Enhancing Drug Users’ Mental Health by Decriminalizing Drug Use: Insights from In-Depth Interviews with Drug Rehabilitation Officers and Relapsed Drug Users

Paramjit Singh, Jamir Singh,Azlinda Azman,Shankar Durairaja,Mohd Syaiful Nizam, Abu Hassan,Farah Wahida, Suhaimi 한국정신간호학회 2024 정신간호학회지 Vol.33 No.1

Purpose: Decriminalisation of drug use is an alternative policy that many experts, including health experts, legal and enforcement experts, and stakeholders in non-government organisations (NGOs), uphold. In Malaysia, this policy was initiated in 2019 by the government to remove criminal penalties from various laws against drug possession for personal use. This study aimed to explore perceptions of drug rehabilitation officers and relapsed drug users towards decriminalising drug use that could be implemented in Malaysia. This qualitative research used an inductive approach. Methods: This study used a semi-structured, face-to-face individual interview guide. A total of 15 drug rehabilitation officers from the National Anti-Drug Agency (NADA) and 15 relapsed drug users were interviewed. Results: Thematic analysis generated three themes from raw transcripts: (1) potential outcomes of decriminalisation of drug use in Malaysia, (2) readiness of the public to accept decriminalisation of drug use, and (3) readiness of government and NADA in implementing decriminalisation of drug use. Conclusion: Findings of this explorative research provide important insight into the growing body of knowledge on decriminalisation of drug use policy in Malaysia.

Transforming the Local Capacity on Natural Disaster Risk Reduction in Bangladeshi Communities: A Social Work Perspective

Isahaque Ali,Zulkarnain A. Hatta,Azlinda Azman 한국사회복지학회 2014 Asian Social Work and Policy Review Vol.8 No.1

Bangladesh has been a severe victim of its various sporadic natural disasters—flood, cyclone andstorm surge, flash flood, drought, tornado, riverbank erosion, and landslide. Familial and societallives and security of people are being seriously disturbed by these natural calamities every year. They also bring deadly damage to the economy and general environment of the country. Naturaldisasters cannot be pre-empted at all, but their damage can be mitigated with effective responses. Social work has been a profession notably known for its intervention of people’s vulnerability tonatural and man-made disasters. This concept paper discusses relevant intervention strategies andapproaches to transform the local capacity of communities on natural disaster risk reduction inlight of the social work profession.

Social behavior practices for child protection and well-being among low-income urban households in Bangladesh

Islam M. Rezaul,Al Gharaibeh Fakir,Azman Azlinda,Hashim Intan H. M.,Islam Md. Robiul,Rahman Abdur 한국사회복지학회 2023 Asian Social Work and Policy Review Vol.17 No.1

The main objective of this study was to explore the status of social behavior practices for child protection and well-being among low-income urban households in Bangladesh. This study used a survey method, and data were collected through a face-to- face structured interview from 378 low-income household heads from 12 wards (Konabari and Kashimpur) of Zone 5 of the Gazipur City Corporation. Results found that the current status of the presence of child protection services is very low (in many cases, this number is zero except children having birth registered). A significant number (55%) of them were married between 15 and 19 years. The study found a low level of access on the components of social behaviors where around 50% to 60% caregivers stated 4 benefits of key behaviors, necessity of hand washing after defecation and before and after taking a meal, the age of boys and girls to get married off, and know the effect and consequences of child marriage. The chi-squared tests confirmed extremely high significance in almost all of the components. Findings will be an important guideline for the policymakers, child service practitioners, and human rights workers.

Microfinance as a Development and Poverty Alleviation Tool in Rural Bangladesh: A Critical Assessment

Isahaque Ali,Zulkarnain A. Hatta,Azlinda Azman,Shariful Islam 한국사회복지학회 2017 Asian Social Work and Policy Review Vol.11 No.1

Poverty is multidimensional in nature and exists in every part of the world. Microfinance is considered one of the most important programs to achieve poverty reduction, particularly in Bangladesh. It has been estimated that nearly 45% of Bangladesh’s population lives below the poverty line. This qualitative research study was conducted in order to determine the effectiveness of microfinance programs and the contributing factors to the high-level of poverty among microfinance beneficiaries in the district of Bogra, Bangladesh. Study findings indicated that microfinance programs were ineffective as a result of high interest rates; insufficient loans; unproductive use of loans; corruption and poor skills of microfinance institution staff; weekly repayment schedules; and physical and mental harassment of poor women. Additionally, the lack of employment opportunities, education, healthcare facilities and social safety nets; natural disasters; the dowry system; and the rising cost of basic daily needs have also contributed to chronic poverty.

