Displaying publications 41 - 60 of 81 in total

Abstract:
Sort:
  1. Progress in public health in the Year of the Goat
    Binns C, Low WY
    Asia Pac J Public Health, 2015 Mar;27(2):121-2.
    PMID: 25834268 DOI: 10.1177/1010539515576167
    Matched MeSH terms: Sanitation
  2. A feasibility study for appraising recreational water quality in a Southeast Asian beach complex
    Appan A
    Environ Monit Assess, 1991 Oct;19(1-3):361-72.
    PMID: 24233953 DOI: 10.1007/BF00401325
    In a case study involving preliminary investigations for the feasibility of a beach resort complex in the west coast of Sarawak, Malaysia, since the acceptable quality of recreational water quality had not been specified, existing international standards and practices were reviewed to arrive at acceptable microbiological and physicochemical parametric levels. Water samples were collected on a weekly basis in the proposed beach complex at Tanjong Batu Coastal Reserve and also along the nearby Sungei Batang Kemena and its estuary. It was ascertained that the swimming water quality was acceptable in terms of faecal Coliforms, temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen. However E. Coli counts did indicate a potential risk of 1.68% for gastrointestinal illness and the ubiquitous presence of faecal Streptococci pointed to recent pollution of human or animal origin. Besides, grease and oil contents exceeded the WHO Guideline values. It was hence recommended that an appropriate sanitation or pollution survey should be carried out in the adjacent coastal catchment area and the beach. Also routine water sampling should be undertaken. Such action will help to pinpoint sources of pollution and lead to antipollution measures, thus helping to upgrade swimming water quality and establish swimming water quality standards.
    Matched MeSH terms: Sanitation
  3. Sanitation and pollution problems and measures to solve these problems
    Newman-Morris G
    Med J Malaysia, 1974 Dec;29(2):107-9.
    PMID: 4282393
    Matched MeSH terms: Sanitation
  4. Fulltext Exposure to environmental microbiota explains persistent abdominal pain and irritable bowel syndrome after a major flood
    Yusof N, Hamid N, Ma ZF, Lawenko RM, Wan Mohammad WMZ, Collins DA, et al.
    Gut Pathog, 2017;9:75.
    PMID: 29255490 DOI: 10.1186/s13099-017-0224-7
    Background: After an environmental disaster, the affected community is at increased risk for persistent abdominal pain but mechanisms are unclear. Therefore, our study aimed to determine association between abdominal pain and poor water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH) practices, and if small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and/or gut dysbiosis explain IBS, impaired quality of life (QOL), anxiety and/or depression after a major flood.

    Results: New onset abdominal pain, IBS based on the Rome III criteria, WaSH practices, QOL, anxiety and/or depression, SIBO (hydrogen breath testing) and stools for metagenomic sequencing were assessed in flood victims. Of 211 participants, 37.9% (n = 80) had abdominal pain and 17% (n = 36) with IBS subtyped diarrhea and/or mixed type (n = 27 or 12.8%) being the most common. Poor WaSH practices and impaired quality of life during flood were significantly associated with IBS. Using linear discriminant analysis effect size method, gut dysbiosis was observed in those with anxiety (Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria, effect size 4.8), abdominal pain (Fusobacteria, Staphylococcus, Megamonas and Plesiomonas, effect size 4.0) and IBS (Plesiomonas and Trabulsiella, effect size 3.0).

    Conclusion: Disturbed gut microbiota because of environmentally-derived organisms may explain persistent abdominal pain and IBS after a major environmental disaster in the presence of poor WaSH practices.

