Family Planning Communication between Wives and Husbands: Insights from the 2017 Indonesia Demographic and Health Survey

Frequent inter-spousal communication is regarded as an indicator of safe family planning practice. Nevertheless, communication about family planning within couples in Indonesia is still largely unexplored. This study assessed the levels of inter-spousal communication about family planning and its associated determinants, using cross-sectional and nationally representative data from the 2017 Indonesia Demographic and Health Survey (IDHS), from a randomly selected cohort of 8,925 currently-married couples. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, inter-spousal communication behaviors, and attitudes regarding family planning were collected. The dependent variable in this study is how frequently couples discuss family planning, based on wives’ responses. The analyses were stratified based on the frequency of inter-spousal communication: never, once or twice, or more often. The results of the study were greater husband approval of family planning and communication with family planning field workers, and that those encouraged inter-spousal communication in Indonesia

Evaluation of migration decision-selectivity factors in metropolitan area: a case of Klang Valley region, Malaysia

Internal migration is one of the important spatial phenomena in urban areas that contributes to high level of urban growth and urbanisation. Accordingly, it leads to crucial effects on social, economic and physical developments in urban areas. Hence, understanding of spatial trends and distribution of migration in urban areas is crucial for the purpose of urban planning decision making. This paper focuses to identify and evaluate relative importance of migration decision-selectivity factors that affect the spatial distribution of migration in metropolitan area. The analysis is based on migration behavioural survey in the Klang Valley region, Malaysia. The results of analysis show that factors from spatial-economic aspect influence distribution of migration the most in the Klang Valley. The factor of the highest importance index is affordable housing areas, followed by new residential areas, the acceptable cost of living, nearness to place of work, and good physical and environmental features. Then, it is followed by spatial-social factors such as good social and community living. Finally, this paper concludes that the determinant migration decision-selectivity factors will help urban planners to understand spatial distribution of migration potential in urban areas in order to plan a proper development planning for the future

Housing Affordability Woes and The State Of Developed Underdevelopment In Penang Island

Housing affordability is a critical issue in Malaysia.This issue is doubly challenging in states like Penang where its topographical make-up is divided into a mainland and an island. The dwindling stock of land in Penang Island has inevitably pushed up house prices.To compound this problem, a combination of policy and socio-economic changes has collectively hiked up the cost of buying a house on the island.This has hindered equal opportunities towards home ownership.Based on a development perspective, this paper attempts to contextualize current housing woes in Penang Island.This paper argues that Penang Island’s physical urban environment has ‘developed’ in terms of aesthetic values and appreciated in monetary terms but actual development in terms of a person’s ‘capability to function’ and enjoy a better quality of life is not progressing in tandem.A critical state of developed underdevelopment is currently unfolding on the island in terms of housing affordability.The recommendations of this paper will contribute towards shaping pragmatic housing policies

Housing Affordability Woes and The State Of Developed Under development In Penang Island

Housing affordability is a critical issue in Malaysia. This issue is doubly challenging in states like Penang where its topographical make-up is divided into a mainland and an island. The dwindling stock of land in Penang Island has inevitably pushed up house prices. To compound this problem, a combination of policy and socio-economic changes has collectively hiked up the cost of buying a house on the island. This has hindered equal opportunities towards home ownership. Based on a development perspective, this paper attempts to contextualize current housing woes in Penang Island. This paper argues that Penang Island’s physical urban environment has ‘developed’ in terms of aesthetic values and appreciated in monetary terms but actual development in terms of a person’s ‘capability to function’ and enjoy a better quality of life is not progressing in tandem. A critical state of developed underdevelopment is currently unfolding on the island in terms of housing affordability. The recommendations of this paper will contribute towards shaping pragmatic housing policies

EVALUATION OF MIGRATION DECISION-SELECTIVITY FACTORS IN METROPOLITAN AREA: A CASE OF KLANG VALLEY REGION, MALAYSIA

Abstract Internal migration is one of the important spatial phenomena in urban areas that contributes to high level of urban growth and urbanisation. Accordingly, it leads to crucial effects on social, economic and physical developments in urban areas. Hence, understanding of spatial trends and distribution of migration in urban areas is crucial for the purpose of urban planning decision making. This paper focuses to identify and evaluate relative importance of migration decision-selectivity factors that affect the spatial distribution of migration in metropolitan area. The analysis is based on migration behavioural survey in the Klang Valley region, Malaysia. The results of analysis show that factors from spatial-economic aspect influence distribution of migration the most in the Klang Valley. The factor of the highest importance index is affordable housing areas, followed by new residential areas, the acceptable cost of living, nearness to place of work, and good physical and environmental features. Then, it is followed by spatial-social factors such as good social and community living. Finally, this paper concludes that the determinant migration decision-selectivity factors will help urban planners to understand spatial distribution of migration potential in urban areas in order to plan a proper development planning for the future

A Toolkit for Women Migrant Workers' Empowerment in Malaysia: Meeting Sexual and Reproductive Health Needs

