1171 urban general practices in East and West Malaysia were compared regarding their service profiles and practice facilities. In general, practices in both parts put important emphasis on preventive health care. More practices in East Malaysia were providing hormone replacement therapy and sexually transmitted diseases services but less were providing intrapartum care, counselling services including sexual and marital counselling and problems associated with social deviance such as alcohol and drug abuse. Although most practices in East Malaysia were solo practices, they were more comprehensive in terms of the provision of practice facilities when compared to those in West Malaysia. A greater number of them had ultrasound facilities, peak flow meters, ECG machines, computers and blood biochemistry facilities.
In this paper we use data from the Second Malaysian Family Life Survey (MFLS-2) to examine the extent to which ethnic differences in the living arrangements of the older population in Peninsular Malaysia can be explained by ethnic differences in demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. We also investigate whether the three main ethnic groups of Malaysia differ in the extent to which their living arrangements are influenced by these factors. For the married, the higher incidence of remarriage and lower housing costs for Malays each contribute importantly to their lower coresidence rates. The relatively poorer health of Indians and better health of Malays also contribute to the ethnic differences in coresidence rates for the married, as does the higher incidence of daughter-only families among Malays. The explanatory variables considered here explain less of the ethnic differences in coresidence rates for the unmarried.
Study name: Malaysian Family Life Survey (MFLS-2)
Matched MeSH terms: Family Characteristics; Nuclear Family
A total of 10 volunteers were monitored for radiation doses, whose spouses were given radio-iodine (131I) orally. Nine of the spouses were given radio-iodine for Graves' disease and one for thyroid carcinoma. It was found that the highest radiation dose received by the volunteer was only 13.5% of the annual dose limit for individual members of the public. Hence, patients treated with radio-iodine do not pose a significant radiation hazard to the public.
What is the likelihood that each of the 37 developing countries with populations of 15 million or more in 1990 will reach replacement fertility by the year 2015? These countries have a combined population of 3.9 billion, 91 percent of the population of all developing countries. For this article, a composite index was used as the basis for predicting future levels of total fertility. The index was constructed from socioeconomic variables (life expectancy at birth, infant mortality rates, percent adult literacy, ratio of children enrolled in primary or secondary school, percent of the labor force in nonagricultural occupations, gross national product per capita, and percent of the population living in urban areas), total fertility rates for the years 1985-90, total fertility rate decline from 1960-65 to 1985-90, family planning program effort scores in 1989, and the level of contraceptive prevalence in 1990. Eight countries are classified as certain to reach replacement fertility by 2015, and an additional thirteen probably will also. Five countries are classified as possibly reaching replacement fertility, and eleven as unlikely to do so.
Matched MeSH terms: Family Planning Services/trends*
The competence of general practitioners (GPs) in diagnosing anxiety neurosis was assessed using standardized patients (SPs) unknown to the doctors. Out of a computer-generated random sample of 100 general practitioners in Kuala Lumpur, 42 volunteered to participate in the study. The results showed that the GPs can be divided into three groups: group A made the correct diagnosis and informed the SPs about their condition (11.9%); group B prescribed tranquillizers and did not inform the SPs of the actual diagnosis but instead said that they were either normal or were suffering from some stress (28.6%); and group C made various diagnoses of physical disorder or did not detect any abnormality at all (59.5%). Thus about 40% of the doctors considered an emotion-related disorder and only 12% of the doctors were confident enough to make and inform the patient of the actual diagnosis. Group A significantly (P < 0.001) asked higher numbers of relevant questions in the signs and symptoms section of the history than the other two groups. No differences between the three groups were observed in the other two sections of history-taking (personality, family, social and precipitating factors), in the general and specific physical examination and interpersonal skills. Generally, with the exception of the interpersonal skills section, the doctors performed less than 40% of the expected tasks in every section. The study highlighted the lack of competence in making a definite diagnosis of anxiety disorder. Among those who apparently made the diagnosis (group B) or made the diagnosis with certainty (group A), there was no demonstration of appropriate treatment behaviour with respect to pharmacological intervention.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
"Based on surveys conducted among different ethnic groups in rural and urban settings in Peninsular Malaysia in 1981-82, this paper analyses changes in patterns of marriage and household formation among Malays, Chinese, and Indians. Aspects covered include social mixing before marriage, choice of spouse, comparison of spouses' characteristics, and place of residence after marriage. There are important cultural differences between the main Malaysian ethnic groups in matters related to marriage, but in many important respects, attitudes and practice are tending to converge...."