    Matched MeSH terms: Sanitation
  5. Fulltext Devastating urban flooding and dengue outbreak during the COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan
    Junaid Tahir M, Rizwan Siddiqi A, Ullah I, Ahmed A, Dujaili J, Saqlain M
    Med J Islam Repub Iran, 2020;34:169.
    PMID: 33816368 DOI: 10.47176/mjiri.34.169
    Pakistan has recently been overwhelmed by extreme torrential rains, with its most populous city of Karachi experiencing its worst floods in almost a century. Poor flood control and water disposal facilities have led to an immense risk of another dengue outbreak, with multiple cases being reported recently. The enormous accumulation of stagnant water in urban areas is a major source of mosquito breeding and transmission. Historical data has shown the correlation between the number of dengue cases and average rainfall in the region. The monsoon rains have pounded at a time where health authorities are battling to contain the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. There is a need to implement centralized dengue control strategies to undertake large scale water drainage, sanitation, and disinfection drives in disaster-stricken areas alongside public health awareness programs to combat the after-effects of this natural calamity.
    Matched MeSH terms: Sanitation
  6. Some heights and weights records of young Tamils under plantation conditions
    Barrowman B
    Journal of the Malaya Branch of the British Medical Association, 1941;5:51-4.
    Matched MeSH terms: Sanitation
  7. The analyze toddler growth and development according to family's economic status in Village Limau Manis, Districts Tanjung Morawa
    Pangaribuan IK, Simanullang E, Poddar S
    Enferm Clin, 2020 06;30 Suppl 5:92-95.
    PMID: 32713594 DOI: 10.1016/j.enfcli.2019.11.029
    The toddler stage is a golden period and at the same time a critical period for a child, since he / she will experience rapid brain growth and development so that he/ she need sufficient nutrition intake. Toddler's abnormal growth and development are usually found in low economic community because they cannot afford to provide their need for basic food for their toddler's growth and development. The objective of the research was to analyze toddler's growth and development according to family's economic status. The research used descriptive analytic method with cross-sectional design. It was conducted at Limau Manis Village, Tanjung Morawa Subdistrict, Deli Serdang Regency, from January to June 2016. The population was 1899 toddlers, and 113 of them were used as the samples, taken by using simple random sampling technique. The data were gathered by using questionnaires to find out toddler's growth and development according to family's economic status. The result of univariate analysis showed that 57 toddlers (50.4%) had abnormal growth and development. The result of bivariate analysis with chi-square test showed that there was the correlation of toddler's growth and development with economic status (p value=0.004), women's care pattern (p value=0.028), and environmental sanitation (p value=0.01). Therefore, empowerment of family's economy through the development of family's nutrition portfolio is necessary.
    Matched MeSH terms: Sanitation
  8. Fulltext Spatial analysis of food poisoning cases and its environmental relations in Sabah, Malaysia
    Syed Sharizman Syed Abdul Rahim
    Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2019;15(106):4-4.
    MyJurnal
    Introduction: Food poisoning usually occurs with the consumption of contaminated food. Some related factors are unsafe water supply, poor sanitation, unhygienic waste disposal and unhygienic practices or poor personal hygiene by food handlers. The purpose of this study is to describe the spatial epidemiology of food poisoning cases in the four districts of Sabah. Methods: This review consists of all food poisoning cases reported from 2011 to 2014 from Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Putatan and Papar, Sabah. The coordinates used for locations of cases are based on home addresses. Tools such as SPSS v20, ArcGIS v10 and CrimeStat IV were used for data analysis and mapping. Results: A total of 1,787 cases of food poisoning were reported during this review period. In 2011, only Kota Kinabalu and Pa-par illustrated significant food poisoning clusters. Meanwhile, in the year 2012 to 2014, Kota Kinabalu, Penampang and Putatan had clustering of cases. Analysis of nearest neighbour hierarchical clustering analysis showed 32 food poisoning clusters. There were 4 food poisoning points at 500 meters radius around a market place, 2 food poisoning points near a sewage plant and 1 food poisoning point near a water treatment plant. No cases were near a municipal landfill. For rivers and coastline, there were 37 points of food poisoning cases in the proximity of 500 meters. Con-clusion: Food poisoning usually occurs in clusters with possible associated environmental factors.
    Matched MeSH terms: Sanitation
  9. Fulltext Outbreak management during the worst flood disaster of 2006–2007 in Johore, Malaysia
    Arbaiah, O., Badrul, H.A.S., Marzukhi, M.I., Mohd Yusof, Badaruddin, M., Mohd Adam
    Malaysian Journal of Community Health, 2009;15(3):111-118.
    MyJurnal
    Outbreak management in disaster has to be planned and implemented prior to, during and after the disaster is over. The risk of outbreaks following disaster is related to the size, health status and living conditions of the displaced population. The risk is increased due standing water in floods for vector borne diseases, overcrowding, inadequate water and sanitation and poor access to health care. The 2006-2007 flood in Johore resulted in 2 episodes of food poisoning and an outbreak of coxsackie A24 acute haemorrhagic conjunctivitis. Only 19,667 (12.5%) of the 157,018 displaced persons suffered from communicable diseases which comprised of acute respiratory disease 7361(28%), skin infection 4241(19%), acute gastroenteritis 1872(8%) and conjunctivitis 589 (2%). The routine disease surveillance and environmental control were enhanced to cover the relief centers and flood areas. Risk assessment of communicable disease carried out resulted in prompt control measures and good coverage of preventive activities. In conclusion the Johore State Health Department has successfully manage the outbreaks during the major flood.
    Matched MeSH terms: Sanitation
  10. Some beliefs and practices affecting the health of the aborigines (Orang Asli) of Bukit Lanjan, West Malaysia
    Foong-San S
    Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1972 Jun;3(2):267-76.
    PMID: 4343262
    Matched MeSH terms: Sanitation
  11. Fulltext Microbiological quality on food handlers’ hands at primary schools in Hulu Langat District, Malaysia