Psychosocial stress and trauma during the COVID‐19 pandemic: Evidence from Bangladesh

Hossain Md. Ismail,Mehedi Nafiul,Ahmad Iftakhar,Ali Isahaque,Azman Azlinda 한국사회복지학회 2021 Asian Social Work and Policy Review Vol.15 No.2

The COVID-19 outbreak has become a global health crisis affecting both the physical and mental health of people across the world. Likewise, the people of Bangladesh are going through a menacing mental health catastrophe with the outbreak of coronavirus that resulting in stress and trauma. Hence, this situation is altering people's lifestyles and generating complexities in psychological well-being. The study was based on the review of published articles and media reports related to stress and trauma during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh. A total of 10 peer-reviewed articles and 45 newspaper reports were included following an extensive literature search. The contents were searched on Google, Google Scholar, PubMed, local online newspapers, social networking sites, and different webpages and published articles in different journals on COVID-19 from March 5 to October 25, 2020. The review study finds that the mental health of people in Bangladesh has severely been affected by the outbreak of coronavirus. All of the government, voluntary, and civil organizations need to give further emphasis on psychosocial and bereavement counseling in order to support those experiencing mental shocks resulting from the COVID-19 crisis. There is the need to strengthen more consultative and collaborative efforts from all public health experts, social workers, psychologists, and policymakers in doing so. Social workers in this context will be able to make meaningful contributions in supporting those affected people to better adjust to the challenging situation.

Social assistance programs during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh: Does faith-based approach matters?

Salahuddin Abul Fazal Md,Hossain Md. Ismail,Ali Isahaque,Azman Azlinda 한국사회복지학회 2023 Asian Social Work and Policy Review Vol.17 No.1

This paper aimed to examine the role of faith- based organizations (FBOs) in the dis-tribution of social assistance (SA) during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh. The paper adopts a qualitative case-study approach to explore the best practices in the distribution of SA by five (5) organizations including FBOs, governmental organiza-tions (GOs), Non- governmental organizations (NGOs), political groups, and private voluntary groups. In this study, 14 beneficiaries of SA were selected by stratified pro-portionate random sampling method, and five (5) key personnel were selected pur-posively based on their experiences in the management of SA distribution. The study found that “no- move, no touch” approach followed by FBOs is more likely to establish human rights and social justice and reduce the transmission of diseases. In contrast to the modern idea, which undermines the faith- based charity, the study proved that faith- based charity is gaining attraction as an effective approach combating global pandemic. The findings of this paper will be useful for policymakers, voluntary service workers, GO, and NGO workers to ensure the distribution of SA in a more productive and disciplined way during and after an emergency like the COVID-19 pandemic.

The challenges and coping strategies of single mothers caring for children with special needs: Experiences from Kashmir, India

Bashir Aadil,Tariq Afnan,Khan Aimon,Ali Isahaque,Azman Azlinda 한국사회복지학회 2023 Asian Social Work and Policy Review Vol.17 No.1

Families play a significant role in the development of their children. Nearly 16% of children in the industrialized world live in single-parent households, which are mostly comprised of single mothers. Although motherhood is the most beautiful feeling a woman cherishes, this experience can be challenging when the woman has to raise their special-needs child on her own, without the support of her spouse or partner. This study aims to understand the challenges and coping strategies of single mothers while raising their special-needs children. To this end, in-depth case interviews were conducted with three single mothers selected purposively from the Srinagar area in Kashmir, India. The results revealed that multiple roles and responsibilities had an adverse effect on the psychological well-being of single mothers who had to deal with the financial burden of caring for their child's condition, including expenses for doctor visits, special therapies and medication, among other. In addition, they had to expe-rience the social pressure and stigmatization attached to being a single mother. The most widely employed coping strategies include support from family and friends, reli-gious faith, and self-coping. The study recommends the creation of welfare packages like free counseling, stipend support, inclusive education, free medical treatment, and therapies for Children with Special Needs (CWSNs) and their mothers.