Southeast Asian Countries Research Articles

Embracing opportunities and minimizing risks: leveraging decision models for project selection in Southeast Asian countries

In real estate investments in Southeast Asia, decisions worth billions of dollars are usually made without systematic analysis, leading to project failures. This paper presents a novel two-tier matrix method that combines the decision on country-project selection into a model. This model could assist real estate investors to select the right projects in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, which is significantly under-reported. We used the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the Weighted Sum Method (WSM) to create a matrix model to analyse investment projects. The results are encouraging and indicate that Malaysia is the best country for real estate investment, followed by Thailand and Indonesia respectively. This study also simulates the decision making of very experienced to inexperienced investors. It concluded that the two-tier decision model can safeguard investors from making intuitive decision mistakes and help them to make informed decisions when selecting investment projects in Southeast Asian countries.

Characteristics and nutrient profiles of foods and beverages on online food delivery systems.

Recently, there has been an emerging trend of purchasing foods and beverages via online food delivery systems but there is scarce evidence on the healthfulness of these items, particularly in Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia. This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics and nutrient profiles of foods and beverages available via online food delivery systems in Malaysia. This cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2022 to March 2023 to identify foods and beverages available on the Grab Food and Foodpanda mobile applications. The healthfulness of selected foods and beverages was determined based on the Food Standards Agency Nutrient Profiling System. The present study included 3729 foods and 1882 beverages. Most of the foods were cereal-based dishes (37.4%), followed by cereals with protein-based dishes (12.8%) and meat or poultry-based dishes (12.0%), while most of the beverages were local handcrafted beverages (27.8%), followed by bubble milk tea (15.0%) and Western handcrafted beverages (14.6%). For protein dishes, deep-frying or battered-frying was the most common preparation method (33.8%) while most of the cereal-based dishes were stir-fried (76.7%). Out of 23 common foods, 15 foods (65%) were categorised as less healthy based on the nutrient profile score while 19 out of 24 (79%) common beverages were categorised as less healthy. The online food delivery systems feature predominantly local foods and beverages that are less healthy, potentially contributing to the development of an obesogenic environment.

Temporal shifts in dengue epidemic in Guangdong Province before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a Bayesian model study from 2012 to 2022.

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the implementation of public health intervention measures have reshaped the transmission patterns of other infectious diseases. We aimed to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of dengue in Guangdong Province, China, and to investigate the temporal shifts in dengue epidemic in Guangdong Province during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the data of dengue reported cases, meteorological factors, and mosquito vector density in Guangdong Province from 2012 to 2022, wavelet analysis was applied to investigate the relationship between the dengue incidence in Southeast Asian (SEA) countries and the local dengue incidence in Guangdong Province. We constructed the dengue importation risk index to assess the monthly risk of dengue importation. Based on the counterfactual framework, we constructed the Bayesian structural time series (BSTS) model to capture the epidemic trends of dengue. Wavelet analysis showed that the local dengue incidence in Guangdong Province was in phase correlation with the dengue incidence of the prior month in relative SEA countries. The dengue importation risk index showed an increasing trend from 2012 to 2019, then decreased to a low level during the COVID-19 pandemic. From 2020 to 2022, the average annual number of reported imported cases and local cases of dengue in Guangdong Province were 26 and 2, respectively, with a decrease of 95.62% and 99.94% compared to the average during 2017-2019 (594 imported cases and 3,118 local cases). According to BSTS model estimates, 6557 local dengue cases may have been reduced in Guangdong Province from 2020 to 2022, with a relative reduction of 99.91% (95%CI: 98.85－99.99%). The incidence of dengue in Guangdong notably declined from 2020 to 2022, which may be related to the co-benefits of COVID-19 intervention measures and the intensified interventions against dengue during that period. Furthermore, our findings further supported that dengue is not currently endemic in Guangdong.

Mental Health of Adolescents in Countries of South-East Asia: A Policy Review

Mental Health of Adolescents in Countries of South-East Asia: A Policy Review

Framing the Xi–Biden meeting in news coverage: A cross-national comparative analysis

The highly anticipated meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden occurred at a critical moment amidst the ongoing global competition between these major powers. Countries in Southeast Asia, situated between the Sino-US rivalry, often face the pressure to align with one side. As global events unfold, audiences rely on news media for information. Guided by framing theory, this study examines cross-country variation in the coverage of the Sino-US meeting by news outlets in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. A content analysis of 263 news articles revealed that ASEAN news outlets primarily depend on agency input to shape their news agendas. The theme of “advancing national interests” was predominant in ASEAN news coverage, with Malaysian media notably emphasizing this theme. The study also discusses the implications of these findings and offers recommendations for future research.

