Asian Social Work Journal
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Strategi Daya Tindak Belia Pelbagai Etnik Dalam Mengatasi Penagihan Semula Dadah, di Sabah
Full text linkPenagihan semula di kalangan bekas penagih dadah bukanlah suatu isu baru. Usaha ini telah lama giat dijalankan sejak penagihan dadah dianggap satu masalah serius bersifat epidemik sejak tahun 70-an lagi. Strategi daya tindak yang pelbagai di kalangan penagih dadah yang tidak dilakukan secara betul menyebabkan mereka tidak dapat mengelak dari terjebak semula dengan dadah. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui strategi daya tidak belia pelbagai etnik untuk mengatasi masalah penagihan semula dan melihat hubungan antara strategi daya tindak antara belia pelbagai etnik dalam usaha untuk mengurangkan penagihan semula. Kajian ini dilakukan secara tinjauan dengan menggunakan soal selidik. Subjek kajian adalah terdiri daripada belia yang pernah terlibat dengan pemulihan dadah di pusat-pusat pemulihan. Seramai 63 orang telah terlibat dalam kajian ini. Kajian ini telah dijalankan melibatkan bekas penagih di Papar dan Beaufort. Kaedah persampelan yang digunakan ialah sampel bertujuan yang melibatkan 63 orang belia berumur 18 – 35 tahun dari kawasan-kawasan yang terpilih sahaja seperti dari Papar dan Beaufort. Dalam kajian ini, alat kajian yang digunakan ialah ‘Drug Avoidance Sel-Efficacy Scale’ diasaskan oleh Martin (1992). Inventori yang digunakan dalam kajian ini menyenaraikan 16 soalan strategi daya tindak mengawal diri daripada terlibat dengan dadah. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahawa secara keseluruhan rata-rata sampel kajian mempunyai kemampuan strategi daya tindak positif yang agak tinggi dan tahap coping adalah sederhana. Kajian ini juga menunjukkan setiap etnik mempunyai cara strategi yang berbeza untuk mengatasi masalah mereka apabila berhadapan dengan situasi bermasalah yang mendorong mereka untuk mengambil dadah semula
Impact of Supportive Resources on Middle-Aged Women's Self-Care Activities: A Study in The Vietnamese Context
Full text linkAddressing the fact that studies on self-care of Vietnamese middle-aged women remain scarse, our presenting study aims to investigate the relationship between supportive resources utilized by Vietnamese middle-aged women and their types of self-care. Data were collected from survey interview with 512 middle-aged women (aged from 40 to 60 years old) in Hanoi city and Quang Ninh province. A series of linear regression was performed on the six types of self-care, including: physical care, supportive relationships, mindful awareness, self-compassion & purpose, mindful relaxation, and supportive structure. Three types of supportive resources and other covariates (age, education, and residence area) were entered into these models as key predictors. The study results show that the use of different level of resources was associated with different types of self-care practice. The use of micro-resource system significantly predicted all six types of self-care among Vietnamese middle-aged women. The mesenchymal and peripheral resource systems significantly predicted physical care only among Vietnamese middled-age women. The macro resource system was significantly associated with the practice of mind-relaxing and supportive structure. In addition, people who were older, had better education and lived in urban areas tended to participate more in physical care. Women with a higher education level and living in urban areas were predicted to utilize more supportive relationships and mindful relaxation. Women living in urban areas, having a higher level of education practiced mindful relaxation significantly more than their counterparts. Using more supportive structure was significantly more among women living in urban areas, in older age groups and having higher education levels. The key findings suggest the promotion of active support from the micro-level system, as well as advocate for social policy development to help less privileged groups of women access and use mezzo and macro resources more effectively
Children's Health and Well-being during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan
Full text linkThe COVID-19 has caused challenges at all levels of society. It is necessary to, while carefully looking at impact that COVID-19 will have on children's health and well-being, and to steadily implement social work services accordingly. This paper highlights some key challenges and concerns for health and well-being on children and adolescents in Japan during COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this paper is to consider how the COVID-19 pandemic and the policy taken to mitigating the risk of COVID-19 have impacted children in Japan. In conclusion, we are not saying that COVID-19 policy responses such as school closures overall are ineffective for mitigating the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan. However, as we have seen, school closing policy is likely to have a negative impact on children’s health and well-being such as increased risks of mental health, abuse and suicide. The important point is that these impacts is not the impact of COVID-19 but the impact of the policy responses to COVID-19. The policy responses are likely to lead to a range of unexpected impacts and results. Therefore, policy makers, social workers and other professionals always should consider for the impact of policy responses to COVID-19 on children and adolescents
