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The theoretical model for economic development states that development in science and technology is the key to increased productivity. Upon realizing this, the Malaysian government has targeted 60 to 40 per cent of students for Science to Arts field at the tertiary level of education. However the rate of participation in science-based programs hardly achieved 60 percent even after more than four decades of efforts taken and incentives given by the government. Despite the policy's under-achievement, this article aimed at examining another dimension of the issue. It sets to explore to what extent would Science based graduates remained working in the same field after their graduation. Given that female has been dominating the enrolment in tertiary education while low rate of female participation in the labor market is recorded, this study focuses on women who have completed their tertiary education. Based on data collected through survey on educated women, this study found 36.9% of women who have graduated with science-based degree opted to non-science type of job. The study also found that those who opted out experienced difficulty in finding a job and earned less than those who remained in the same field. Unsurprisingly, these respondents found that knowledge acquired from their tertiary education is less helpful in their career advancement. The findings highlighted the under-achievement of the policy implemented by the government.

One of the dimensions of multidimensional poverty as well as quality of life is access to healthcare services. Lower income households are often associated with poorer health conditions, making accessibility to healthcare even more important. Nonetheless, in accessing healthcare services, this group of households often faces more significant personal, financial and structural barriers compared to families from higher income groups. This study focuses on structural barrier from socio-demographic factors that affects access to public clinics among the urban poor. The respondents of this study were residents of Projek Perumahan Rakyat (PPR) in Kuala Lumpur. Questionnaires were distributed to 585 respondents selected systematically from 30 PPRs. The results from the regression estimates that urban poor who are married, divorced, the spouse has passed away with monthly income less than RM 1000 are facing higher structural barrier in accessing the public clinics. Government is suggested to increase the operation hour of the public clinics as well as making effort to set up mobile kiosk clinic for urban poor live far and cannot reach the public clinics in their areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, many developing countries, including Pakistan, have made efforts to increase financial inclusion so that their population can easily avail a range of services provided by financial institutions. Debt provision can play an important role in increasing financial inclusion. This study identified social and economic factors which affect entry of households into the debt market. This will also help to derive a borrower profile to target debt provision and financial inclusion. Older people have a higher likelihood of taking debt than younger ones while those who are employed in the agricultural sector have a higher likelihood of taking debt. Inheritance is important to explain life cycle of savings, but it does not affect entry of households into the debt market in Pakistan. This research will help to channel efforts by focusing on the factors affecting debt decisions and demand of debt of households in order to increase financial inclusion through debt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is a lack of information on the practice of family planning among Muslim women in New York City in the United States of America (USA) [hereinafter known as "Muslim women residing in the United States" (MWRIU)], Tehran in the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The limited figures on this issue are either outdated or mere estimates. The importance of sexual and reproductive health of Muslim women is expected to have massive effects on the social and economic progress of developing countries like the IRI and Malaysia. It is also expected to have imperative impacts on the attempts to empower the MWRIU community and enhance their health status to meet the national standards. Objective: The study objective is to explore and compare the practice of family planning, namely on contraceptive use and abortion among Muslim women in 3 major cities of different countries. Methodology: A survey of 379, 377 and 380 respondents from New York City, Tehran and Kuala Lumpur respectively was conducted in 2013 using self-administered questionnaires. Results: There were significant differences in contraceptive and abortion practices across these countries (P<0.01). While a significant 86.6% of Iranian and 66.2% of the MWRIU used contraception, only 22.9% of the Malaysian women did so. For abortion, 13.6% of the MWRIU and 6.3% of the Malaysian respondents had abortion at least once; while only 22% of Iranians revealed their abortion history, totaling 32.1% of them who had abortion. Financial problems and having an unsupportive husband were among the major factors hindering their practice of healthy family planning. Conclusion: Educational campaigns should be promoted to increase the awareness on the permissibility of family planning in Islam, as well as on sexual and reproductive rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Some argue that Malaysia's extremely low organ donation rate is attributed to religion, specifically Islam. Testing this argument, this study asked Malaysian Muslims their views regarding various issues on organ donation and examined whether their decisions to donate organs are framed by religious beliefs. Materials and Methods: This study investigated the perspectives of Malaysian Muslims between October and December 2013 in Kuala Lumpur. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to 900 people, with 829 responses collected (92% response rate). Respondents' verbal consent was taken before proceeding with the survey. Results: The survey found that more than half of respondents felt that organ donation is permitted in Islam and that it is a communal responsibility. However, the same proportions were unsure on the issues of rewards for organs or on whether Islam permits the procuring of organs from brain dead patients. Conclusions: Malaysian Muslims are not against organ donation; however, encouraging organ donation requires the state to address public concerns on Islam's views on this sensitive issue through effective policy tools to help address these gaps in Malaysian Muslims' understanding of organ donation. The organ donation rate could improve by using Islamic scholars as ambassadors for an organ donation drive to convey the message of Malaysia's urgent need for organ donation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Most countries around the world have experienced a shortage in organs needed for transplantation. Organ donation performance is widely attributed to two important factors: the legislation and the role of the family. Thus, this literature review aims to examine the willingness of people for organ donation while highlighting the importance of having a presumed consent system. Methodology: In this study, we explored many papers of which 10 articles were studied to gain conclusive understanding of the two factors and their interactions. Results: Our analysis of literature regarding the legislation and family response showed that the presumed consent system for organ donation accounted for 21-30% higher organ donation rates than the informed consent system. We also found a gap between the willingness of people to donate their own and their relatives' organs. The ratio of people willing to donate their organs after death was estimated to be 10-12% higher than the ratio of those willing to donate their relatives' organs. Furthermore, the study revealed the importance of a presumed consent system in raising the willingness of the people and their relatives for donation, but that did not eliminate the gap. Conclusion: Countries seeking to overcome organ shortage and increase organ donation rates by moving towards the presumed consent system should consider the importance of providing families with proper information about this system. The fact that a gap between the willingness of the people to donate their own as well as their deceased relatives' organs exists, has to be conveyed to the governments, which will be helpful in optimising organ donation rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Malaysia, which currently uses the informed consent system (ICS), is suffering from a severe shortage of organs for transplantation. Family members of dialysis patients (FMDPs) are expected to have a positive attitude toward deceased organ donation (DOD) because they have a close relative in need of a kidney donation. This study explores FMDPs' attitude toward DOD under the ICS and the presumed consent system (PCS)., Material/methods: The attitude of 350 FMDPs toward DOD under the ICS and PCS were sought between June and October 2013 in 3 dialysis institutions in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia., Results: Under the ICS, 6.6% of respondents were registered donors, 6.6% were ready to register at the time of the survey, 38.6% were willing to donate but not ready to register at the time of the survey, and 48.2% were unwilling to donate organs upon death. If the PCS were implemented, 57.7% of respondents (28.7% of the willing donors and 88.7% of the unwilling respondents) stated that they would officially object to organ donation., Conclusions: FMDPs' attitude toward DOD is not more positive or significantly better than that of the general public (based on earlier studies). The PCS may increase the number of donors, but it may also worsen the attitude of FMDPs toward DOD. Strategies aiming to promote DOD in Malaysia should be revised, and should perhaps be focused on enhancing trust of the medical system.