Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 58 in total

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  1. Allotey P, Reidpath DD
    BJOG, 2015 Jan;122(2):152-5.
    PMID: 25394350 DOI: 10.1111/1471-0528.13177
    Matched MeSH terms: Reproductive Health*
  2. Allotey PA, Diniz S, Dejong J, Delvaux T, Gruskin S, Fonn S
    Reprod Health Matters, 2011 Nov;19(38):56-68.
    PMID: 22118142 DOI: 10.1016/S0968-8080(11)38577-1
    This paper addresses the challenges faced in mainstreaming the teaching of sexual and reproductive health and rights into public health education. For this paper, we define sexual and reproductive health and rights education as including not only its biomedical aspects but also an understanding of its history, values and politics, grounded in gender politics and social justice, addressing sexuality, and placed within a broader context of health systems and global health. Using a case study approach with an opportunistically selected sample of schools of public health within our regional contexts, we examine the status of sexual and reproductive health and rights education and some of the drivers and obstacles to the development and delivery of sexual and reproductive health and rights curricula. Despite diverse national and institutional contexts, there are many commonalities. Teaching of sexual and reproductive health and rights is not fully integrated into core curricula. Existing initiatives rely on personal faculty interest or short-term courses, neither of which are truly sustainable or replicable. We call for a multidisciplinary and more comprehensive integration of sexual and reproductive health and rights in public health education. The education of tomorrow's public health leaders is critical, and a strategy is needed to ensure that they understand and are prepared to engage with the range of sexual and reproductive health and rights issues within their historical and political contexts.
    Matched MeSH terms: Reproductive Health/education*
  3. Alvi Q, Baloch GM, Chinna K, Dabbagh A
    F1000Res, 2020;9:901.
    PMID: 32802322 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.24866.1
    Ovarian cancer is a fatal gynaecological cancer and eighth most common cancer in women globally. Lifestyle, reproductive and sociodemographic factors are among the influential parameters that may significantly affect the risk of ovarian cancer and its mortality rate. However, the epidemiological investigations have shown that the risk of ovarian cancers associated with these factors is different in varied geographical distributions. Lifestyle and reproductive factors have not been investigated thoroughly across a wide cultural diversity. The objective of this study is to investigate the association of these factors with ovarian cancer in Pakistan. This investigation will focus on the lifestyle effects of fat intake, intake of tea, habitual exercise, use of talc, personal hygiene, habit of holding urine for long time, obesity on ovarian cancer among Pakistani women.  Reproductive variables will include age at menarche, natural menopausal age, parity, nulliparity (miscarriages, abortion, stillbirths), infertility, fertility treatment, tubal ligation, oral contraceptive use, and family history of breast or ovarian cancer. Sociodemographic variables will include effect of age, income, education, and geographical location. A case-control study will be conducted in the major cancer hospitals of Pakistan and the patients will also be interviewed. The controls will be recruited outside the hospital. For controls the same age limit and residency requirements will be applied. The information gained from this research will be an important contribution to develop programs for health promotion, with a focus on ovarian cancer prevention and women's health. The findings could be used for health policies and planning to prevent ovarian cancer. The research will pave the way for a public policy and interventions to reduce the burden of ovarian cancer in Pakistan.
    Matched MeSH terms: Reproductive Health*
  4. Ariffin F, Chin KL, Ng C, Miskan M, Lee VK, Isa MR
    BMC Res Notes, 2015;8:248.
    PMID: 26082003 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-015-1220-y
    BACKGROUND: Sexual history training during undergraduate education is essential for preparing future doctors to handle patients' sexual health concerns. The purpose of this study was to assess the attitudes and perceptions of final-year medical students in Malaysia toward sexual history taking and the training they receive from their medical schools.
    METHODS: The study used a cross-sectional survey of 379 final-year medical students from three medical schools in Malaysia. Students were asked to rate their attitudes and perceptions regarding training on taking sexual histories using a newly developed questionnaire with good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.73). Ethics approval was obtained from the relevant medical schools, and the statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS, Version 20.0.
    RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 23.58 ± 0.65 SD. Participants reported high interest in sexual health and felt it was important for doctors to know how to take a sexual history (95%). Among the participants, only half felt comfortable in taking sexual histories from patients. The participants identified cultural and religious differences between the doctor and the patient as a potential barrier for discussing sexual health. Participants were aware of their own practice and ability, as well as their limitations, in taking sexual histories. Less than half (46%) felt that the training they received adequately prepared them to take sexual histories.