    Tan, S.L., Lee, H.Y., Abu Bakar, F., Abdul Karim, M.S., Rukayadi, Y., Mahyudin, N.A.
    International Food Research Journal, 2013;20(5):2973-2977.
    MyJurnal
    A total of 85 food handlers participated in this study to determine the hygienic status of their hands in primary schools located in the state of Selangor (Malaysia). Overall findings revealed that the fecal contamination and personal hygiene of the food handlers were well maintained with the range of mean bacterial counts from 0.18 to 0.47 log10 Colony Forming Units/cm2 during the three intervals of hand swabbing (before, during and after) preparation of ready-to-eat foods. However, the general indication of the microbiological quality (Aerobic Plate Count) was out of the standard (range of mean bacterial counts from 1.39 to 1.56 log10 Colony Forming Units/cm2) based on previous literature. This study highlighted that the food handler’s adherence to Good Manufacturing Practice and Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures was insufficient and suggested that attention should be emphasized on their practices at the intervals of school recess: before, during and after the preparation of ready-to-eat foods. In addition, there is also a need in the implementation of an effective HACCP program in Malaysia school foodservice operations.
    Matched MeSH terms: Sanitation
  12. A review of the nutritional status of the Indian community in Peninsular Malaysia
    Mirnalini K
    Family Practitioner, 1982;5:39-43.
    A review of recent data available on the nutritional health of Indian children seems to suggest that malnutrition is a major problem among poor Indian preschool and school children. Examination of indirect indicators of malnutrition reveals that for Indians, the annual percentage decrease in TMR is the lowest and incidence of low birth weight and perinatal mortality rate the highest. While there is very little documentation in the extent and severity of protein-malnutrition among Indian children, hospital admission returns for severe PEM show a predominance of Indian preschool children. This suggest that moderate forms of malnutrition may even be more widely prevalent amongst this group of the population thus posing a great problem from the public health point of view. The prevalence of moderate PEM as represented by acute ("wasting") and chronic forms ("stunting") was found to be the highest among Indian urban and rural children. Biochemical studies indicate widespread prevalence of anemia, vitamin A and B deficiencies especially among Indian preschool children. The presence of high parasitic infections may exacerbate such deficiencies. The causes of malnutrition are multiple and complex. Low family income as a consequence of high unemployment rate (8%) and low wages, lack of basic sanitation and adequate housing, large family size, alcoholism and apathy among parents, ignorance of good nutrition and disturbed conditions in the home environment have been identified as some of the factors that may contribute towards malnutrition in this community. Thus the viscous cycle of malnutrition appears to have gained a foothold in the poor Indian community. As has been well documented, the social implications of malnutrition are many, the most important being its effect on education. It is now well known that malnutrition hinders intellectual development; it interferes with a child's motivation, ability to concentrate, and ability to learn and cope with the school situation. Malnutrition thus could be one of the contributory factors to the generally poor performance in studies, to the low aspiration for higher education and to the alarming drop-out rate (60%) found among Indian school children. While this review attempts to highlight some of the nutritional problems confronting the Indian poor, it is clearly essential from a national view-point that community level surveys should be further undertaken to assess the nutritional health of this group. The problem of malnutrition among poor Indian children is real and needs urgent recognition and remedial measures from both public and political sectors alike.
    Matched MeSH terms: Sanitation
  13. Emergency field sanitation
    O'Dwyer JJ
    Journal of the Malaya Branch of the British Medical Association, 1940;3:387-95.
    Matched MeSH terms: Sanitation
  14. Relationship between water quality and human health: a case study of the Linggi River Basin in Malaysia
    Lonergan S, Vansickle T
    Soc Sci Med, 1991;33(8):937-46.
    PMID: 1745918
    Due to the increasingly documented prevalence of diarrhoeal diseases in Malaysia, a number of water-related programmes have been implemented in an attempt to improve health status through the reduction of incidence of waterborne communicable diseases associated with poor public water supplies. The implicit assumption underlying these projects is that the enhancement of the physical infrastructure, and subsequent improvements in the quality of the water supply, will substantially reduce water-related disease. The present study questions this hypothesis and uses a socio-ecological model as a framework to assess risk factors associated with the increased probability of waterborne disease. Research is centred on Port Dickson, a district which typifies existing water and sanitation conditions in much of semi-rural Malaysia. Health services utilization data and a 268-household diarrhoeal morbidity survey were used to measure the burden of illness of waterborne disease within the district and to identify predictors of morbidity. It was concluded that although treatment facilities will reduce the health burden in the region, a number of behavioural and sanitation factors may be more important and could act to minimize the potential impacts of improved water quality.
    Matched MeSH terms: Sanitation/standards
  15. Fulltext Risk factors and spatial distribution of extended spectrum β-lactamase-producing- Escherichia coli at retail poultry meat markets in Malaysia: a cross-sectional study
    Aliyu AB, Saleha AA, Jalila A, Zunita Z
    BMC Public Health, 2016 08 02;16:699.
    PMID: 27484086 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-016-3377-2
    BACKGROUND: The significant role of retail poultry meat as an important exposure pathway for the acquisition and transmission of extended spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli (ESBL-EC) into the human population warrants understanding concerning those operational practices associated with dissemination of ESBL-EC in poultry meat retailing. Hence, the objective of this study was to determine the prevalence, spatial distribution and potential risk factors associated with the dissemination of ESBL-EC in poultry meat retail at wet-markets in Selangor, Malaysia.

