Asian Social Work and Policy Review最新文献

This study employed a novel methodological perspective to evaluate the impact of Zakat on one of the sustainable development goals (SDGs), i.e., education. The study has employed macrolevel data on Zakat spending collected from the Zakat department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, and microlevel data from a renowned national survey, the Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement Survey (PSLM). Based on the data set used for empirical analysis, a multilevel model was used to control the effect of intraclass correlation. The findings of this study confirmed that Zakat spending by the public sector reduces deprivation in education. Hence, the households benefiting from Zakat allocations are less likely to face barriers in accessing education. Furthermore, the study shows that educated and female-headed households are less likely to experience deprivation, emphasizing the importance of empowering such households as a strategy to reduce educational inequality. However, the mechanism of Zakat disbursement should be refined and made transparent to pursue SDGs by empowering individuals through quality education, vocational training, and enhancing technical skills, which may ultimately reduce poverty in the country. In addition, the methodology adopted in the study opens doors for further research to decompose the results and design policies accordingly.

Knowledge and awareness of Sexual and Reproductive Health/Rights (SRH/SRHR) have emerged as a prominent issue globally. Such knowledge leads to improved behaviors to minimize risks related to SRH as well as enhances women's autonomy regarding their fertility and sexuality. In the domain of SRH sociocultural norms and gender power dynamics play an even larger role in determining SRH outcomes. In India, despite progress in health, reproductive health remains a concern. SRH is still subjected to a social taboo in Indian society. Therefore, this study examines persistent challenges in acquiring knowledge of SRH among married working women, also, try to understand SRH issues from cultural and gender perspectives. An exploratory study conducted in Jaipur city (Rajasthan), included highly educated married working women (n = 104), using mixed-methods with interviews and focus group discussions. Ethical guidelines ensured participant confidentiality and informed consent. Despite high educational and economic status significant gaps were found such as limited awareness of SRH concerns, family planning methods and SRHRs like rights to make informed decision, termination of pregnancy, maternity benefits, etc. This study emphasizes holistic approach to improve SRHR outcomes and advocated policy interventions for women of all sections of society.

The purpose of this study is to verify the serial mediating effects of self-esteem and peer support in the relationship between acculturative stress and life satisfaction of refugee children living in Korea and to explore social work implications for the adaptation and development of refugee children. Primary data from a 2023 study was used, based on 71 research participants (33 boys, 38 girls) included in the analysis. Results of the study are as follows: First, refugee children's acculturative stress had a positive effect on their life satisfaction. Second, self-esteem and peer support had a serial dual mediating effect on the impact of refugee children's acculturative stress on life satisfaction. Based on these results, social work policy and practice implications were discussed in order to ameliorate acculturative stress and improve self-esteem and peer support of refugee children living in Korea.

Adolescent physical fights are a significant social problem worldwide, with a rising incidence of mass school fights in Indonesia highlighting the need for targeted interventions. Despite this, research often overlooks the perspectives of the offenders themselves. This study aims to address this gap by examining protective factors and prevention strategies from the viewpoint of Indonesian juvenile offenders. Using in-depth interviews and thematic analysis with four juvenile offenders across three correctional institutions, the research identifies several key strategies for prevention. These include strengthening parental connections, providing positive adult role models, severing ties with delinquent peers, and offering education on adaptive coping strategies. Effective prevention also involves establishing robust parent–child relationships and implementing school programs that address honor-related conflicts. Furthermore, the study suggests that educating adolescents about positive masculinity, incorporating anger management training, and utilizing cognitive-behavioral therapy can significantly reduce the likelihood of involvement in mass student fighting. By adopting these approaches, communities can more effectively address and mitigate the underlying factors contributing to adolescent violence and promote more constructive conflict resolution methods.

Following the transition into society, adolescents' rehabilitation and social integration are the main concerns for child care institutions (CCIs). By recognizing the challenges adolescents face, it is possible to facilitate their rehabilitation and integration into society. This study aims to identify the issues and obstacles impeding care leavers' rehabilitation and integration process, as perceived by caregivers. The researcher employs social constructivism as a theoretical framework and qualitative description method as the research design. The study involved eight participants, selected through purposive sampling, and semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. The study's findings elucidate the risk and protective factors associated with the issues faced by care leavers, including caregiving environment and support, social and community support, educational challenges, psychological and emotional challenges, social isolation and discrimination, among others. Based on the findings, the researcher has developed a Holistic Care Integration and Transition (HCIT) framework for practitioners and policymakers.

The study investigated the effect of social relationships on vulnerability among community-dwelling older adults living alone in Taiwan. Data were extracted from the de-identified service records of 2116 older adults living alone. Logistic regression models were used to identify the connection between social relationships and vulnerability. The results demonstrated that close social relationships help reduce vulnerability for older adults living alone. Moreover, the data indicated a statistically significant relationship between frailty and vulnerability and a statistically significant relationship between public assistance and vulnerability. An increase in the degree of frailty increases the risk of exposure to threats for older adults living alone. However, public assistance benefits older adults living alone. Existing policy and social work interventions aim to strengthen social safety nets for older adults living alone and establish social networks for older adults living alone through an institutional approach to prevent exposure to threats. Moreover, policymakers should focus not only on risk factors (e.g., frailty) but also on protective factors (e.g., social relationships and public assistance).