    CONCLUSIONS: This study identified gaps in sexual health training among medical schools in Malaysia. The delivery of sexual health education program should incorporate confidence building and to make students feel comfortable to take sexual histories from patients. The barrier caused by differences in culture or religion between a doctor and a patient may be overcome through cross cultural and cultural competency training. This is important for multi-faith, multi cultural societies such as Malaysia and other similar countries.
    Matched MeSH terms: Reproductive Health/ethics*
  5. Awang H, Low WY, Tong WT, Tan LY, Cheah WL, Benedict Lasimbang H, et al.
    J Biosoc Sci, 2019 03;51(2):282-291.
    PMID: 29978769 DOI: 10.1017/S0021932018000214
    The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of East Malaysian adolescents on sexual and reproductive health issues. Data were collected in March-July 2015 from 2858 adolescents aged 13-18 years from selected East Malaysian secondary schools using a self-administered questionnaire. Twelve items relating to sexual and reproductive health were used to measure respondents' knowledge based on their responses 'True', 'False' or 'Don't know', with the proportion of correct answers being the variable of interest. Cronbach's alpha for the twelve items was 0.761 and the mean knowledge score was 6.8. While the majority of the respondents knew that a woman can get pregnant if she has sex with a man and that HIV and AIDS can be transmitted through sexual intercourse, knowledge about Malaysia's abortion laws, that a woman can get pregnant if she has sex only once and that people with sexually transmitted infections may look healthy was poor. Older respondents and those from urban schools reported significantly higher knowledge than younger respondents and those from rural schools, respectively. More emphasis should be given in schools to the specific topics for which low levels of sexual and reproductive health knowledge were found, with greater attention being given to younger adolescents and those in rural areas.
    Matched MeSH terms: Reproductive Health/statistics & numerical data*
  6. Bay R, Ismail SB, Zahiruddin WM, Arifin WN
    BMC Urol, 2013;13:16.
    PMID: 23522405 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2490-13-16
    During the last few decades, marital tensions and stresses have influenced various dimensions of life. The objective of the current study was to examine the effects of combined psycho-physiological therapy (stretching therapy combined with breathing exercise) on sexual satisfaction among heterosexual men.
    Matched MeSH terms: Reproductive Health*
  7. Bourke A, Kelleher C, Boduszek D, Morgan K
    Reprod Health, 2015;12:14.
    PMID: 25884222 DOI: 10.1186/s12978-015-0005-z
    Findings on the demographic and sexual health characteristics associated with the experience of a crisis pregnancy are important to inform the public health policy of a country, including Ireland. Studies from other jurisdictions have suggested that certain demographic groups are at risk for unintended pregnancies and the disparity between the groups has been growing in recent years. Ireland is a country which experienced much economic and societal change in the first decade of the 21(st) century; changes which are likely to have affected demographic variables pertaining to sexual health. The current study had two aims: to investigate changes in the socioeconomic characteristics associated with crisis pregnancies over a seven year period [2003 to 2010], and to investigate the recent [2010] socioeconomic risk factors associated with crisis pregnancies in Ireland.
    Matched MeSH terms: Reproductive Health*
  8. Campbell L, Tan RKJ, Uhlich M, Francis JM, Mark K, Miall N, et al.
    J Interpers Violence, 2023 Jun;38(11-12):7115-7142.
    PMID: 36703528 DOI: 10.1177/08862605221141865
    Intimate partner violence (IPV) causes substantial physical and psychological trauma. Restrictions introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including lockdowns and movement restrictions, may exacerbate IPV risk and reduce access to IPV support services. This cross-sectional study examines IPV during COVID-19 restrictions in 30 countries from the International Sexual HeAlth and REproductive Health (I-SHARE) study conducted from July 20th, 2020, to February, 15th, 2021. IPV was a primary outcome measure adapted from a World Health Organization multicountry survey. Mixed-effects modeling was used to determine IPV correlates among participants stratified by cohabitation status. The sample included 23,067 participants from 30 countries. A total of 1,070/15,336 (7.0%) participants stated that they experienced IPV during COVID-19 restrictions. A total of 1,486/15,336 (9.2%) participants stated that they had experienced either physical or sexual partner violence before the restrictions, which then decreased to 1,070 (7.0%) after the restrictions. In general, identifying as a sexual minority and experiencing greater economic vulnerability were associated with higher odds of experiencing IPV during COVID-19 restrictions, which were accentuated among participants who were living with their partners. Greater stringency of COVID-19 restrictions and living in urban or semi-urban areas were associated with lower odds of experiencing IPV in some settings. The I-SHARE data suggest a substantial burden of IPV during COVID-19 restrictions. However, the restrictions were correlated with reduced IPV in some settings. There is a need for investing in specific support systems for survivors of IPV during the implementation of restrictions designed to contain infectious disease outbreaks.
