MyMedR

Malaysia is steadily progressing toward an aging population demographic pattern. While aging is a natural process, its impact can be painful individually as well as for the nation. Individually there is a loss of a paying job after retirement, loss of physical and mental fitness, and also occasionally the loss of social integration due to lack of mobility. For a nation, an aging population means a growing dependency ratio, a greater need of care, and more medical facilities for this age group. This article looks at the various economic and social implications of the aging population in Malaysia in general, and in the rural and urban setting specifically. The paper focuses on a research sample of 132 (66 rural, 66 urban) elderly persons. The findings suggest that the demographic patterns of the elderly vary from the rural to the urban setting, with differing issues that need to be addressed to alleviate problems encountered related to loneliness, lack of financial stability, and emotional strain. Policy suggestion will be geared toward providing a solution to problems at hand as well as aiding the working group members to prepare and sustain a comfortable livelihood for the aged in their later years.

Matched MeSH terms: Rural Population*; Urban Population*

A preliminary study of international migration of the Chinese people

Zhu G

Chin J Popul Sci, 1994;6(4):403-15.

PMID: 12319210

Matched MeSH terms: Population; Population Characteristics*; Population Dynamics

Anopheles (Anopheles) collessi. A new record from mainland Sabah

Cheong WH, Mahadevan S

Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1982 Jun;13(2):288-9.

PMID: 7147014

Matched MeSH terms: Population Surveillance

The collection of large numbers of Aedes (F) poicilius from a site in Selangor: study on its biology

Cheong WH, Mahadevan S, Loong KP

Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1982 Jun;13(2):287-8.

PMID: 7147013

Matched MeSH terms: Population Surveillance

Environmental pollution and population policies

Bul Keluarga, 1980 Apr.

PMID: 12262045

Matched MeSH terms: Population; Population Dynamics; Population Growth*

Blood lead levels in Malaysian urban and rural pregnant women

Lim HH, Ong CN, Domala Z, Phoon WO, Khoo HE

Public Health, 1985 Jan;99(1):23-9.

PMID: 3991872

Matched MeSH terms: Rural Population*; Urban Population*

A sample survey on the use of medical care services among low income Chinese living in Kuala Lumpur

Khor GL, Ko CF, Kok KM, Chee HL

Family Physician, 1993;5:27-31.

The cultural and socioeconomic determinants (including the accessibility, costs and perceived effectiveness of medical care) of why and how individuals engaged in health-improving behaviours are essential information for policy makers in designing strategies towards increasing the efficient utilisation of public health services and interventions. Studies on such determinants are particularly needed for urban populations given their socioeconomic and cultural heterogeneity.

Matched MeSH terms: Urban Population

Population dynamics and ranging behaviours of provisioned silvered langur (Trachypithecus cristatus) in Peninsular Malaysia

Mohd-Daut N, Matsuda I, Abidin KZ, Md-Zain BM

Primates, 2021 Nov;62(6):1019-1029.

PMID: 34486090 DOI: 10.1007/s10329-021-00934-6

Tourists are attracted to the Bukit Melawati Kuala Selangor (BMKS) of Peninsular Malaysia, a small hill park, for both its status as a historical site and the free-ranging silvered langurs (Trachypithecus cristatus) that come for provisioning. We assessed the population trends and group sizes of T. cristatus over 10 years in the BMKS and examined their ranging patterns. Comparisons of observed populations between 2005 (190 individuals) and 2017 (193 individuals) revealed the stable demography and group sizes of the six T. cristatus groups in the BMKS. Based on a total of 185 location points of the six groups in 2017, their mean ranging area was 3.6 ha with a range of 0.86-6.93 ha with extensive spatial overlap. We also found a significant positive relationship between the six groups' ranges and group sizes in 2017. Additionally, qualitative ecological comparisons with a previous study on T. cristatus in 1965 (before provisioning) suggest that the artificial food supply in the study area could modify the population dynamics and socioecology of T. cristatus. The modifications might alter their range size and territoriality in the BMKS. Overall, we found that provisioning had negative effects on the ecology of T. cristatus in the BMKS. Therefore, modifying management policies, such as banning feeding and implementing educational programs, may contribute to their proper conservation.

