Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 192 in total

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  1. Fulltext Maternal, neonatal, and child health in southeast Asia: towards greater regional collaboration
    Acuin CS, Khor GL, Liabsuetrakul T, Achadi EL, Htay TT, Firestone R, et al.
    Lancet, 2011 Feb 05;377(9764):516-25.
    PMID: 21269675 DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(10)62049-1
    Although maternal and child mortality are on the decline in southeast Asia, there are still major disparities, and greater equity is key to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. We used comparable cross-national data sources to document mortality trends from 1990 to 2008 and to assess major causes of maternal and child deaths. We present inequalities in intervention coverage by two common measures of wealth quintiles and rural or urban status. Case studies of reduction in mortality in Thailand and Indonesia indicate the varying extents of success and point to some factors that accelerate progress. We developed a Lives Saved Tool analysis for the region and for country subgroups to estimate deaths averted by cause and intervention. We identified three major patterns of maternal and child mortality reduction: early, rapid downward trends (Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand); initially high declines (sustained by Vietnam but faltering in the Philippines and Indonesia); and high initial rates with a downward trend (Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar). Economic development seems to provide an important context that should be coupled with broader health-system interventions. Increasing coverage and consideration of the health-system context is needed, and regional support from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations can provide increased policy support to achieve maternal, neonatal, and child health goals.
    Matched MeSH terms: Rural Health Services
  2. Prescribing opportunities for pharmacists in rural areas
    Ahmad A, Khan MU
    Res Social Adm Pharm, 2016 04 23;12(5):811-2.
    PMID: 27157865 DOI: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2016.04.003
    Matched MeSH terms: Rural Health Services/legislation & jurisprudence; Rural Health Services/organization & administration*
  3. Fulltext A halfway house for pregnant women
    Ahmad Z, Jaafar R, Hassan MH, Awang CW
    World Health Forum, 1998;19(2):133-5.
    PMID: 9652210
    Matched MeSH terms: Rural Health
  4. Fulltext Perceptions of medical students regarding community-based teaching experiences: an observation from Bangladesh
    Ahmed SMM, Hasan MN, Kabir R, Arafat SMY, Rahman S, Haque M, et al.
    Rural Remote Health, 2019 08;19(3):4614.
    PMID: 31400766 DOI: 10.22605/RRH4614
    INTRODUCTION: Community orientation in medical education, which prepares medical students to become more effective practitioners, is now a global movement. Many medical schools around the world have adopted the concept as the main curricular framework in order to align learning programs with the needs of the community and the learner. Despite many changes over the past few decades, many improvements are still needed in medical education in Bangladesh. This study investigated medical students' perceptions of the community-based learning experiences incorporated into the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree at Uttara Adhunik Medical College, Dhaka (UAMC), Bangladesh.

    METHODS: A total of 135 students from three undergraduate year levels of the MBBS degree at UAMC, Dhaka, Bangladesh, undertook study tours (community-based teaching, CBT) as a part of a community medicine course and visited a medical college, two rural health centres and a meteorology centre in the Cox's Bazar district, 400 km from Dhaka city. A questionnaire was used to assess the perceptions of students regarding the administration, organisation and learning experiences of the study tours. Students were required to write reports, present their findings and answer questions in their examinations related to the study tours and CBT.

    RESULTS: The majority of the students agreed or strongly agreed that the tour was a worthwhile (93%) and enjoyable (95%) learning experience that helped them to understand rural health issues (91%). More than half of the students reported that the study tours increased their awareness about common rural health problems (54%) and provided a wider exposure to medicine (61%). Only 41% of students reported that the study tour increased their interest in undertake training in a rural area. A substantial number of students also expressed their concerns about the planning, length, resources, finance and organisation of the study tours.

    CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the study tours had a positive effect, enhancing students' awareness and understanding of common rural health problems. As study tours failed to increase the motivation of the students (approximately 60%) to work in rural areas, CBT in the medical curriculum should be reviewed and implemented using effective and evidence-based models to promote interest among medical students to work in rural and underserved or unserved areas.

    Matched MeSH terms: Rural Health Services/organization & administration*
  5. Fulltext Lymphatic filariasis in Peninsular Malaysia: a cross-sectional survey of the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of residents
    Al-Abd NM, Nor ZM, Ahmed A, Al-Adhroey AH, Mansor M, Kassim M
    Parasit Vectors, 2014;7:545.
    PMID: 25428558 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-014-0545-z
    Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a major cause of permanent disability in many tropical and sub-tropical countries of the world. Malaysia is one of the countries in which LF is an endemic disease. Five rounds of the mass drug administration (MDA) program have been conducted in Malaysia as part of the Global Program to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF) by year 2020. This study investigated the level of awareness of LF and the MDA program in a population living in an endemic area of the country.