    Matched MeSH terms: Reproductive Health
  9. Durairajanayagam D
    Arab J Urol, 2018 Mar;16(1):10-20.
    PMID: 29713532 DOI: 10.1016/j.aju.2017.12.004
    Objective: To examine the potential effects of lifestyle factors on male reproductive health. Evidence of a global decline in human sperm quality over recent decades has been accumulating. Environmental, occupational, and modifiable lifestyle factors may contribute to this decline. This review focuses on key lifestyle factors that are associated with male infertility such as smoking cigarettes, alcohol intake, use of illicit drugs, obesity, psychological stress, advanced paternal age, dietary practices, and coffee consumption. Other factors such as testicular heat stress, intense cycling training, lack of sleep and exposure to electromagnetic radiation from mobile phone use are briefly discussed.

    Materials and method: A comprehensive literature search was performed to identify and synthesise all relevant information, mainly from within the last decade, on the major lifestyle factors associated with male infertility and semen quality. Database searches were limited to reports published in English only. A manual search of bibliographies of the reports retrieved was conducted to identify additional relevant articles.

    Results: In all, 1012 articles were identified from the database search and after reviewing the titles and abstract of the reports, 104 articles met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 30 reports were excluded as the full-text could not be retrieved and the abstract did not have relevant data. The remaining 74 reports were reviewed for data on association between a particular lifestyle factor and male infertility and were included in the present review.

    Conclusion: The major lifestyle factors discussed in the present review are amongst the multiple potential risk factors that could impair male fertility. However, their negative impact may well be mostly overcome by behaviour modification and better lifestyle choices. Greater awareness and recognition of the possible impact of these lifestyle factors are important amongst couples seeking conception.

    Matched MeSH terms: Reproductive Health
  10. Freeman T, Miles L, Ying K, Mat Yasin S, Lai WT
    Sociol Health Illn, 2023 Jun;45(5):947-970.
    PMID: 34227694 DOI: 10.1111/1467-9566.13323
    Despite the centrality of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) to UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), women migrant workers in Malaysia face an environment inimical to their SRH needs. Drawing on qualitative case study material, we present the first empirical application of the capability approach (CA) to explore the reproductive health needs of women migrant workers in a developing country, offering an original analysis of the capability for SRH of these women. Specifically, we explore the resources available to them; their opportunities and freedoms ("capabilities"); and factors that mediate transformation of resources into capability sets ("conversion factors"). While SRH information and health care are notionally available, women migrant workers face multiple challenges in converting resources into functionings, constraining the achievement of capability for SRH. Challenges include language barriers, personal beliefs, power relations between workers and employers and the consequences of current migration policy. We consider the scale of the challenges facing these women in securing SRH rights, the difficulties of operationalising the CA within such a setting, and the implications of our findings for the adequacy of the CA in supporting marginalised populations.
    Matched MeSH terms: Reproductive Health*
  11. George A, Henkel R
    Andrologia, 2014 Sep;46(7):708-21.
    PMID: 24386995 DOI: 10.1111/and.12214
    The testosterone deficiency syndrome (TDS) is characterised by numerous symptoms, including low libido, increased fat mass, fatigue, erectile dysfunction or osteoporosis, and up to 80% of men will experience some kind of ageing males' symptoms. This is caused by the age-depending decline in serum testosterone levels with concentrations being about 40-50% lower in men older than 60 years compared with young men. This significant decline in testosterone levels is further closely linked with medical conditions such as obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes or hypertension. The conventional way of treating TDS is the testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), for which preparations are on the market. Apart from the beneficial effects of TRT, significant adverse side effects have been described, and prostate cancer (PCa) as absolute contraindication is debated. Eurycoma longifolia (Tongkat Ali; TA) is natural alternative to TRT and has been shown to restore serum testosterone levels, thus significantly improving sexual health. This includes significant positive effects on bone health and physical condition of patients. In addition, a significant antihyperglycaemic effect and cytotoxicity against PCas cells has been shown. Thus far, at therapeutic concentrations, no significant side effects of the treatment were obvious. Therefore, TA might be a safe alternative to TRT.