NDM-5-plasmid diversity in multiple international high-risk Escherichia coli clones associated with canine and feline extraintestinal infections.

NDM-5-producing Escherichia coli are the predominant carbapenemase producers of medical and public health importance. The global spread of blaNDM-5-containing plasmids in high-risk E. coli clones has been primarily documented in humans and increasingly reported in animals and the environment. Here, we used whole-genome sequence analysis to describe the genetic diversity of 16 high-risk NDM-5-producing E. coli strains, with a variety of NDM-5 plasmids, isolated from dogs and cats with extraintestinal infections in Thailand between 2017 and 2021. The strains belonged to sequence type (ST) 410 (n = 8), ST354 (n = 3), ST648 (n = 2), ST361 (n = 1), ST617 (n = 1), and ST641 (n = 1). The ST641 strain carried blaNDM-5 on an IncX3 plasmid, while blaNDM-5 was localized on single-replicon or multi-replicon IncF plasmids in other STs. Non-conjugative F1:A1:B49 NDM-5 plasmids were limited to ST410 strains. They contained blaNDM-5 associated with the IS26-bounded complex class 1 integron (Int1) with dfrA17-aadA5-qacEΔ1-sul1 cassette array that shared similarities to nearly identical structures with the plasmids of ST410 strains from humans in Thailand and Myanmar. Conjugative IncFII (F2:A-:B-) NDM-5 plasmids containing Int1 with dfrA12-aadA2-qacEΔ1-sul1 cassette array were present in ST354 and ST648, and heterogeneous plasmid STs of conjugative multi-replicon IncF NDM-5 plasmids were found in ST361, ST410, ST617, and ST648. The blaNDM-5 elements mobilized by IS26 were shared among various IncF plasmids in high-risk E. coli clones but were conserved within the endemic E. coli ST410, representing the predominant lineage in Southeast Asian countries. Dogs and cats can develop infections with NDM-5-producing E. coli, posing the risk of further disseminating carbapenemase in veterinary settings and the community. This emphasizes the need to implement infection control and antimicrobial resistance surveillance programs in veterinary settings.

Ethnobotanical Use, Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Activities of Clerodendrum colebrookianium (Lamiaceae)

: Clerodendrum colebrookianium (CC) is a small shrub belonging to the genus Clerondendrum and the family Lamiaceae that is widely distributed in southeast Asian countries like India and China. The plant generally grows in the wet and arid regions of the globe. It has four angled branches that bear flowers along with heart-shaped leaves. This review aims to provide vast knowledge about the pharmacological activities, ethnobotany uses, and the phytochemicals present in the plant. Additionally, it will advance our understanding of the plant's therapeutic potential in the years to come. Much available literature regarding the pharmacological properties, ethnobotany uses, and phytochemistry of C .colebrookianium was collected from a series of scientific resources including PubMed and Google Scholar. Many Asian countries have a long history of using plants from the Clerodendrum genus for various medicinal purposes. Different extracts of CC have demonstrated a wide range of pharmacological effects, including those that are antihypertensive, hepatoprotective, analgesic, antidiabetic and many more. Phytoconstituents like Steroidsdaucosterol, beta-sitosterol, colebrin-A, colebrin-B, colebrin-C, colebrin-D, colebrin-D and Glycoside- clerosterol 3 beta-O-[beta-D-glucoside], Clerosterol (24S/3) (poriferasta-5,25(26)-dien- 3-ol, sitosterol and octacosanol were reported to be present in this plant. This article offers a summary of the most recent research on the pharmacological, traditional uses and some of the phytochemicals of C. colebrookianium walp. Even though it offers a wide range of medical benefits, many of its traditional uses for health have not been well researched. The entire therapeutic potential of these plants for treating a variety of other disorders could be discovered with the aid of in- -depth research and studies on the phytoconstituents of the plant and their active principles.

