The current study uses data surveyed with 2,500 respondents during August and September 2021 in Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia to examine the willingness to get vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 virus with six COVID-19 vaccines. The willingness to get vaccinated varies according to the vaccine brands and selected influential factors. Particularly, the percentage of respondents who are willing to get vaccinated with Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca dominates that of those who are willing to get vaccinated with Sinopharm, Janssen and Sputnik V vaccines. Results generated from the binary logistic regressions show that the impact of the selected influential factors on the willingness to get vaccinated varies in terms of magnitude and direction, and depending on the vaccine brands. The results indicate that additional scientific evidence on the efficacy and safety of the vaccines is essential for the respondents to decide whether to vaccinate or not. Such evidence can be made available in multiple formats and provided through appropriate channels and vaccination communication campaigns.

No abstract

Objective Chronic neuropathic pain (CNP) is a common condition cancer survivors experience. Mindfulness training may be one approach to address the psychosocial factors associated with CNP. The purpose of this study was to understand patients’ experiences in an 8-week online mindfulness-based program (MBP), including techniques and skills learned and applied, barriers to practice, and research experiences. Methods Nineteen participants who were part of a randomized controlled trial consented to participate in a telephone interview or submit written responses via email post-course. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using the principles of Applied Thematic Analysis (ATA). Results Predominant themes identified in participant interviews included (1) common humanity, (2) convenience, (3) teacher resonance, (4) perceived relaxation and calm, (5) pain and stress management, (6) half-day session, and (7) mindful breathing. Participants also identified helpful strategies learned and implemented from the course, as well as barriers to practice, and key components of their experiences in a randomized controlled trial, including a sense of disconnection post-course and needing continued ongoing sessions, and the importance of the facilitators’ skills in creating a comfortable and supportive space. Conclusions An online group-based MBP may offer a more accessible resource and form of psychosocial intervention and support for cancer survivors living with CNP. Furthermore, the need and consideration for implementing ongoing group maintenance sessions to minimize participants’ feelings of disconnect and abandonment post-course and post-study are warranted in future MBP development.

The current study uses data surveyed between August and September 2021 in four ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) countries to identify drivers of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance with different levels of the pandemic severity. It also examines the impact of the drivers on vaccine acceptance. The results show that the number of respondents who accept vaccines significantly dominates that of those who do not. In addition, the number of respondents who get the vaccine if the pandemic becomes more severe dominates that of those if it becomes less severe. Results generated from the logistic regressions show that the impact of the drivers on the COVID-19 vaccine acceptance with different levels of the pandemic severity varies in terms of magnitude and direction. Practical recommendations are made based on the findings.

The current study used data surveyed with 5357 parents/guardians (parents would be used to represent both ‘parents’ and ‘guardians’ hereafter) between February and March 2022 in Vietnam to examine their willingness to vaccinate their children with current COVID-19 vaccines. It applied the multinomial logistic regression model to examine the association between the willingness of parents and selected influential factors. In addition, the reasons that made parent hesitant or unwilling to vaccinate their children were investigated. Moreover, it identified parents’ preferences for vaccine origins. Approximately, 75.4% of the parents were willing, 21.3% were hesitant and 3.3% were unwilling to vaccinate their children. The most common reasons that made the parents hesitant or unwilling to vaccinate their children were their concerns about the vaccine safety, efficacy and immunity. The most and the second most preferred vaccines were those developed/originated in the US and EU, respectively. Parents who were more likely to vaccinate their children included those whose children were insured, who regularly vaccinated their children, who belonged to the vaccine priority groups, who possessed sufficient knowledge about the ways to prevent the virus or about the herd immunity, and who perceived that their children might be infected with the virus and whose children were afraid of needles. Parents who were less likely to vaccinate their children included those who were the family main income source, who had savings, and who had tertiary education or higher.

The current study uses the Generalised Method of Moments to examine the dynamic relationship between access to microfinance and poverty reduction. The paneldata set is constructed from the Vietnam Household Living Standard Surveys during 2002-2008. The results show that access to microfinance in the previous period significantly improves per adult-equivalent income and consumption of the households in the current period.However, previous participation in microfinance programs is not sufficient to help households escape from poverty.In addition, both private and government bank loans significantly help improve household per adult-equivalent income, consumption, and poverty rates. The empirical results imply that a larger loan size, diversified loans for different consumption purposes, and improvement in infrastructure and facilities, especially in rural areas, are believed to help reduce poverty.

PurposeThis study aims to examine the impact of the preferential credit (represented by loan volume and duration) provided by the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies on household welfare (represented by household income and consumption) in Ninh Binh province, Vietnam. It also identifies and ranks the barriers of accessing the credit.Design/methodology/approachThe study applies fixed-effects method to handle the panel data to examine the impact of the credit on poverty reduction. It also uses face-to-face interviews and group discussions to identify and rank the barriers of accessing to the credit.FindingsThe results show that the loan volume significantly helps improve household income, but does not help improve household consumption. For example, a 1% increase in the loan volume is associated with an increase of almost 0.69% in household income, significant at the 1% level. In addition, the loan duration does not help improve household welfare. The major barriers of accessing the credit include the time spent to get to the nearest bank branch and the transparency of household poverty status assessment.Research limitations/implicationsData are collected in three years, the number of the sample limits at 300 households. A few variables are not included in the models due to resource limitation for data collection or the nature of the study method.Practical implicationsThe Vietnam Bank for Social Policies preferential credit may need to increase the loan volume to significantly help improve household welfare, hence reduce poverty. In addition, barriers of accessing the credit such as bank coverage and the household poverty status assessment should be eliminated so that more households, including poor ones, can have a better access.Social implicationsThe Vietnam Bank for Social Policies preferential credit can help to improve household welfare, hence ease household poverty status. To help the credit reach more people, accessing barriers such as bank coverage and the household poverty status assessment should be eliminated.Originality/valueThis is the first study that has examined the impact of the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies preferential credit on household welfare and identified barriers of accessing the credit. The quantitative analysis uses a panel data set constructed from 300 face-to-face interviews with households located in one city and two districts in Ninh Binh province during 2016–2018 and applied the fixed-effects method to examine the impact of the credit on household welfare. The qualitative analysis uses in-depth interviews and group discussion with key persons and related parties to identify barriers of accessing the credit.

No abstract