Malaysia continues to be one of the largest importers of labour in Asia. Women migrant workers constitute a significant workforce in its manufacturing, service and domestic sectors. It is estimated that women constitute almost 40 percent of its migrant population today1. Women migrant workers work under severe and punitive conditions in Malaysia, with few rights and entitlements at work and in their communities. In this toolkit, we focus on advancing their sexual and reproductive health. Women’s migration has wide-reaching implications for their sexual and reproductive health, but this aspect of their health has not attracted sufficient attention by the government, employers, health care providers, civil society or researchers in Malaysia. There is a lack of gender-sensitive policies overall, to address these needs and protection of this aspect of health and well-being is minimal. Consequently, little is known about the difficulties these women face in coping with sexual and reproductive health illnesses or when seeking treatment, or of interventions which can meet their sexual and reproductive health needs

Advocacy for women migrant workers in Malaysia through an Intersectionality lens

Analysing labour migration through the lens of intersectionality provides valuable insights into the complex identities of women migrant workers and the multiple discriminations they struggle with. Intersectionality advocates argue that only through adopting such an approach can women’s multiple discriminations be challenged. Drawing on a case study of seven NGOs and one focus group of women migrant workers in a non-western context, Malaysia, we explore how advocacy organisations understand, interpret and adopt an intersectional approach in advancing the rights of its women migrant workers. We show that there are challenges, specific to the local context, which reduces the likelihood of organisations doing so. The Malaysian experience likely has significance for similar advocacy in other Asian countries

Housing Affordability Woes and The State Of Developed Underdevelopment In Penang Island

Housing affordability is a critical issue in Malaysia. This issue is doubly challenging in states like Penang where its topographical make-up is divided into a mainland and an island. The dwindling stock of land in Penang Island has inevitably pushed up house prices. To compound this problem, a combination of policy and socio-economic changes has collectively hiked up the cost of buying a house on the island. This has hindered equal opportunities towards home ownership. Based on a development perspective, this paper attempts to contextualize current housing woes in Penang Island. This paper argues that Penang Island’s physical urban environment has ‘developed’ in terms of aesthetic values and appreciated in monetary terms but actual development in terms of a person’s ‘capability to function’ and enjoy a better quality of life is not progressing in tandem. A critical state of developed underdevelopment is currently unfolding on the island in terms of housing affordability. The recommendations of this paper will contribute towards shaping pragmatic housing policies.

A Handbook to Support the Sexual and Reproductive Health Needs of Factory Women Migrant Workers

This Handbook is the product of a five-year research programme, funded at different phases by three funding agencies, investigating ways in which the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs of Malaysia's factory women migrant workers can be supported. Sexual and reproductive health is regarded as a human right, essential to human development and the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. It is enshrined in the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Program of Action, the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) defines good sexual and reproductive health as "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being in all matters relating to the reproductive system. It implies that people are able to have a satisfying and safe sex life, the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when, and how often to do so. To maintain one's sexual and reproductive health, people need access to accurate information and the safe, effective, affordable and acceptable contraception method of their choice. They must be informed and empowered to protect themselves from sexually transmitted infections. And when they decide to have children, women must have access to skilled health care providers and services that can help them have a fit pregnancy, safe birth and healthy baby. Every individual has the right to make their own choices about their sexual and reproductive health." Our research shows that women migrant workers in Malaysia are a marginalised population and vulnerable to poor SRH. Poor SRH impacts on these women's well-being and their ability to work. Yet, many women migrant workers cannot afford healthcare to address poor SRH, are unfamiliar with the local health system and do not have access to SRH information, education or counselling. They are reluctant to mention that something is wrong or discuss SRH conditions with managers and supervisors. As a result, many women migrant workers suffer from untreated reproductive health conditions, such as breast and cervical diseases, urinary tract infections, menstruation problems or unwanted pregnancies. Many of these conditions can be prevented. Forced testing against pregnancy, prohibitions against getting pregnant and imprisonment and deportation in the event of pregnancy and abortion all violate the SRH rights of women migrant workers. So too, does differential treatment on the part of health care providers against women migrant workers seeking medical treatment for SRH or when employment contracts prohibit marriage and pregnancies for migrant workers

Seeking for sustainability : actor’s perspective on the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil Certification Scheme (MSPO)

The Malaysian government established the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification primarily as a response to critics against the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), chief among which is to urge the Malaysian government to play a more proactive role in protecting local palm oil producers. The aim of this study is threefold: (1) to identify why the Malaysian government creates MSPO; (2) to understand how Malaysian actors push for the MSPO; and (3) to investigate the current state of MSPO. We conducted nine expert interviews and four in-depth interviews with oil palm small holders. The study finds that the policy regarding palm oil in Malaysia is predominantly top-down in nature. The study concludes that the establishment and implementation of local palm oil certification standard as an alternative to the RSPO is not as straight-forward and more awareness among the smallholders on the importance of getting certified by MSPO is crucial. MSPO may establish a more effective and clearer line of communication between the federal government and the oil palm producers at the local level specifically small holders. The federal government, state agencies and MPOB needs to create awareness among the smallholders on the importance of getting certified by MSPO