Rural transformation and the future of China's "granary": A perspective on livelihood trajectories

Recent research demonstrates that the core features of agricultural and rural transformation in grain-dependent areas of the newly industrializing countries in East and Southeast Asia do not fully align with classical theories and paradigms. However, there is a lack of a theoretical model that illustrates the general patterns of rural evolution and transformation in these areas during structural transformation and outlines their future trajectories. Through case studies of a well-known grain base in China, this paper explores this issue using an analytical framework consisting of the trajectory of agricultural transformation associated with rural residents' livelihood changes and the trajectory of rural community restructuring induced by these livelihood changes. The results show that, since structural transformation, the grain-dependent countryside of China has roughly undergone an evolution from a stage of relative isolation and self-sufficiency, marked by agricultural involution, to a stage of accelerating factor flows between cities and the countryside, marked by part-time livelihoods, and finally to the current stage of accumulating "potential energies" for rural restructuring, marked by population aging. Meanwhile, challenges to the further transformation of the countryside are rooted in the socioeconomic characteristics of the middle-income period, which underscores the significance of overcoming the middle-income trap. Finally, we propose theoretical patterns for the future trajectories of China's grain-dependent countryside through the scenario analysis based on overcoming the middle-income trap and discuss the implications for rural revitalization in these areas.

Predicting Olympic Medal Trends for Southeast Asian Countries Using the Facebook Prophet Model

The Olympics is a world sporting event held every four years and is a meeting place for all athletes worldwide. The Olympics are held alternately in different countries. The Olympics were first held in Athens in 1896 and have now reached the 33rd Olympics, which will be held in Paris in 2024. A lot of work has been done to develop prediction models emphasizing improving accuracy to predict Olympic outcomes. However, low-performance regression algorithms are the main problems with prediction. By integrating custom seasonality with the Facebook-Prophet prediction model, this study aims to increase the accuracy of Olympic prediction. The proposed new model involves several steps, including preparing the data and initializing and fitting the Facebook-Prophet model with several parameters such as seasonal mode, annual seasonality, and prior scale. The model is tested using the Olympic dataset (1994–2024). The evaluation results show that this prediction model can provide a good value in predicting the total medals earned. On the Olympic Games (1994-2024) dataset, the model has a very low error MAE, MSE, and RMSE and has an R2 score of 0.99, which is close to perfect. This research shows that the model is effective in improving prediction accuracy.

Comparison of clinical and virological features in pediatric and adult dengue cases at Insein General Hospital during Myanmar’s 2022 dengue season

BackgroundMyanmar is one of the countries in Southeast Asia where serious dengue outbreaks occur and Yangon is among the regions with the highest number of cases in the country. Many infections including dengue are common in Yangon during the rainy season, and co-infections may also occur. Adults are more likely than children to experience co-infections of dengue and other diseases. Although pediatric dengue has been studied in Yangon for decades, research on adult dengue is scant. Therefore, this study compared the clinical and virological characteristics of pediatric and adult dengue cases in Yangon.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted at Insein General Hospital in Yangon, Myanmar, from June to September 2022. We recruited 221 suspected dengue patients (134 children and 87 adults), with or without other diseases, and tested their dengue serological markers using a serological method and their dengue virus (DENV) serotypes using conventional RT-PCR. Chi-squared and Fisher’s exact tests were conducted to assess significance.ResultsThe dengue non-structural protein-1 antigen (NS1Ag) positivity was 37% in children and 32% in adults. DENV serotypes were identified in 80% of NS1Ag-positive patients. Among NS1Ag-positive cases, the DENV-1 serotype predominated (67%), followed by DENV-2 (17%), DENV-3 (9%), DENV-4 (5%), and mixed DENV-1 and DENV-2 (2%) serotypes. Shock was observed in 14% of children and 3% of adults. Anti-dengue IgG antibody positivity was positively correlated with dengue shock. Three pediatric dengue cases (6%) also had other infections including bronchiolitis, ear infection, and diarrhea. Seven adult dengue cases (25%) also had other diseases including advanced HIV infection, severe pneumonia, tonsillitis, thyroid disease, cholecystitis, drug poisoning, and thalassemia.ConclusionThe serotype distribution and clinical presentations of pediatric and adult dengue cases were not significantly different, but adults were more likely to have dengue together with other diseases than children. This study provides information for the better management of febrile children and adults in hospital settings and provides a foundation for nationwide epidemiological studies on dengue serotypes and modifications of the national guidelines for dengue management in Myanmar.