    Matched MeSH terms: Reproductive Health
  12. Giaze TR, Shuid AN, Soelaiman IN, Muhammad N, Jamal JA, Fauzi MB, et al.
    J Tradit Complement Med, 2019 Oct;9(4):393-400.
    PMID: 31453136 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcme.2019.01.002
    Background: Marantodes pumilum var. alata (MPva), popularly known as Kacip Fatimah, is widely used to maintain female reproductive health, facilitate post-partum recovery and manage symptoms of menopause and osteoporosis in South-East Asia. This study aims to further evaluate the osteoprotective potential of MPva in view of reports of its bone-protective properties in postmenopausal condition.

    Methods: Thirty female Sprague-Dawley rats were sorted into 5 groups (n = 6) namely: MPv (leaf treatment); MPr (root treatment); ERT (estrogen treatment); OVXC (untreated ovariectomized control) and Sham (untreated sham-operated control). All rats (except the Sham) were ovariectomized to induce a state of estrogen deficiency that simulates menopause. Two weeks after ovariectomy, the rats were treated for 8 weeks with oral gavages of estrogen and plant extracts. The ERT group received 64.5 μg/kg/day dose of estrogen while MPv and MPr groups received 20 mg/kg/day dose of leaf and root extracts, respectively. At the end of treatment, left femora were excised from euthanized rats and investigated for changes in bone micro-architecture, mineral density, and biomechanical properties.

    Results: Bone volume fraction, degree of anisotropy and structure-model-index of bone were significantly improved (p 

    Matched MeSH terms: Reproductive Health
  13. Gonzales GF, Tambi MI
    Andrologia, 2016 Oct;48(8):849.
    PMID: 27681642 DOI: 10.1111/and.12704
    Matched MeSH terms: Reproductive Health*
  14. Hamid SHA, Fallon D, Callery P
    Enferm Clin, 2021 04;31 Suppl 2:S366-S371.
    PMID: 33849201 DOI: 10.1016/j.enfcli.2020.12.040
    This literature review was conducted systematically to identify the gap in knowledge and practice related to the provision of sexual health to adolescents worldwide. The search was limited to peer-reviewed articles published between 2002 and 2018. Thirty-two relevant articles were identified and reviewed for quality assessment by using the Hawker critical appraisal tool. The studies were conducted in Africa, Europe, Asia, Oceania, and the United States of America (USA). The review findings suggested that potential tensions exist between the desire to prevent unwanted pregnancies and the provision of adolescent-friendly sexual health services in societies which disapprove of adolescents' premarital sexual activity, contraception use and abortion services. Healthcare professionals should be aware of comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services as their professional responsibility and the need to manage their own conflicts with regard to fulfilling their role.
    Matched MeSH terms: Reproductive Health Services*
  15. Hazariah AHS, Fallon D, Callery P
    Compr Child Adolesc Nurs, 2021 Jun;44(2):144-160.
    PMID: 32442024 DOI: 10.1080/24694193.2020.1756983
    Safer sex provision, including contraception information and services, should be made available to adolescents regardless of their marital status in strategies to reduce the incidence of unintended teenage pregnancies and the spread of STIs. In Malaysia, this information is still not being delivered formally to adolescents even though unintended teenage pregnancies and the practice of "baby dumping" are serious public health issues. The aims of this article are to describe the Malaysian context in terms of the need for comprehensive sexual and reproductive health information and treatment for unmarried adolescents. The article presents the key aspects of Malaysian society and the potential influence on the provision and delivery of sexual and reproductive health information and treatment to unmarried Malaysian adolescents that can be a reference for healthcare professionals especially school health nurses. The article also describes the establishment of sheltered homes, baby hatches and unregulated adoption processes as the initiatives being taken to address the issue of unintended teenage pregnancies. This article suggests that the policy and laws that require parental consent for accessing the services need to be reviewed and revised to ensure that specific services are available to adolescents in a safe environment that maintains confidentiality.
    Matched MeSH terms: Reproductive Health Services*
  16. Ismail NH, Ibrahim SF, Jaffar FHF, Mokhtar MH, Chin KY, Osman K
    Molecules, 2021 Jan 27;26(3).