Matched MeSH terms: Population Dynamics

Receptivity towards Remote Service Delivery among Social Work Clients and Practitioners during COVID Times: A Systematic Review

Chuah XJ, Aw CB, Ong PN, Samsuri KB, Dhaliwal SS

J Evid Based Soc Work (2019), 2023 Nov 02;20(6):800-839.

PMID: 37401444 DOI: 10.1080/26408066.2023.2228791

PURPOSE: This systematic review aims to identify and synthesize the available evidence on the receptivity toward, perceived advantages and challenges of remote service delivery among social work clients and practitioners during the context of COVID-19.

METHOD: Two electronic databases were searched from 2020 to 2022. Identified papers were screened against the established eligibility criteria, yielding 15 papers. Two additional papers were further identified through hand-search. As heterogeneity of studies was high, a narrative synthesis was performed to summarize the overall evidence.

RESULTS: Our review provides evidence that remote service delivery holds the potential to increase access to services among selected client populations as well as promote a sense of empowerment for clients and opportunities for practice enhancement for practitioners.

DISCUSSION & CONCLUSION: The findings from our study highlighted the need for innovative solutions and practical considerations for ongoing remote service, including the careful considerations of social work clients' and practitioners' suitability, the need for provision of training and ongoing support to optimize practitioners' well-being. As the delivery of services transition to face-to-face or remain remote, further research is needed to assess the promise of remote practice in optimizing overall service delivery, while maintaining client-reported satisfaction.

Matched MeSH terms: Population Groups

Fulltext Exploring the priorities of ageing populations in Pakistan, comparing views of older people in Karachi City and Thatta

Usmani BA, Lakhdir MPA, Sameen S, Batool S, Odland ML, Goodman-Palmer D, et al.

PLoS One, 2024;19(7):e0304474.

PMID: 38968322 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304474

As a lower middle-income country, Pakistan faces multiple issues that influence the course of healthy ageing. Although there is some understanding of these issues and the objective health outcomes of people in Pakistan, there is less knowledge on the perceptions, experiences, and priorities of the ageing population and their caretakers (hereafter, "stakeholders"). The aim of the study was to identify the needs and priorities of older adults and stakeholders across both urban and rural locations. We sought to explore the views of two groups of people, older adults and stakeholders on topics including the definition of ageing as well as areas of importance, services available, and barriers to older people living well. Two-day workshops were conducted in one rural city, Thatta and one urban city, Karachi. The workshops were designed using the Nominal Group Technique, which included plenary and roundtable discussions. The responses were ranked through rounds of voting and a consensus priority list was obtained for each topic and group. Responses were categorized using the socio-ecological framework. Responses were compared between stakeholders and older people and between different geographical areas. 24 urban and 26 rural individuals aged over 60 years and 24 urban and 26 rural stakeholders attended the workshops. There were few areas of agreement with respect to both geographical region and participant group. Comparing older adults' definition of ageing, there was no overlap between the top five ranked responses across urban and rural locations. With respect to areas of importance, there was agreement on free health care as well as financial support. In terms of barriers to healthy ageing, only nation-wide inflation was ranked highly by both groups. In addition, there were relatively few areas of congruence between stakeholder and older adult responses, irrespective of location, although engagement with family, adequate nutrition and monetary benefits were responses ranked by both groups as important for healthy ageing. Both groups ranked issues with the pension system and financial difficulties as barriers. When categorized using the socio-ecological model, across all questions, societal factors were prioritized most frequently (32 responses), followed by individual (27), relationship (15), and environment (14). Overcoming barriers to facilitate healthy ageing will require a multi-faceted approach and must incorporate the priorities of older individuals. Our results may serve as a guide for researchers and policymakers for future engagement and to plan interventions for improving the health of the ageing population in Pakistan.

Matched MeSH terms: Rural Population*; Urban Population*

Fulltext Looking beyond a seven billion population -- excitement or trepidations?

Arokiasamy JT

Med J Malaysia, 2011 Oct;66(4):286-7.

PMID: 22299543

Matched MeSH terms: Population Growth*

Fulltext Functioning and utilization of rural water supplies in Sarawak, Malaysia

Kiyu A, Hardin S

Bull World Health Organ, 1992;70(1):125-8.