Singapore Government Securitization Measures against Transboundary Haze Pollution as a Non-Traditional Security Threat

Transboundary haze pollution (PALB) has developed into a critical concern for Southeast Asian countries in terms of transboundary issues and national security. This study aims to provide an understanding of the non-traditional threats that have become significant in front of countries, to demonstrate that the PALB issue is worthy of being included in the Non-Traditional Security (KNT) study, to provide an in-depth analysis of how the securitization transformation process has affected PALB issues in Singapore, to correlate the involvement of various actors in the ongoing securitization process, and to evaluate. This research uses a qualitative methodology to connect one variable to another in a direct and constructive manner, drawing on a broad theoretical foundation, most notably constructivism. It can be inferred that the government possesses complete authority to secure the smog issue. The community's response is critical in determining the success of haze securitization. Additionally, mass media and social media play a critical role in channeling popular opinion. Keywords: existential threat; securitization policy; constructivism approach; transboundary haze pollution; speech act

Prevailing Knowledge on Aquaculture of Abalone in Southeast Asia: A Review

Abalone is a marine gastropod mollusc with significant economic importance in global fisheries and aquaculture. Currently, the abalone culture is actively engaged in Southeast Asia and has gained significant popularity among aquaculturists and aquafarmers in Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia. Abalone also has emerged as a highly profitable source of income for fish farmers in Asian countries. The exquisite taste of abalone has made it a sought-after delicacy, particularly in Chinese cuisine. However, scanty documentation of this marine gastropod has been reported on the development of aquaculture production in Southeast Asia. Therefore, to help bridge the gap, this review emphasised the information and collated ideas on the industrial culture of abalone in Southeast Asia. In this review paper, all issues on abalone culture will be summarised and highlighted, especially on the aquaculture industries of abalone, challenges and constraints in developing the aquaculture of Haliotis spp., and biological features of the abalone. This review paper could be a valuable reference for abalone aquaculture practices in Southeast Asia, with the aim of boosting production and conservation efforts of these marine gastropod molluscs, thereby benefiting abalone aqua farmers in Southeast Asian countries.

Stroke and associated comorbidities in Southeast Asian countries

AbstractStroke, a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide, is a complex cerebrovascular disease. Stroke risk factors are diverse, encompassing age, sex, and ethnicity. Comorbid conditions, including hypertension, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and atrial fibrillation, exacerbate stroke outcomes, contributing to the overall stroke burden within populations. In addition to these factors, lifestyle‐related diseases can impact individuals across all age groups, and often include as comorbidities linked to stroke. Socioeconomic conditions, healthcare access, and the quality of clinical data significantly influence the prevalence of comorbidities. Asia, the largest continent and home to 60% of the world's population, includes many developing nations undergoing diverse economic transitions. In Southeast Asian countries, stroke prevalence is high, imposing a substantial burden on healthcare systems and economies. Research disparities in stroke are often attributed to insufficient demographic data on comorbidities. Hence, the review discusses all previously published results of hospital‐based studies and data from national registries. It has been noticed that due to insufficient documentation on stroke‐related comorbidities in various developing countries of Southeast Asia, stroke management becomes difficult. Therefore, this review aims to discuss the association between various comorbidities and stroke, with special emphasis on the incidence and prevalence of stroke burden in Southeast Asian countries.

News Media Effects on Policy Priorities: A Second-Level Agenda-Setting Analysis of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Projects in Myanmar

This study investigates the impact of the media’s secondary agenda-setting on public perception and policy priorities regarding the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects in Myanmar from to 2011–2024. Three hypotheses (Hs) were examined: H1 posits that media coverage aligns with public and policy perspectives; H2 proposes that media emphasis on specific attributes influences their prominence in public opinion and policymaking; and H3 suggests that public opinion mediates the relationship between media coverage and policy priorities, indicating an indirect media influence on policymaking. This study employed a cross-sectional research design, utilizing both quantitative content analysis and survey methodologies. The content comprises the analysis of two news outlets’ coverage (n = 144), surveys with 385 respondents (n = 385), and in-depth interviews with 30 participants (n = 30), and the findings revealed a significant positive correlation between media coverage and public opinion and policy priorities (r = 0.86, r = 0.81, respectively). SEM path analysis reveals that the media agenda indirectly shapes the policy agenda through the public agenda, with an indirect effect path coefficient of 0.718, highlighting the media’s role in policymaking processes. This is evidenced by a significant correlation between media coverage and public opinion (p < 0.05), and a strong direct association between public opinion and policy priorities (p < 0.05). This study extends the agenda-setting theory by empirically demonstrating the media’s indirect effect on policy formation in global infrastructure projects within a developing Southeast Asian country. Future studies should examine the evolution of media patterns across different administrations, including the current one. The results also suggest examining the broader media portrayal of governance issues and conducting extensive research on the media’s impact on public opinion.