    Matched MeSH terms: Rural Health
  6. Fulltext Childhood Cryptosporidium infection among aboriginal communities in Peninsular Malaysia
    Al-Mekhlafi HM, Mahdy MA, 'Azlin MY, Fatmah MS, Norhayati M
    Ann Trop Med Parasitol, 2011 Mar;105(2):135-43.
    PMID: 21396250 DOI: 10.1179/136485911X12899838683368
    Cryptosporidium is a coccidian parasite that is prevalent worldwide, some species of which cause morbidity in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent individuals. The prevalence and predictors of Cryptosporidium infection, and its effect on nutritional status, have recently been explored among 276 children (141 boys and 135 girls, aged 2-15 years) in aboriginal (Orang Asli) villages in the Malaysian state of Selangor. Faecal smears were examined by the modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining technique while socio-economic data were collected using a standardized questionnaire. Nutritional status was assessed by anthropometric measurements. Cryptosporidium infection, which was detected in 7.2% of the aboriginal children, was found to be significantly associated with low birthweight (≤2.5 kg), being part of a large household (with more than seven members) and prolonged breast feeding (>2 years). The output of a binary logistic regression confirmed that large household size was a significant predictor of Cryptosporidium infection (giving an odds ratio of 2.15, with a 95% confidence interval of 1.25-5.02). Cryptosporidium infection is clearly a public-health problem among the aboriginal children of Selangor, with person-to-person the most likely mode of transmission.
    Matched MeSH terms: Rural Health/statistics & numerical data
  7. Anaemia and iron deficiency anaemia among aboriginal schoolchildren in rural Peninsular Malaysia: an update on a continuing problem
    Al-Mekhlafi MH, Surin J, Atiya AS, Ariffin WA, Mahdy AK, Abdullah HC
    Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 2008 Oct;102(10):1046-52.
    PMID: 18617209 DOI: 10.1016/j.trstmh.2008.05.012
    A cross-sectional study to determine the current prevalence of anaemia and iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) and to investigate the possible risk factors for IDA was carried out on 241 aboriginal schoolchildren (120 boys, 121 girls) aged 7-12 years and living in remote areas in Pos Betau, Pahang, Malaysia. Haemoglobin (Hb) level was measured and serum iron status was assessed by serum ferritin (SF), serum iron (SI) and total iron binding capacity measurements. Socioeconomic data were collected using pre-tested questionnaires. All children were screened for intestinal parasitic infections. Overall, 48.5% (95% CI 42.3-54.8) of children were anaemic (Hb<12 g/dl). The prevalence of IDA was 34% (95% CI 28.3-40.2), which accounted for 70.1% of the anaemia cases. The prevalence of IDA was significantly higher in females than males. Low levels of mothers' education and low household income were identified as risk factors for IDA. Severe trichuriasis also found to be associated with low SF and SI. Logistic regression confirmed low levels of mothers' education and gender as significant risk factors for IDA. Improvement of socioeconomic status and health education together with periodic mass deworming should be included in public health strategies for the control and prevention of anaemia and IDA in this population.
    Matched MeSH terms: Rural Health
  8. Maternity services and the role of the traditional birth attendant, bidan kampung, in rural Malaysia
    Ali A, Howden-Chapman P
    J Public Health Manag Pract, 2007 May-Jun;13(3):278-86.
    PMID: 17435495 DOI: 10.1097/01.PHH.0000267686.08282.3c
    This study was undertaken to explore the roles played by bidan kampungs and understand their contribution to rural Malay women during pregnancy and childbirth hundred sixteen pregnant women, 13 Western midwives, and 12 bidan kampungs were recruited using convenience and snowball sampling. Data were collected from focus groups, in-depth interviews, field notes, and observations. The findings indicated that although the women were happy to have Western maternity care, they valued the social and spiritual support received from bidan kampungs during pregnancy and postnatal care. Western care was considered useful for "modern" illnesses. The traditional maternity care that women received included pantang or ritual prohibitions that helped them through pregnancy and helped them achieve better postnatal recovery. The study indicates that there is a need to combine Western and traditional care for the benefit of the pregnant women and their infants' health.
    Matched MeSH terms: Rural Health Services/manpower*
  9. Iodine content in urine samples among Malays and aborigines
    Ali O, Muda K, Khalid B
    Acta Med. Okayama, 1994 Dec;48(6):289-92.
