physical, and spiritual aspects