    PMID: 33513715 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26030649
    Phytochemical contents of honey are presumed to be beneficial to the female reproductive system (FRS). However, the biological effects of honey supplementation (HS) in vivo on the FRS remain unclear. This review aims to investigate the current literature on the effects of HS on the FRS, particularly on the sex hormone profile and reproductive organs (uterus and vagina). A systematic literature search using Scopus, MEDLINE via Ovid and Cochrane Library databases was conducted. Records were screened and identified for preclinical and clinical studies addressing the effects of HS on the FRS. Data on populations, interventions, outcomes and methodological quality were extracted. Studies were synthesised using tables and written summaries. Of the 198 identified records, six fulfilled the inclusion criteria. All six records were used for data extraction: two experimental studies using rats as the model organism and four human clinical studies of honey on female reproductive health. HS elevated the progesterone levels, restrained body weight increase, prevented uterine and vaginal atrophies in ovariectomised rats, attenuated symptoms of candidiasis and improved oxidative status in patients. Current evidence shows that short-term HS following surgical or physiological menopause exerts an oestrogenic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect on the FRS. However, insufficient long-term studies preclude any definitive conclusions.
    Matched MeSH terms: Reproductive Health
  17. Kamal SM, Hassan CH
    Asia Pac J Public Health, 2015 Mar;27(2):NP1492-506.
    PMID: 24097938 DOI: 10.1177/1010539513503868
    This study examines the prevalence of child marriage and its effect on reproductive outcomes among women in Bangladesh using the most recent 2011 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey data. Both bivariate and multivariate statistical techniques used in the study yielded quantitatively important and reliable estimates of child marriage and its impact on adverse reproductive and health outcomes. Overall, 77% of the marriages among women aged 20 to 49 years old took place before the age of 18 years. Women's education is the most single significant determinant of child marriage. Findings revealed that after being adjusted for sociodemographic factors, child marriage significantly (P < .001) increases the likelihood of stillbirth/miscarriage (odds ratio [OR] = 1.80; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.45-2.24) and pregnancy termination (OR = 1.24; 95% CI = 1.12-1.38). Programs should aim to retain girls in school for longer periods not only to raise the age at first marriage but also for sound reproductive health and overall social development of Bangladesh.
    Matched MeSH terms: Reproductive Health*
  18. Kamrani MA, Syed Yahya S
    Glob J Health Sci, 2016;8(9):54741.
    PMID: 27157180 DOI: 10.5539/gjhs.v8n9p132
    This generic qualitative study explores the perspective of Malaysian teachers regarding the constraints of the current school-based sexual and reproductive health education in secondary schools of Klang-Valley Malaysia. For this study, in-depth interviews were conducted with twenty eight science teachers of government schools. The majority of participants named the teaching strategy and capacity of teachers, the lack of co-operation from the school and parents, limited resources in teaching and students themselves as some of the challenges. We concluded that if sexual health education is to be effective, it needs to be provided by people who have some specialized training. The teachers should be trained to teach sexual reproductive health education classes at the basic level, and in-service training for teachers already in the field should be intensified. Local adaptation to culture, language, religion, and so forth is often necessary.
    Matched MeSH terms: Reproductive Health
  19. Kamrani, M.A., Sharifah Zainiyah, S.Y., Hamzah, A., Ahmad, Z.
    MyJurnal
    Adolescents are known to obtain information regarding sexual and reproductive health from a variety of sources and not just during formal lessons in schools. This cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out to determine the source of information on sexual and reproductive health among Form four secondary schools girls in the Klang Valley as well as parents’ relationship profile. A total of 520 secondary school girls were recruited for the study. In this study, the source of information on puberty and sexual topics were categorized as follows: first level of importance - mothers, second level of importance - siblings, third level of importance - fathers, fourth level of importance - friends, fifth level of importance - teachers and sixth level of importance - books/internet. A majority of respondents agreed that their mothers were the first level of importance they sought for information on puberty (74.8%) and sexual topics (53.8%). Thirty nine point three percent (39.3%) of respondents reported it was very easy to have a dialogue with their mothers while only 10.0% of the respondents said it was very easy to have a dialogue with their fathers. While this was the case, only 6.3% of the respondents reported discussing sex-related matter with their mothers.
    Matched MeSH terms: Reproductive Health
  20. Khosla R, Mishra V, Singh S
    Sex Reprod Health Matters, 2023 Dec;31(4):2269003.
    PMID: 37930349 DOI: 10.1080/26410397.2023.2269003
    Matched MeSH terms: Reproductive Health*
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