PMID: 1568276

A cross-sectional survey of 976 households in 41 villages covered by the Rural Health Improvement Scheme in Sarawak was carried out to determine the state of functioning and utilization of rural water supplies. The survey was carried out by inspection and interview. About one-third of the systems were functioning well, one-third imperfectly, and the remainder were no longer functioning. The coverage of households by water supply varied with the type of water supply, the overall coverage being 81.3%. Usage varied with the type of water supply and access, the overall figure being 87.1%, and the overall utilization was 70.8%. The study showed that it is important to account for water supply usage in impact evaluation because not all households have access and not all those with access use the water supply. It is also important to define water use, depending on whether the health outcome is a reduction in diseases that are water-borne or related to washing with water, because the percentage of households using the water for drinking is different from those using it for bathing.

Matched MeSH terms: Rural Population*

Principles and scope of population genetics in the study of vector mosquitoes

Yong HS

Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1988 Dec;19(4):657-9.

PMID: 3070769

Matched MeSH terms: Genetics, Population*

Fulltext 'This is the place where I can be alone, no tension:' Photovoice evidence for adolescent perceptions of their microsystem and psychological adjustment

Chandra Sekaran V, Bailey A, Kamath VG, Ashok L, Kamath A

Asian J Psychiatr, 2020 Jun;51:102021.

PMID: 32315964 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2020.102021

Adolescents experience myriad emotions which occur in relation to their immediate social space which may shape their perceptions of members within the microsystem. The photovoice method uniquely provides participants with the means to capture their life through the lens of a camera while also enabling them to express emotions and meanings they attach to their particular life situations. We explore the various emotions adolescents attach to the spaces they occupy and how they link them to socialization in the context of the microsystem. This study was conducted in rural and urban areas of Udupi taluk, southern India. A total of 21 participants, ranging from early to late adolescence participated and provided multiple forms of data with 112 photographs, 21 journals on their daily interactions and one-on-one interviews facilitated using the SHOWeD model. The analytical method involved compiling visual data from photographs, journal content and interview data pertaining to each participant as a single data file, developing codes using ATLAS.ti, version 8, and further developing sub-themes and themes as they emerged into narratives. Our study was able to elicit emotions and meanings that adolescents attached to social interactions with gendered nuances specific to the Indian cultural setting. Future applications of the photovoice methodology on research among adolescents have also been discussed.

Matched MeSH terms: Rural Population*

Energy requirements of the population in Singapore

MILLIS J

Med J Malaya, 1956 Dec;11(2):119-25.

PMID: 13417935

Matched MeSH terms: Population Groups*

The need for metrics to measure progress on racial equity in global public health and medicine

Khan MS, Guinto RR, Boro E, Rahman-Shepherd A, Erondu NA

Lancet, 2022 Dec 10;400(10368):2019-2021.

PMID: 36502829 DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(22)02464-3

Matched MeSH terms: Continental Population Groups*

Urbanization and physical activity in the global Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiology study

Boakye K, Bovbjerg M, Schuna J, Branscum A, Varma RP, Ismail R, et al.

Sci Rep, 2023 Jan 06;13(1):290.

PMID: 36609613 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-26406-5

Urbanization may influence physical activity (PA) levels, although little evidence is available for low- and middle- income countries where urbanization is occurring fastest. We evaluated associations between urbanization and total PA, as well as work-, leisure-, home-, and transport-specific PA, for 138,206 adults living in 698 communities across 22 countries within the Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study. The 1-week long-form International PA Questionnaire was administered at baseline (2003-2015). We used satellite-derived population density and impervious surface area estimates to quantify baseline urbanization levels for study communities, as well as change measures for 5- and 10-years prior to PA surveys. We used generalized linear mixed effects models to examine associations between urbanization measures and PA levels, controlling for individual, household and community factors. Higher community baseline levels of population density (- 12.4% per IQR, 95% CI - 16.0, - 8.7) and impervious surface area (- 29.2% per IQR, 95% CI - 37.5, - 19.7), as well as the rate of change in 5-year population density (- 17.2% per IQR, 95% CI - 25.7, - 7.7), were associated with lower total PA levels. Important differences in the associations between urbanization and PA were observed between PA domains, country-income levels, urban/rural status, and sex. These findings provide new information on the complex associations between urbanization and PA.

Matched MeSH terms: Rural Population; Urban Population

Displaying publications 21 - 40 of 2018 in total