A Case Study of the Management of the Private Shelter for Unmarried Pregnant Adolescents
Full text linkIn Malaysia, one of the most worrying issues for the community, especially parents is the case of unmarried pregnant among adolescents. However, few parents and members of the community are truly sensitive to the threat of this social problem. Various efforts are being made by the government and non-government agencies to help these adolescents to reduce the problem. One of them is to create temporary shelters to guide and help the adolescents to move forward with their lives towards a more positive path. Nevertheless, these efforts can either have a positive or negative impact on the adolescents involved if the shelters are not properly managed. This qualitative study was conducted to explore aspects of management in a shelter set up specifically for unmarried pregnant adolescents. The results of the interviews with the shelter operator were transcribed fully before being analyzed thematically. The results of the study found that the nature of wanting to help and high perseverance had prompted the operator to set up a shelter specifically for unmarried pregnant adolescents. The shelter was found to gain strong social support. Among the support provided is from individuals or groups which include free academic teaching, food supply, daily necessities, finance for utilities, in addition to the creation of a comfortable physical environment. The operator also used social networks such as close friends to help manage the residents at the shelter. In addition, social media was also utilized by the operator so that many individuals provide assistance to maintain the management of the shelter. This study contributes to the management of shelter for adolescent girls especially unmarried pregnant adolescents.
 
Self-Empowerment of Recipients of Assistance from the Malaysian Social Welfare Department through Productive Welfare
Full text linkThe Productive Welfare Approach and the "2-Year Exit Policy" (2YEP) are introduced by the Department of Social Welfare Malaysia (JKM) to help recipients of welfare assistance (clients) towards living independently and provide the ability to survive without relying on indefinite assistance. This study aims to identify the empowerment of recipients after being involved in entrepreneurship programs through the Launching Grant provided by JKM. This study employs the survey method using questionnaires. A total of 234 respondents were involved in the study: 107 respondents from the Northern Zone, and a total of 127 respondents from the Eastern Zone from 17 Social Welfare District Offices (PKMD) in both zones. The data collection was done between September 2016 to February 2017. The results show that the majority of respondents are self-employed/sole proprietors (85%) with many involved in the food and beverage-type business (58.1%). In terms of self-enrichment/empowerment, respondents' levels are at moderate to high levels. They are responsible for the work, for what they do, and for the results of their actions. The Productive Welfare Approach and the 2YEP program have to some extent, helped in increasing revenue and reducing clients’ dependency on JKM’s assistance. However, better implementation of the program and continuous monitoring can help clients increase their motivation and thus, contribute to eradicating poverty among receivers of assistance
Do Homeless People Giving Up Hope? A Qualitative Study in Penang, Malaysia
Full text linkThis qualitative study aims to explore the lives of homeless people around Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia especially in the social support aspect of their lives. Twenty (20) informants were involved in this study. Data obtained were analyzed using the content analysis method. The results showed that the homeless were classified as those who had given up hope. Lack of social support resources makes the homeless' lives to be drifted and then further triggers risky behaviour changes. The feelings of isolation and neglect caused the homeless to decide not to have any kind of relationship with their nuclear family. This study has the potential to contribute to the knowledge of social marginalization issues affecting homeless people in Malaysia in general and especially in Georgetown, Penang as well as its implications for the survival and sustainability of these minorities' lives
Person Centered and Trauma Informed Approach in Social Work Practice and Ways to Ensure Diversity in both Approaches
Full text linkPerson-Centered approach is an adapted work of Carl Rogers, where the focus was mainly on psychotherapy and counselling. Rogers believed, the basic nature of an individual is constructive and trustworthy – given that the individual is freely functioning. Person-Centered approach is the backbone of social work practice alongside trauma-informed approach. Any emotionally and physically daunting events that affects the response of an individual is trauma. Trauma damages the freely functioning state of an individual – emotionally, socially and behaviorally. By introducing an approach that is trauma-informed will help social worker to not only understand the emotions of the individual while working with them but also guide the social work practice in better understanding while working with the individuals
