METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in Malaysia to assess the knowledge, perception and attitudes of the women in Malaysia. The study was conducted using an online questionnaire, and samples were obtained using convenience sampling. The questionnaire was distributed trilingual in English, Bahasa Malaysia and Chinese. The data was collected with content validated questionnaire. Data was analyzed with descriptive statistics and General Linear Model analysis in SPSS (Version 27).
RESULTS: A total of 201 respondents' data were analyzed. From our study we were able to summarize that the women in Malaysia have a suboptimal knowledge towards personalized risk-stratified breast cancer screening as only 48.9% aware of the term for personalized risk-stratified breast cancer screening. Meanwhile, the majority of the respondents (96.7%) showed positive attitudes towards the importance of risk assessment and screening. Experience of participating in health education programmes about breast cancer and personalized risk-stratified screening was found to be significantly associated with knowledge, attitude and perception towards personalized risk-stratified breast cancer screening.
CONCLUSION: General population's awareness of individualized risk-stratified breast cancer screening was insufficient despite their favourable attitude towards the disease. A multimodal strategy may be used to improve women's knowledge, attitude, and perception of individualized risk-stratified breast cancer screening.
METHODS: The study population included all women diagnosed with uterine cancer in Sarawak, Malaysia between January 1996 and December 2015. Data on demographic and clinical characteristics were obtained from the Sarawak Cancer Registry. The crude incidence rate, age-standardized incidence rate (ASR), and incidence risk ratios (IRR) were calculated. Joinpoint regression analyses were performed to assess trends in incidence rates.
RESULTS: A total of 811 women were diagnosed with primary uterine cancer during the study period. The overall crude incidence rate for uterine cancer in Sarawak for the period 1996-2015 was 3.7 per 100,000. The ASR was 4.4 per 100,000 with a 95% CI (4.1-4.8). The ASR in 2011-2015 is 1.6 times higher than the ASR of uterine cancer in 1996-2000. Higher incidence rates were observed in women aged 40-59 years and those aged 60 years and above. Chinese women had the highest ASR, followed by Malay and Iban women. Joinpoint regression analyses showed a significant increase in cases of uterine cancer among all ethnic groups and age groups.
CONCLUSION: The incidence of primary uterine cancer in Sarawak, Malaysia, has increased over the past 20 years, with higher incidence rates observed in older age groups and among Chinese women. The findings suggest the need for continued efforts to improve the prevention, early detection, and treatment of uterine cancer in Sarawak.
METHODS: From 2010 to 2014, men with HIV (N = 212) and opioid dependence before incarceration were enrolled in MMT within 6 months of release from Malaysia's largest prison and followed for 12-months post-release. As a prospective trial, allocation to MMT was at random and later by preference design (predictive nonetheless). MMT dosing was individually targeted to minimally achieve 80 mg/day. Time-to-event analyses were conducted to model linkage to MMT after release.
FINDINGS: Of the 212 participants allocated to MMT, 98 (46 %) were prescribed higher dosages (≥80 mg/day) before release. Linkage to MMT after release occurred in 77 (36 %) participants and significantly higher for those prescribed higher dosages (46% vs 28 %; p = 0.011). Factors associated with higher MMT dosages were being married, on antiretroviral therapy, longer incarceration periods, having higher levels of depression, and methadone preference compared to randomization. After controlling for other variables, being prescribed higher methadone dosage (aHR: 2.53, 95 %CI: 1.42-4.49) was the only independent predictor of linkage to methadone after release.
INTERPRETATION: Higher doses of methadone prescribed before release increased the likelihood of linkage to MMT after release. Methadone dosing should be introduced into international guidelines for treatment of opioid use disorder in prisons and further post-release benefits should be explored.
FUNDING: National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA).
METHODS: The Menopause Quick 6 (MQ6) questionnaire was translated into the Malay language with an addition of an item, henceforth termed MQ6 (M). Forward and backward translation was performed. Face and content validity were conducted. MQ6 (M) was self-administered to 400 women aged between 40 and 60 attending six primary healthcare clinics in Malaysia. To ascertain the reliability for MQ6 (M), corrected Item-Total Correlation, Squared Multiple Correlation, Cronbach's Alpha if the Item is Deleted, and Kuder-Richardson Reliability Coefficients (KR20). Exploratory factor analysis was done to determine its' construct validity.
RESULTS: The outcome of the validation was satisfactory. By the Lawshe method, the content validity ratios ranged from 0.6 to 1.0 and the content validity index was 0.914. The Internal consistency for MQ6(M) Cronbach's alpha was 0.711 while Kuder-Richardson Reliability Coefficients KR20 was 0.676. Factor loading of all four items is above 0.70, indicating a well-defined structure. Whereas factor loading for three items fell within the range of 0.50-0.69 indicating a practically significant threshold for a new questionnaire.
CONCLUSION: MQ6 (M) has acceptable reliability and construct validity to be considered as a self-administered screening tool in primary care clinics in Malaysia.
METHODS: We conducted in-depth virtual interviews with pregnant women between February and April 2022. The interviews were recorded and transcribed, and data were analyzed by content analysis.
RESULTS: The majority of the participants demonstrated a commendable level of awareness regarding the signs and symptoms associated with ZIKV infection. They also exhibited a clear understanding of preventive measures, particularly emphasizing the importance of avoiding mosquito bites to minimize the risk of ZIKV transmission. However, a noteworthy gap in knowledge surfaced as a subset of participants remained uninformed about the potential for sexual transmission of ZIKV, which could lead to congenital ZIKV in pregnant women. Even among women who were cognizant of ZIKV and its potential negative health outcomes, associated with the infection, many of them did not perceive themselves to be at risk, mainly because ZIKV infection is infrequently discussed or heard of, leading to a sense of infections' rarity. While the adoption of preventive measures such as mosquito bite prevention during pregnancy was a common practice, however, prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including mosquito-borne diseases such as Zika is low. A minority of women express concerns about the sensitivity surrounding discussions and prevention of STIs within the context of marriage. Most of the participants were supportive of the provision of awareness of ZIKV infection in women during pregnancy and the involvement of men, especially in initiatives aimed at preventing transmission through sexual contact.
CONCLUSION: This study uncovered gaps in both knowledge and practices pertaining ZIKV infection among pregnant women in the aftermath of the ZIKV pandemic. The insights gleaned from our research are valuable for shaping future interventions geared towards preventing the resurgence or facilitating the sustainable eradication of ZIKV.
METHODS: Relevant data from multiple data sources which include national oral health and health surveys, national census, extensive systematic literature reviews, as well as discussion with experts, were used to estimate the economic burden of non-surgical periodontal management in specialist clinics in Malaysia in 2020. This estimation was done from the oral healthcare provider's perspective in both public and private sectors using an irreducible Markov model of 3-month cycle length over a time horizon of one year.
RESULTS: In 2020, the national economic burden of non-surgical periodontal treatment during the first year of periodontal management in specialist clinics in Malaysia was MYR 696 million (USD 166 million), ranging from MYR 471 million (USD 112 million) to MYR 922 million (USD 220 million). Of these, a total of MYR 485 million (USD 115 million) and MYR 211 million (USD 50 million) were the direct oral healthcare cost in public and private dental clinics, respectively.
CONCLUSION: The findings of this study demonstrated substantial economic burden of non-surgical periodontal management in specialist clinics in Malaysia. Being a life-long disease, these findings highlight the importance of enforcing primary and secondary preventive measures. On the strength and reliability of this economic evidence, this study provides vital information to inform policy- and decision-making regarding the future direction of managing periodontitis in Malaysia.