Missed Appointments at a Child Development Centre and Barriers to Access Special Needs Services for Children in Klang Valley, Malaysia: A Mixed Methods Study

Attending appointments is vital for children with special needs, as such appointments involve long-term interdisciplinary care to ensure continuity of care and improve health and well-being. This study was performed to determine the prevalence of missed clinic appointments and identify the factors among those who have ever missed appointments and barriers of access to children’s special needs services at the Child Development Centre (CDC) at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC). Moreover, suggestions for improvement from the caregivers’ perspectives were explored. This is an explanatory sequential mixed methods study among caregivers of children with developmental disabilities aged up to 17 years old. Of 197 caregivers, 62 (31.5%) had missed clinic appointments. Forgetfulness was the most frequently cited reason. The bi-variable analysis showed significant differences in missed appointment rates by gender of caregivers and duration of follow-up. The final logistic regression model demonstrated that, when combined with the effect of being a male caregiver as an independent variable, follow-up duration of more than 6 years increased 2.67 times the risk of missing an appointment. Caregivers’ perceived barriers were transportation, caregiver, child and healthcare services factors. Policies and strategic plans should be focused on key findings from these factors to improve appointment adherence and accessibility to services for children with special needs.

Unintended Positive Consequences of Development Centres in University Graduates

This study investigated development centres as a method to improve the generalised self-efficacy of university graduates. This research was motivated by the various challenges, graduates face in order to successfully transition into the world of work. Although there is a general scarcity of skills in many emerging economies like South Africa, graduate unemployment rates remain high. Additionally, graduates are not making the immediate impact that employers would expect due to a lack of technical and “soft skills.” General self-efficacy is an important attribute for job applicants because it provides them with the confidence to solve problems efficiently. The primary research objective was to identify whether the generalised self-efficacy of graduates can be positively affected by a development centre approach in the short-term and long-term. The sample population for this research included Industrial Psychology graduates at a select university in the Western Cape, South Africa (n=17). A quasi-experimental methodology was implemented where an intervention group (n=7) and a control group (n=10) were taken through a development centre approach. The results of the intervention indicated that a development centre approach has a positive impact on self-efficacy levels over the short and medium term. Results from the study emphasise the importance of self-efficacy in graduate employability and indicate how development centres can be used to improve self-efficacy levels. The findings of this study provide a basis for future research into the further development of graduate self-efficacy and the potential benefits for first time job seekers.

Network of Radon Gas Concentration Monitoring of Research and Development Centre – BMKG for Earthquake Precursor Research in Indonesia

The geographical position of Indonesia, which is flanked by several subduction zones and the presence of active faults in the sea and land make Indonesian territory prone to earthquakes and tsunamis which can result in many deaths and damaged. There are several efforts we can do to minimize the occurrence of earthquakes, including developing earthquake resistant buildings, increasing the ability/capacity of the community, and predicting earthquakes or better known as earthquake precursors. The BMKG Research Centre began conducting research on earthquake prediction using several methods, including the Radon monitoring method. Monitoring of Radon gas concentrations for earthquake precursors has several advantages, including the presence of radioactive gas which is abundant in ground water that has a half-life of 3.2 days. Radon is the result of decay of uranium 278U which is abundant in the earth’s crust rock so that when rock friction occurs, the Radon gas can be detached. Based on the results of Radon monitoring at Tadulako and Palolo stations - Southeast Sulawesi province, there was a change in the pattern of radon gas concentration and water level rising up and down drastically and a gradual decrease in ground water temperature before the earthquake on 28 September 2018. In addition to Central Sulawesi, since 2012 the Centre for Research and Development of BMKG has been conducting research to monitor radon gas concentrations in the DI Yogyakarta region precisely in Piyungan and Pundong districts with the aim of monitoring radon gas concentrations in the Opak fault. In 2021, the BMKG Research and Development Centre added a new radon gas monitoring network in the active fault areas of Cimandiri and Lembang in the West Java province. There are 1 station in the Cimandiri fault segment and 2 stations in the Lembang fault section. It is hoped that in the future the results of monitoring can reduce the impact caused by the earthquake disaster in Indonesia.

Capacity Enhancement of Family Development Centre Staff in Early Childhood Language Learning

This study aimed to identify effective plans using the Future Search Conference (FSC) approach to enhance the Thai Family Development Centre (FDC) staff in early childhood language promotion through good parenting.  Data from, 55 stakeholders FDC staff, district and local health centres, Child Care Centres (CCCs), and local authorities from 10 villages of rural subdistricts in a central Thai province, Thailand, checked for correctness and analyzed using thematic analysis, alongside field notes from observations, worksheets, videotape records, and photo voice. Results revealed that applying FSC techniques created a common future and successfully helped participants to understand past situations clearly and factors related to the problem. Three key strategies emerged to enhance FDC staff capacity including 1) organising ongoing training workshops to enhance staff knowledge and skills needed to achieve effective work performance, 2) building teamwork and 3) developing staff morale for working.

Towards a competitive ST system in the defense sector

Summary: This article describes a diagnostic investigation called, sustainable military science and technology (ST) in Colombian Air Force (FAC), developed in Aerospace Technological Development Centre (CETAD) between 2019 and 2020, which seeks to identify its weaknesses and strengths to achieve a competitive and sustainable ST system according to the National Security needs that enhances national development and achieve technological sovereignty. Problem: Is it possible to implement a sustainable and competitive ST system in the defense sector, that enhances the economic and industrial development of the country? Objective: This research seeks to diagnose the institutional ST system, identifying weaknesses and strengths and proposing strategies to generate a sustainable and competitive ecosystem. Methodology: A comparison was made between relevant bibliography analysis, the national context, and the result of the diagnoses of the ST system. Results: ST system is characterized by a efforts dispersion and a disconnection with the mission objectives and its leaders, however, there is a success case that shows how with a pragmatic orientation to the mission, results can be achieved. Conclusion: It was determined that it is possible to achieve a system that from the sector supports national development, integrating effective marketing and transfer practices and concentrating efforts on the mission. Originality: Through this research, was possible stablish the ST state of Colombian Air Force in order integrate the system capabilities to the missional process. Limitations: The lack of information provided by personal that conform the ST and the lack of knowledge of missionary processes.

Revenue Statistics in Latin America and the Caribbean 2021

This report compiles comparable tax revenue statistics over the period 1990-2019 for 27 Latin American and Caribbean economies. Based on the OECD Revenue Statistics database, it applies the OECD methodology to countries in Latin America and the Caribbean to enable comparison of tax levels and tax structures on a consistent basis, both among the economies of the region and with other economies. This publication is jointly undertaken by the OECD Centre for Tax Policy and Administration, the OECD Development Centre, the Inter-American Center of Tax Administrations (CIAT), the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The 2021 edition is produced with the support of the EU Regional Facility for Development in Transition for Latin America and the Caribbean, which results from joint work led by the European Union, the OECD and its Development Centre, and ECLAC.