• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.4325-4329
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• 2014

Background: The expatriate population in Qatar largely comprises workers from the Indian subcontinent which has a very high rate of oral malignancy. Social and cultural habits and as well premalignant risk factors in this population remain prevalent even after migration. Materials and Methods: This cross sectional study assessed the prevalence of risk factors and occurrence of oral precancerous lesions in a low income group expatriate community from the Indian subcontinent residing in Qatar. Results: Among the 3,946 participants screened for oral premalignant lesions 24.3% (958) were smokers and 4.3 % (169) were pan chewers while 6.3% (248) were users of both smoked and smokeless forms of tobacco. Significantly higher proportion of industrial laborers (49.9%) followed by drivers (24.1%) were found to be smokers (p=0.001). The prevalence of white lesions was higher in smokers versus non-smokers 3.5% versus 2.3% (p=0.111), however this difference was statistically non-significant. Red and white lesions were highly significant (i.e. 1.2 % and 10.9% respectively) in the subjects with pan chewing and smoking habits (p=0.001). A significant proportion (8.9%) of the subjects with pan chewing habit showed evidence of oral precancerous lesions (p=0.001). Conclusions: Even though smoking and pan chewing were two significant risk factors detected in this population, their prevalence and occurrence of premalignant lesions are low as compared to the studies conducted in their home countries.

• Asian Journal of Business Environment
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.13-22
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• 2020

Purpose: Vietnam's financial sector has grown substantially but microfinance institutions (MFIs) still face up many challenges in providing financial services to underserved customer segments, including small businesses, rural populations, and urban migrants. The recent worldwide explosion of fintech, including in Vietnam, promises to fill this gap. The purpose of this paper is to analyze fintech activities in microfinance sector and recommend for fintech adoption of MFIs in Vietnam. Research Design, Data and Methodology: The paper's data is mainly based on international organizations such as Asia Development Bank (ADB), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Vietnamese organizations such as Vietnam Microfinance Working Group. The authors suggest new directions for microfinance activities in Vietnam. Results: In recent years, the application of fintech in microfinance sector has brought many good results, such as improving the quality of products and services, easy access to many customer groups, and scaling up the operating model. Conclusion: MFIs in Vietnam have developed new products and services by applying fintech. The application of technology and digital solution has supported MFIs in Vietnam to gradually achieve targeted growth through expanding geographical inclusion/scale, enhancing product supply/provision, helping in-depth customer understanding as well as improving operational efficiency.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.53-66
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• 2015

Purpose: This study was considered in order to identify the factors affecting healthcare utilization by Asian immigrants in the United States. Methods: From February to April 2011, a descriptive survey study was conducted in a convenience sample of 250 Korean and Asian Indian immigrants aged between 40 and 64 in the Triangle area of North Carolina. An author-developed instrument was used to assess predisposing, enabling, and need factors according to Anderson's Behavioral Model of Health Services. Utilization Data analysis was performed by $X^2$-test, t-test, and binary logistic regression. Results: Participants' healthcare services experiences were significantly different when they had a longer stay in the U.S., had been employed, had higher income, were Asian Indians, had better English-speaking skills, better health status, more knowledge of health system and health insurance, had higher satisfaction with the healthcare system, and when they were taking prescribed medications and having health insurance. The strongest association with experience of healthcare services was having health insurance with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 15.37 (95% CI 4.95-47.71, p<.001) and self-reported English proficiency (OR=1.99, 95% CI 1.00-3.96, p=.05). Conclusion: Intervention strategies to increase accessibility to healthcare services should focus on these significant predictors.