Challenges of International Social Work Research During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons Learnt from A Bilateral Collaborative Study
Full text linkThe COVID-19 pandemic, which has had a profound impact on people’s lives around the world, has also affected international social work practice and research on social issues. This article explores how international social work research can draw lessons from bilateral research collaborations during the COVID-19 pandemic. In May 2021, an international collaborative research project was commenced to examine the practical experiences of social workers in Sri Lanka, with the overall purpose of contributing to development of socio-culturally relevant social work training. Trial semi-structured interviews were conducted using remote tools with five social workers in government or private organisations. The narratives of the interviewees were qualitatively analysed to identify their personal backgrounds of social work education and practice, their experiences of working during the pandemic and their perspectives and values as social workers. Lessons learnt were discussed focussing on the objectives and perspectives of the study, the preliminary arrangements for the research, the methods and considerations. In a context where it is important for social work researchers to promote international studies during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, this paper provides an example of a feasible international cooperative study
The Paradox of Victims’ Perceptions and Knowledge against Flood Causes
Full text linkThis study aims to unravel the paradox of perceptions and knowledge of the flood victims towards the causes of the disaster in the context of internal and external. Internal context comprises of a comparison of perceptions and knowledge based on individual characteristics (age, gender, education and income). Whereas, the external context includes the factors of the awareness of the victims towards the amount of rainfall, the impact of land use changes as well as the negligence of the responsible parties. The main objective of this study is to determine the differences of perception and knowledge of December 2014 flood victims in Kelantan towards the factors that lead to the flood. This disaster had resulted in huge amount of money lost as well as traumatize the victims in which can be felt to this day. Since that incident, there were various points of view and different perceptions in finding the cause of the disaster occurred. Besides that, the study found that the level of perception and knowledge as to the cause of the disaster is different in the context of the internal (individual characteristics). This difference has a significant influence on the awareness of the causes of the floods that occurred in the external context. Significant relationships at the level of p<0.05 has existed between perception and knowledge of the causes of the disaster victims affected by environmental changes in the last 10 years. This indicates that although the victim is aware of the physical environment changes happening around them, but all that is seen is not a major contributing factor to the cause of the floods in Kelantan in 2014
The Paradox of Victims’ Perceptions and Knowledge against Flood Causes
Full text linkThis study aims to unravel the paradox of perceptions and knowledge of the flood victims towards the causes of the disaster in the context of internal and external. Internal context comprises of a comparison of perceptions and knowledge based on individual characteristics (age, gender, education and income). Whereas, the external context includes the factors of the awareness of the victims towards the amount of rainfall, the impact of land use changes as well as the negligence of the responsible parties. The main objective of this study is to determine the differences of perception and knowledge of December 2014 flood victims in Kelantan towards the factors that lead to the flood. This disaster had resulted in huge amount of money lost as well as traumatize the victims in which can be felt to this day. Since that incident, there were various points of view and different perceptions in finding the cause of the disaster occurred. Besides that, the study found that the level of perception and knowledge as to the cause of the disaster is different in the context of the internal (individual characteristics). This difference has a significant influence on the awareness of the causes of the floods that occurred in the external context. Significant relationships at the level of p<0.05 has existed between perception and knowledge of the causes of the disaster victims affected by environmental changes in the last 10 years. This indicates that although the victim is aware of the physical environment changes happening around them, but all that is seen is not a major contributing factor to the cause of the floods in Kelantan in 2014