Determinants of dividend yield: A comparative analysis of long-run and short-run influences in ASEAN leading countries

This paper investigates the elements affecting dividend yield in developing Southeast Asian countries—more specifically, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. Examined here are the roles of financial information including debt to equity ratio, free cashflows, property, plant, and equipment (PPE) and total sales with controlling factors of size, institutional ownership, and firm age using both short-run and long-run analytical frameworks including the Error Correction Model and Engle and Granger’s approach. The results reveal different trends in the three nations. Higher debt and free cashflows lower dividend yield in Thailand; institutional shareholders benefit from maintaining greater dividend payouts. Aging companies in Malaysia are more likely to pay more dividends while rising revenues are linked to smaller short-term payouts. Leveraged and asset-heavy companies are more likely to keep paying dividends in Singapore. These discoveries have important ramifications for investors and business management trying to maximize dividend policies and improve shareholder value in developing economies.

Vaping among young adults in Singapore: a qualitative study of motivations, challenges and antivaping intervention perceptions

IntroductionThe increasing use of electronic cigarettes among young adults in Southeast Asia is concerning. This study explores the motivations and challenges faced by young adults in quitting vaping and their...

A life course approach to examine cumulative impacts of parental migration on children's psychological well-being and education in Southeast Asia.

Researchers have raised concerns about parental migration's effects on various aspects of the left-behind children's development. However, there is limited understanding of how parental migration influences children over the life course. This study aimed to fill this gap by investigating how exposure to parental migration during childhood shapes later development in Indonesia and the Philippines, two major labor-sending countries in Southeast Asia. Adopting a life course perspective, we examine how the timing, sequence, and cumulative extent of parental migration affect children's outcomes. We used longitudinal data from 1,023 households in 2008 (with children aged 4.56 on average) and 849 households in 2016/17 (with children aged 12.78 on average). Retrospective information on children's exposure to parental migration during early childhood (under 3), middle childhood (4-5), and late childhood (6-10) was constructed for its impact on individuals' school performance and psychological well-being during early adolescence (11-14). The findings indicate that the timing of children's initial exposure to parental migration impacts certain aspects of their development. In Indonesia, paternal migration during middle or late childhood is associated with a trade-off between improved school performance and reduced prosocial behavior. For Filipino children, maternal migration during the first 3 years is linked to higher levels of internalizing problems, while migration during middle and late childhood reduces the risk of such problems. These findings underscore the importance of tailored policies and support programs that acknowledge the diverse impacts of parental migration across different developmental stages, considering distinct cultural contexts. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

The regional distribution of dengue fever in Thailand and other emerging countries in Southeast Asia: a literature review

The regional distribution of dengue fever in Thailand and other emerging countries in Southeast Asia: a literature review

Evaluating the effectiveness of dengue surveillance in the tropical and sub-tropical Asian nations through dengue case data from travelers returning to the five Western Pacific countries and territories.

Dengue, affecting over 3.9 billion people, is a significant health threat globally. Despite a tenfold increase in reported cases from 2000 to 2020, underreporting remains an issue. Our study utilized traveler data from the five Western Pacific countries and territories as sentinel sites, to examine dengue surveillance in Southeast and South Asia. We reported dengue cases among returning travelers (2010-2018) and computed dengue incidence per 100,000 travelers for each destination country. We compared officially reported dengue incidence per 100,000 inhabitants of the destination country with estimated incidence per 100,000 travelers, using Pearson's correlation coefficient. Key findings revealed eight Southeast and South Asia countries as popular destinations for our sentinel sites, with Australia exhibiting the highest incidence (40.7 per 100,000 travelers). Dengue incidence variations were evident, with Malaysia showing a sharp increase over time. Correlation analysis showed strong links in Malaysia (r=0.66-0.92) and weaker connections in India (r=-0.54-0.76) between dengue incidence among inhabitants and travelers. Systematically collected dengue surveillance data from returning travelers can serve as a proxy for dengue incidence in the destination country and can be used to assess the robustness of the country's dengue surveillance.

Climate change regulations in subnational governments of the Southeast Asian countries: case studies from Indonesia and the Philippines

As of 2023, all Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states (AMS) have ratified the 2015 Paris Agreement and submitted their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The majority of these NDCs acknowledge the critical role of subnational governments in fulfilling their climate commitments. This research examines the scope of subnational climate regulations and policies through case studies in Indonesia and the Philippines. The findings reveal that in both countries, subnational climate regulations and policies fall short of matching the ambition of the national NDCs. The research identifies several factors contributing to this gap, including: (i) regulations being introduced superficially; (ii) slow transmission of policies from national to subnational levels; (iii) a focus on short-term projects; (iv) a lack of prioritisation of climate issues; (v) limited understanding and awareness of climate change impacts at the local level; and (vi) the absence of a clear framework for integrating other non-state actors.