    METHODS: Poultry meat (breast, wing, thigh, and keel) as well as the contact surfaces of weighing scales and cutting boards were sampled to detect ESBL-EC by using culture and disk combination methods and polymerase chain reaction assays. Besides, questionnaire was used to obtain data and information pertaining to those operational practices that may possibly explain the occurrence of ESBL-EC. The data were analysed using logistic regression analysis at 95 % CI.

    RESULTS: The overall prevalence of ESBL-EC was 48.8 % (95 % CI, 42 - 55 %). Among the risk factors that were explored, type of countertop, sanitation of the stall environment, source of cleaning water, and type of cutting board were found to be significantly associated with the presence of ESBL-EC.

    CONCLUSIONS: Thus, in order to prevent or reduce the presence of ESBL-EC and other contaminants at the retail-outlet, there is a need to design a process control system based on the current prevailing practices in order to reduce cross contamination, as well as to improve food safety and consumer health.

    Matched MeSH terms: Sanitation*
  16. Screening heavy metals levels in hair of sanitation workers by X-ray fluorescence analysis
    Md Khudzari J, Wagiran H, Hossain I, Ibrahim N
    J Environ Radioact, 2013 Jan;115:1-5.
    PMID: 22846873 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvrad.2012.05.013
    This work presents a study of human hair as a bio-indicator for detection of heavy metals as part of environmental health surveillance programs project to develop a subject of interest in the biomedical and environmental sciences. A total of 34 hair samples were analyzed that consisting of 29 samples from sanitation workers and five samples from students. The hair samples were prepared and treated in accordance to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recommendations. The concentrations of heavy metals were analyzed using the energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) technique by X-50 Mobile X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) at Oceanography Institute, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu. The performance of EDXRF analyzer was tested by Standard Reference Material (SRM 2711) Montana Soil which was in good agreement with certified value within 14% deviations except for Hg. While seven heavy metals: Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, and Sb were detected in both groups, three additional elements, i.e. As, Hg and Pb, were detected only in sanitation workers group. For sanitation workers group, the mean concentration of six elements, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Se, and Sb, shows elevated concentration as compared to the control samples concentration. Results from both groups were compared and discussed in relation to their respective heavy metals concentrations.
    Matched MeSH terms: Sanitation
  17. Fulltext Risk Factors for Enterovirus A71 Seropositivity in Rural Indigenous Populations in West Malaysia
    NikNadia N, Sam IC, Khaidir N, Ngui R, Lim YA, Goh XT, et al.
    PLoS One, 2016;11(2):e0148767.
    PMID: 26866912 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0148767
    Enterovirus A71 (EV-A71), which is transmitted by the fecal-oral route, causes hand, foot and mouth disease and, rarely, severe neurological complications. In Malaysia, the indigenous rural community (Orang Asli) has a high prevalence of parasitic diseases due to poor sanitation, water supply and hygiene practices. This cross-sectional study compared the seroepidemiology of EV-A71 among rural Orang Asli and urban Kuala Lumpur populations in West Malaysia, and determined the risk factors associated with EV-A71 seropositivity in rural Orang Asli. Seropositive rates were determined by neutralization assay. EV-A71 seropositivity was strongly associated with increasing age in both populations. Rural Orang Asli children ≤12 years had significantly higher EV-A71 seropositivity rates than urban Kuala Lumpur children (95.5% vs 57.6%, P < 0.001), and also higher rates in the age groups of 1-3, 4-6 and 7-12 years. Multivariate analysis confirmed that age ≤12 years (adjusted OR 8.1, 95% CI 3.2-20.7, P < 0.001) and using untreated water (adjusted OR 6.2, 95% CI 2.3-16.6, P < 0.001) were independently associated with EV-A71 seropositivity in the Orang Asli population. Supply of clean drinking water may reduce the risk of EV-A71 infection. With significantly higher EV-A71 seropositive rates, younger rural children should be a priority target for future vaccination programs in Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Sanitation
  18. Infant mortality decline in Malaysia, 1946-1975: the roles of changes in variables and changes in the structure of relationships
    DaVanzo J, Habicht JP
    Demography, 1986 May;23(2):143-60.
    PMID: 3709892