PIP: While Malaysia's National Family Planning Board is primarily responsible for family planning activities, several organizations and ministries, both governmental and voluntary, participate in various service programs. Current population policy attempts to go beyond family planning. Population education, treatment of infertility, and cancer screening are offered as well as family planning, to make the program more useful to greater numbers of people. The government also wishes to improve the status of women thereby giving them alternative choices of lifestyle. Rural women are reached through the Ministry of Agriculture's community development program. While the National Family Planning Board receives only 0.12% of the national budget, this figure is not expected to increase. Tables giving vital rates show that population fell below the 30 per 1000 mark for the first time in 1977. A higher rate of fertility decline has taken place between 1967 - 1977 than occurred from 1957 - 1967. Current demographic objectives are to reduce crude birthrate to 28.2 per 1000 by 1980. This goal would require 817,963 new acceptors. While the pill accounts for 80% of acceptor's choice, the proportion using condoms has increased from 1.4% during 1969 - 1970 to 11.4% in 1979. Despite reported side effects with the pill and the illegality of induced abortions, virtually all acceptors are well satisfied with the program in its current form.
The design of family studies to estimate the value of an intraclass correlation coefficient p is considered when ni individuals are to be selected from each of k families, i = 1, 2, ..., k. In particular, the accuracy of a balance design (ni = n, i = 1, 2, ..., k) for estimating p is compared with the accuracy of an unbalanced "natural" design, in which the ni are sampled at random from family size distributions that tend to occur in practice. It is found for two different estimators of p that the balanced design is usually preferable, but only to a small degree if the number of families sampled is greater than 50.
Realising that family planning is not making a sufficient impact on the rural people as it is on the urban people, it was decided that it would be interesting to study the knowledge and attitude of a rural community towards family planning, The study sample consisted of 200 Malay married women - 100 acceptors and 100 non-acceptors from the Kuala Pilah District, The study commenced on 4 December 1978 and ended on 22 December 1978. A healthy climate of knowledge and attitude exists among rural Malay women. Only 2 percent nonacceptors had not heard of any method of family planning, and 99 percent acceptors, and 85 percent non-acceptors discussed family planning with their husbands. There was also enough evidence to show that birth rate does decrease as literacy rate increases. On the other hand, however, only 19 percent respondents approved of family planning practice before the first child. Also there is a dearth of information on family planning in the rural areas and not much was being done in utilising the two popular forms of mass-media - the radio and the television as a means of disseminating information on family planning. The study concludes with a recommendation that there is a need for sustained effort at improving knowledge and disseminating information, and nursing and nurturing the right attitudes towards family planning, It suggests that community leaders, women's clubs and private organisations be mobilised to participate more
fully in promoting family planning,
About 10% of 3887 ever-married women included in the 1984-85 Malaysian Population and Family Survey revealed that they were influenced by the new population policy to desire more children than they had originally wanted. These women were more likely to be rural Malays from the lower socioeconomic class. Ideal family size was more than four children. Children are desired for economic benefits and emotional support. The natality of the Malays has risen since 1980: their total fertility rate has increased while their contraceptive prevalence rate has dropped sharply. Coupled with a decline in the crude death rate, the present fertility preferences and behaviour of the Malays will render the target of the population policy more attainable than is reflected by the survey data.
Eight general practitioners participated in a survey of content of general practice. This is useful as an indicator or morbidity in the community as well as of workload of general practice. A total of 3164 consultations were recorded, of which 2764 (87%) were because of an illness and the rest (13%) for other reasons like medical examinations, antenatal check, family planning advice, pregnancy tests, pap smear and vaccination. The old and the young have high consultation rates for an illness, men consulted as often as women. The most common illness seen was upper respiratory tract infections, accounting for 37% of all illnesses. Other common minor illnesses were skin infections (6%), genito-urinary infections (5%), minor musculoskeletal (6%) and gastrointestinal (6%) complaints as well as minor injuries and cuts (4%). Major disorders form an unusually low proportion (18%) of all illnesses seen, in comparison with figures from United Kingdom. The common major disorders seen were hypertension, asthma, chronic rheumatic disorders and diabetes. Circulatory disorders were remarkably rare, accounting for only 1% of illnesses. Psychological disorders, both major and minor, were also rarely seen, accounting for only 1% of illnesses which is in marked contrast with figures from the United Kingdom. Factors contributing to these notable findings are discussed.