    PMID: 7709757
    A study was conducted to compare the urinary iodine concentrations in populations from Pahang, Central Malaysia, with those in the capital city Kuala Lumpur, and to compare those of Malays from villages at Batu Talam, Batu Malim, FELDA Sungai Koyan and Hulu Sungai with neighboring aboriginal settlements at Lanai and Buntu. Two hundred and forty urine samples were collected randomly among the population (male 1 1 1 and female 129). The urinary iodine concentrations, measured by the ashing method, among Malays were as follows: Batu Talam 1.1-7.6 micrograms/dl, Batu Malim 1.4-6.6 micrograms/dl, FELDA Sungai Koyan 0.5-6.9 micrograms/dl and Hulu Sungai 0.6-9.9 micrograms/dl. Among aborigines, the urinary iodine levels were 0.1-2.9 micrograms/dl in Lanai and 1.7-6.5 micrograms/dl in Buntu. There was a significant difference in the levels of urinary iodine with regard to gender, but not regarding age. The aborigines had significantly lower iodine levels than Malays (P < 0.001). This difference was also significant with regard to location. The urinary iodine content in Kuala Lumpur was the highest and that in the aboriginal Lanai village was the lowest. Thus, the study showed that the levels of iodine in the urine were influenced by ethnicity and geographic location.
    Matched MeSH terms: Rural Health*
  10. Fulltext Differences in public and private health services in a rural district of Malaysia.
    Aljunid SM, Zwi AB
    Med J Malaysia, 1996 Dec;51(4):426-36.
    PMID: 10968029
    A cross-sectional study, comparing the nature of services in 15 private clinics and 6 public health facilities, was undertaken in a rural district of Malaysia. Semi-structured interviews and observations using check-lists were employed. Public health facilities were run by younger doctors (mean age = 31.1 years), supported mostly by trained staff. The private clinics were run by older doctors (mean age = 41.2 years) who had served the district for much longer (8.9 years vs 1.5 years) but were supported by less well trained staff. The curative services were the main strength of the private clinics but their provision of preventive care was less comprehensive and of inferior quality. Private clinics were inclined to provide more expensive diagnostic services than the public facilities. 'Short hours' private clinics had very restricted opening hours and offered limited range of services.
    Comment in: Hee HW. Differences in public and private health services in a rural district of Malaysia. Med J Malaysia. 1997 Sep;52(3):296-8
    Matched MeSH terms: Rural Health*
  11. Cultural health beliefs in a rural family practice: a Malaysian perspective
    Ariff KM, Khoo SB
    Aust J Rural Health, 2006 Feb;14(1):2-8.
    PMID: 16426425 DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1584.2006.00747.x
    Background: Understanding the sociocultural dimension of a patient’s health beliefs is critical to a successful clinical encounter. Malaysia with its multi-ethnic population of Malay, Chinese and Indian still uses many forms of traditional health care in spite of a remarkably modern rural health service.
    Objective: The objective of this paper is discuss traditional health care in the context of some of the cultural aspects of health beliefs, perceptions and practices in the different ethnic groups of the author’s rural family practices. This helps to promote communication and cooperation between doctors and patients, improves clinical diagnosis and Management, avoids cultural blind spots and unnecessary medical testing and leads to better adherence to treatment by patients.
    Discussion: Includes traditional practices of ‘hot and cold’, notions of Yin-Yang and Ayurveda, cultural healing, alternative medicine, cultural perception of body structures and cultural practices in the context of women’s health. Modern and traditional medical systems are potentially complementary rather than antagonistic. Ethnic and cultural considerations can be integrated further into the modern health delivery system to improve care and health outcomes.
    KEY WORDS: alternative medicine, child health, cultural healing, traditional medicine, women’s health
    Matched MeSH terms: Rural Health Services*
  12. Fulltext Rural health care in Malaysia
    Ariff KM, Teng CL
    Aust J Rural Health, 2002 Apr;10(2):99-103.
    PMID: 12047504 DOI: 10.1046/j.1440-1584.2002.00456.x
    Malaysia has a population of 21.2 million of which 44% resides in rural areas. A major priority of healthcare providers has been the enhancement of health of 'disadvantaged' rural communities particularly the rural poor, women, infants, children and the disabled. The Ministry of Health is the main healthcare provider for rural communities with general practitioners playing a complimentary role. With an extensive network of rural health clinics, rural residents today have access to modern healthcare with adequate referral facilities. Mobile teams, the flying doctor service and village health promoters provide healthcare to remote areas. The improvement in health status of the rural population using universal health status indicators has been remarkable. However, differentials in health status continue to exist between urban and rural populations. Malaysia's telemedicine project is seen as a means of achieving health for all rural people.
