Asian Social Work Journal

The Burden of Water Inadequacy on Households in Juba City, South Sudan: A Qualitative Approach

2026-03-09T00:50:04+08:00

Access to clean and safe water is a fundamental human right and a critical component of public health, yet in Juba City, South Sudan, the situation is dire, with significant portions of the population facing severe water scarcity due to inadequate infrastructure and conflict-driven disruptions. This study investigates the impact of this water scarcity on households in Juba City using a qualitative research methodology. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews with household heads and key stakeholders from various administrative levels in selected payams: Munuki, Juba, and Kator. Purposive, convenience, and critical case sampling were used. Thematic content analysis was employed to identify recurring themes and patterns in the data, revealing the profound effects of inadequate access to clean and safe water on health, economic stability, and social cohesion. The study found that households suffer from increased prevalence of waterborne diseases, significant financial burdens, and heightened social tensions, including conflicts within communities and gender-based violence. The study underscores the urgent need for improved water infrastructure, equitable distribution, and sustainable management practices to mitigate these challenges and enhance the quality of life in Juba City, contributing to the broader goals of Sustainable Development Goal 6.

Beban, Strategi Daya Tindak dan Keperluan Penjaga Pesakit Skizofrenia di Sarawak: Anjuran Penyelidikan

2026-03-09T00:50:04+08:00

Penyakit skizofrenia merupakan penyakit mental yang serius dari jenis kecelaruan psikotik dimana, pesakit akan mengalami delusi, halusinasi, pertuturan yang tidak jelas, pergerakan badan dan tingkah laku yang tidak normal serta mempunyai gejala yang negative. Sarawak merupakan salah satu negeri di Malaysia yang tidak terkecuali daripada masalah penyakit mental ini. Sarawak telah menjadi negeri ketiga yang mempunyai ramai pesakit mental di Malaysia. Pesakit yang datang mendapatkan rawatan di Hospital Sentosa Sarawak kebanyakannya sudah mengalami penyakit mental di peringkat akhir yang menyebabkan mereka sukar untuk dirawat. objektif kajian ini adalah untuk meneroka bebanan yang dihadapi oleh penjaga pesakit skizofrenia, menganalisis strategi daya tindak penjaga bagi menangani bebanan menjaga pesakit skizofrenia, menganalisis keperluan penjaga bagi menangani bebanan menjaga pesakit skizofrenia, dan mencadangkan model intervensi dan perkhidmatan yang relevan kepada penjaga pesakit skizofrenia bagi meningkatkan kefungsian sosial mereka. Reka bentuk kajian ini adalah berbentuk kualitatif. Seramai 20 orang responden akan dipilih dalam kalangan penjaga. Kajian ini menggunakan perisian ATLAS. ti versi 24.1 untuk menganalisi data kajian. Kajian ini memberikan kepentingan kepada praktis kerja sosial, penyelidik, penjaga pesakit skizofrenia dan perkhidmatan serta dasar polisi negara khususnya berkaitan dengan kesihatan mental di Malaysia. Hasil dapatan kajian ini, diharapkan dapat memberi impak yang positif untuk meningkatkan kualiti hidup antara penjaga dan pesakit skizofrenia seperti mempertingkatkan program psikoedukasi, sokongan sosial dan rawatan penjagaan pesakit skizofrenia. Kajian ini juga mewakili satu langkah penting ke arah membina ekosistem sokongan yang komprehensif dan berkesan bagi pejaga sebagai tulang belakang kepada pesakit skizofrenia.

Fostering Career Readiness among Final Year Students: Lived Experiences of Counselors in Public Institutions of Higher Education

2026-03-09T00:50:05+08:00

The transition from higher education to the workforce presents significant challenges for graduating students, particularly in aligning academic preparation with industry expectations. In Malaysia, counsellors in Public Institutions of Higher Education (PIHE) play a crucial role in equipping students with the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed for career readiness. Despite this important function, limited research has explored the lived experiences and effective strategies employed by these counsellors in facilitating students' career development. This study addresses this gap by examining the practices of counsellors within selected Malaysian PIHEs, aiming to shed light on their contributions in enhancing graduate employability. This study employs a phenomenological approach to explore the lived experiences of counsellors in Malaysian PIHEs, focusing on the strategies they use to foster career readiness among graduating students. In-depth interviews were conducted with six counsellors from Public Institutions of Higher Education (PIHE) located in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, and Perak, Malaysia. The data collected was analyzed using thematic analysis, which identified five strategies used by the counsellors: organizing programs and workshops, designing career modules, collaborating with industry, conducting group counselling sessions, and providing individual coaching. The findings will furnish empirical evidence to help graduate programs, educators, and novice counselors in assisting graduating students with the transition into the workforce.

Community Volunteerism and Social Support in Neighbourhood Community: Implications for Community Social Work Practice in Kg. Medan, Selangor, Malaysia

2026-05-25T09:28:19+08:00

Rukun Tetangga (RT) or community neighbourhood is frequently regarded as a means of fostering unity and ensuring neighbourhood security; however, its role as a space for community social work that builds social support has received limited empirical attention. Based on a qualitative study of RT in Kg. Medan, Selangor, this article discusses how community volunteerism, social support and neighbourhood networks function in strengthening the well-being of a multi-ethnic urban community. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews with 14 informants chosen through purposive and snowball sampling. The findings indicate that RT functions as a community support system through three primary mechanisms. First, voluntary involvement is driven by social responsibility, personal satisfaction, and support from family and friends. Second, bonding and bridging relationships enable residents to build closeness, inter-ethnic cooperation and neighbourhood assistance. Third, linking relationships with government agencies, non-governmental organisations and local leaders expand community access to resources, assistance and social programmes. Nevertheless, leadership, financial and infrastructural challenges limit the effectiveness of RT as a platform for social support. This article indicates that RT is an essential form of informal community social work practice in Malaysia, particularly in terms of enhancing grassroots communities' well-being, resilience, and solidarity.