There is universal concern on the current inequitable coverage and low quality of health care. The lead roles of medical practitioners in health care and how they are prepared for such roles are being re-examined in many countries. This paper attempts to rationalise the need to reorientate medical education towards primary health care, and to suggest possible emphasis and direction for change.
The role of husband-wife communication in the practice of family planning was studied among the rural Malay couples in Mukim Rusila, Terengganu. It was a cross-sectional study in which a cluster sampling was used to select the study sample. A total of 193 (100.0%) wives and 74 (38.3%) husbands responded to a face-to-face interview. Visual Analogue Scale was used to measure the level of husband-wife communication. Husband-wife communication score was lower on family planning compared to other matters. There was a significant fair agreement on the scores between the husbands and the wives (p > 0.05) on family planning. There was a significant association between husband-wife communication on family planning and the current practice of family planning (p = 0.002). The 'likelihood' that couples who had had good husband-wife communication to practice family planning was about 2.8 times higher compared to those couples with poor husband-wife communication (95% C.I.: 1.4, 5.3). Further research need to be carried out, as the study was limited by certain constraints.
Which factors have the greater influence on family planning performance: fixed background variables such as racial composition, urbanization, and mortality, which are affected by level of development, or program inputs such as assignment of personnel and location of clinics, which are subject to manipulation by administrators? An analysis of differences in family planning acceptance among 70 districts of Malaysia shows that two main program-manipulable variables--level of personnel deployment and accessibility of clinics--have the largest direct effect upon acceptance levels. Variations in background factors explain a smaller proportion.
PIP: The application to the Malaysian family planning program of a conceptual model in which background factors, affected by the level of development, are distinguished from program input variables, subject to program manipulation, is considered in an effort to examine reasons for variations in program performance. Focus is particularly on the inputs of workers, who provide services and distribute supplies, and clinic facilities, through which services and supplies are made available. The questions asked concerned how their availability and use are affected by background factors, which themselves reflect to some extent the population's readiness to accept family planning. Distinguishing the program-manipulable factors from the background factors involved determination of the impact of both groups of variables, separately and together on levels of program acceptance, using appropriate bivariate and multivariate techniques. The evidence shows that in addition to background factors, over which program administrators can exercise no direct influence, there is a major contribution made to program acceptance through program factors over which the planner and administrator do have control. The 2 program variables contributed more in explaining performance levels than all 5 selected background variables combined, and the relative contribution of these program factors has increased over time. The key finding emerging from the different analyses is that program manipulable inputs are the dominant direct determinants of subsequent levels of family planning acceptance in Malayasia. Clearly, higher levels of development, as reflected in the measures of background variables, have facilitated acceptance, and background variables contributed significantly. Yet, whatever the level of development, the extent of deployment of program resources does significantly influence the level of program performance.
A biochemical genetic study of the enzyme malate dehydrogenase (MDH) was conducted in the grasshopper Oxya j. japonica. Analysis of MDH electrophoretic variation in this species of grasshopper shows that one of the two autosomal loci for MDH in grasshoppers, the Mdh-2 locus, controlling the anodal set of MDH isozymes, is duplicated. Results of breeding studies confirm this and the observed polymorphism at the Mdh-2 locus in the two populations of Oxya j. japonica studied can be attributed to three forms of linked alleles at the duplicated locus in equilibrium in both populations. In this respect, all individuals of this species possess heterozygous allelic combinations at the duplicated Mdh-2 locus, which may account for the spread of the duplicated locus in the populations of this species of grasshopper.
This article examines the impact of gender socialization in Malaysian families, especially on daughters regarding their perception towards work inside and outside the home. Hence, this study utilized in-depth interview as part of the qualitative methods to obtain quality data needed. The study establishes, that patriarchy environment, especially one with the classic model of ‘breadwinner father, housewife mother’ creates a pressure on women to bear more household responsibility. Thus, the dominant gender ideologies are entangled with ‘motherhood mandate’ and ‘superior feminine virtue’ that is associated with the reason women left the labour force. It was equally necessary to point out here that other agents of socialization such as media, peers and education played its part as well and influenced the respondent’s conformity to patriarchal values.
Matched MeSH terms: Family Characteristics; Nuclear Family