    Matched MeSH terms: Rural Health Services/supply & distribution*
  13. Maternal mortality in the government hospitals, West Malaysia 1967-1969
    Ariffin Bin Marzuki, Thambu JA
    Med J Malaysia, 1973 Mar;27(3):203-6.
    PMID: 4268925
    Matched MeSH terms: Rural Health
  14. An outbreak of acute eosinophilic myositis attributed to human Sarcocystis parasitism
    Arness MK, Brown JD, Dubey JP, Neafie RC, Granstrom DE
    Am J Trop Med Hyg, 1999 Oct;61(4):548-53.
    PMID: 10548287
    Seven members of a 15-man U.S. military team that had operated in rural Malaysia developed an acute illness consisting of fever, myalgias, bronchospasm, fleeting pruritic rashes, transient lymphadenopathy, and subcutaneous nodules associated with eosinophilia, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and elevated levels of muscle creatinine kinase. Sarcocysts of an unidentified Sarcocystis species were found in skeletal muscle biopsies of the index case. Albendazole ameliorated symptoms in the index case; however, his symptoms persisted for more than 5 years. Symptoms in 5 other men were mild to moderate and self-limited, and 1 team member with laboratory abnormalities was asymptomatic. Of 8 team members tested for antibody to Sarcocystis, 6 were positive; of 4 with the eosinophilic myositis syndrome who were tested, all were positive. We attribute this outbreak of eosinophilic myositis to accidental tissue parasitism by Sarcocystis.
    Matched MeSH terms: Rural Health
  15. Nursing overseas: tuberculosis in West Malaysia
    Arokianathan A
    Nurs Times, 1980 Feb 14;76(7):296-7.
    PMID: 6899163
    Matched MeSH terms: Rural Health
  16. Utilization of services and referrals through dental outreach programs in rural areas of India. A two year study
    Asawa K, Bhanushali NV, Tak M, Kumar DR, Rahim MF, Alshahran OA, et al.
    Rocz Panstw Zakl Hig, 2015;66(3):275-80.
    PMID: 26400125
    Oral health care services are often sparse and inconsistent in India therefore it is often difficult for poor people to get access to the oral health care services. The approach by dental institutions with the help of community outreach programs is a step ahead in overcoming this situation.
    Matched MeSH terms: Rural Health Services/organization & administration*
  17. Low birth weight babies in Sitiawan, Perak. Rural Health Survey, 1997
    Atiya AS
    JUMMEC, 1999;4:58-61.
    Matched MeSH terms: Rural Health
  18. Fulltext A Review of Primary Health Care in Malaysia. A Report for the World Health Organization Western Pacific Region
    Awin N
    Citation: Awin N. A Review of Primary Health Care in Malaysia. A Report for the World Health Organization Western Pacific Region. Manila: World Health Organization Western Pacific Region; 2001
    Matched MeSH terms: Rural Health
  19. Fulltext Self-perceived anxiety symptoms and its associated factors among type 2 Diabetic patients in rural communities of Malaysia
    Azlina Wati Nikmat, Mohd Ariff Fadzil, Sakinah Idris
    Journal of Clinical and Health Sciences, 2016;1(2):11-17.
    MyJurnal
    Introduction: Little is known about anxiety symptoms among diabetic patients, especially among those who are living in rural areas in Malaysia. Thus, the aim of this paper is to investigate the prevalence of anxiety among diabetic patients and factors associated with anxiety in rural communities in Malaysia. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 464 diabetes mellitus patients in rural health districts and outpatient clinics in Malaysia was conducted. Each participant was interviewed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Results: Respondents consisted of 193 (41.6%) males and 271 (58.4%) females. The mean age of participants was 59.65 ± 10.16 years and the mean duration of diabetes mellitus was 6.9 ± 6.3 years. Results indicate that 15% of the participants have anxiety symptoms. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that patients with history of ischemic heart disease and depression and those who were underweight have higher anxiety scores with adjusted OR 5.06 (95% CI 1.79 to 14.27), 27.71 (95% CI 14.23 to 53.98) and 14.6 (95% CI 2.49 to 84.82), respectively. Conclusions: This study suggests that although the prevalence of anxiety among diabetics is low, primary care physician should be trained to identify high risk patients and to manage their condition in order to improve the clinical outcome.

    Study site: rural health districts and outpatient clinics in Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: Rural Health
  20. THE TWIN PROBLEMS OF RURAL POVERTY AND ILL HEALTH
    BIN AHMADA
    Med J Malaysia, 1964 Jun;18:235-8.
    PMID: 14199441
    Matched MeSH terms: Rural Health*
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