    This analysis has identified several factors contributing to the dramatic decline in infant mortality since World War II in Malaysia, as well as one factor that prevented the infant mortality rate from declining even more rapidly. Our main findings are the following: On average, mothers' education more than doubled over the study period, contributing to the decline in their infants' mortality. In addition, the beneficial effect of mothers' education on infant survival appears to have become stronger over the study period. Hence, further advances in education should lead to further improvements in infants' survival prospects. Another analysis of these data (Peterson et al. 1985) found that education is somewhat more influential in affecting child mortality in low-mortality, high-income areas than in the opposite type of areas. Therefore, socioeconomic development may have complemented, instead of substituted for, the the beneficial effect of mothers' education in promoting infant and child survival in Malaysia. Improvements in water and sanitation also contributed to the infant mortality decline, especially for babies who did not breastfeed. However, unlike education, these influences have become less important over time, especially for babies who are not breastfed. Hence, further improvements in water and sanitation, a goal of Malaysia's Rural Environmental Sanitation Programme, may have smaller relative effects on infant mortality than did previous improvements. Targeting such improvements on areas where women breastfeed little or not at all, however, will increase their effectiveness in promoting infant survival. The substantial reductions in breastfeeding that have taken place since World War II have kept the infant mortality rate in Malaysia from declining as rapidly as it would have otherwise. We estimate that, in our sample, the detrimental effects on infant survival of the decline in breastfeeding have more than offset the beneficial effects of improvements in water and sanitation. Unlike some other researchers (e.g., Palloni 1981), we find that changes in fertility levels and in the timing and spacing of births have had negligible effect in explaining the decline in infant mortality within the samples we have considered. We have excluded births to older women from our analysis, however; this exclusion may have led to an understatement of the influence of changes in the age pattern of childbearing.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
    Matched MeSH terms: Sanitation
  19. Fulltext Cholera outbreak in Tumpat, Kelantan-1990
    Isa AR, Othman WM, Ishak A
    Med J Malaysia, 1990 Sep;45(3):187-93.
    PMID: 2152079
    Two episodes of El Tor cholera outbreak occurred in Tumpat, Kelantan between the 13th of January and the 16th of May 1990. Every case and carrier reported were investigated to determine the source and mode of transmission and to identify specific preventive measures to break the chain of transmission. There were 109 cases and 85 carriers involved in this study. The first episode of one case only was of Inaba serotype while the second episode was caused by the imported Ogawa serotype. Two foci of spread were identified from cluster occurrence but the majority of infection had no discernible link between them. The outbreak became both explosive and protracted indicating poor basic sanitation and personal hygiene. Person-to-person transmission via food and water was the main mode of spread. The Kelantan river water and river clams were confirmed sources of reservoir during the outbreak. Recommendations for prevention are intensified surveillance throughout the year,urgent upgrading of potable water supply and concerted effort in public health education especially against the use of river water and the consumption of raw food.
    Matched MeSH terms: Sanitation
  20. Environmental engineering education for developing countries: framework for the future
    Ujang Z, Henze M, Curtis T, Schertenleib R, Beal LL
    Water Sci Technol, 2004;49(8):1-10.
    PMID: 15193088
    This paper presents the existing philosophy, approach, criteria and delivery of environmental engineering education (E3) for developing countries. In general, environmental engineering is being taught in almost all major universities in developing countries, mostly under civil engineering degree programmes. There is an urgent need to address specific inputs that are particularly important for developing countries with respect to the reality of urbanisation and industrialisation. The main component of E3 in the near future will remain on basic sanitation in most developing countries, with special emphasis on the consumer-demand approach. In order to substantially overcome environmental problems in developing countries, E3 should include integrated urban water management, sustainable sanitation, appropriate technology, cleaner production, wastewater minimisation and financial framework.
    Matched MeSH terms: Sanitation
Related Terms
Filters
Contact Us

Please provide feedback to Administrator (afdal@afpm.org.my)

External Links