The effects of breast-feeding on infant health and mortality, particularly in the developing nations, are a matter of controversy and importance. The Malaysian Family Life Survey (MFLS) of over 1200 women has recently been the source of a great deal of valuable information on the influence of breast-feeding and interacting social variables on the incidence of infant mortality. Accuracy of reporting of breast-feeding duration is a key issue in the validity of studies of breast-feeding and infant mortality. This paper presents an illustrative analysis of the quality of breast-feeding data from the Malaysian Family Life Survey, using logit model schedules. Lesthaeghe and Page derived a logit model schedule of breast-feeding, summarizing empirical experience. This family of model breast-feeding duration curves is similar to the logit model life tables developed by Brass, and was intended for similar applications. To verify the MFLS retrospective breast-feeding reports, the observed median duration and variability were calculated for ethnic group/cohort subsets, and expected duration distribution curves were generated from the model using these observed parameter values. The expected curve generated from the model fit the observed curve of breast-feeding discontinuation extremely closely. Thus it is unlikely that any significant distortion of the pattern of discontinuation of breast-feeding occurred in data collection. Extensions of this method of data quality checking to other duration distributions are suggested.
The power generation sector consumes significant amounts of water. A comprehensive water footprint (WF) assessment helps identify and monitor the processes consuming high amounts of water. This research evaluates the water footprint (WF) of electricity generation at a USC coal power plant, integrating on-site data for enhanced reliability. Based on the Water Footprint Assessment Manual, the electricity WF includes supply chain and operational WF. This study exhibits that the average electricity WF is 2.96 m3/MWh. The supply chain WF accounts for 95% of the total electricity WF, while operational WF contributes 5%. The blue WF accounts for 9.9% of the total electricity WF, while the grey water footprint accounts for 90.1%. The results of this research show a significant difference in the distribution of blue and grey WF in electricity WF. Factors contributing to the differences include the amount of coal consumption, power generation technology and power plant cooling technology. Furthermore, this study shows that grey WF depends on the concentration of pollutants considered. This research also conducted a WF impact assessment on local water resources and found that the blue and grey operational WF contributes to low impact. Monitoring the water footprint associated with electricity generation at a coal power plant would provide a more enhanced understanding of water consumption patterns, which could help influence water resources management.
Alkylphenols and most pesticides, especially organochlorine pesticides are endocrine-disrupting chemicals and they usually mimic the female hormone, estrogen. Using these chemicals in our environment would eventually lead us to consume them somehow in the food web. Several rivers in the State of Selangor, Malaysia were selected to monitor the level of alkylphenols and pesticides contamination for several months. The compounds were extracted from the water samples using liquid-liquid extraction method with dichloromethane and ethyl acetate as the extracting solvents. The alkylphenols and pesticides were analyzed by selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode using the quadrapole detector in Shimadzu QP-5000 gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GCMS). Recovery of most alkylphenols and pesticides were in the range of 50% to 120%. Trace amounts of the compounds were detected in the river water samples, mainly in the range of parts per trillion. This technique of monitoring the levels of endocrine-disruptors in river water is consistent and cost effective.
Active aging is important for promoting the health, wellbeing, and participation of older adults. This study investigated the association between active aging and mortality risk among 2 230 respondents aged 60 and older. Principal component analysis extracted a five-factor structure from 15 indicators of active aging. The mean active aging score was 55.57 and the median was 53.33. The Kaplan-Meier curve showed that individuals with active aging scores of 53.33 and above had significantly longer survival than those below the median. Cox regression analysis indicated the significance of active aging in reducing mortality risk by 2.5% after adjusting for sex, marital status, age, ethnicity, chronic diseases, and risk factors. The active aging approach comprising health, economic, and social factors is crucial in improving survival among older adults. Hence, policies and programs that promote active aging should be encouraged to enhance the health and wellbeing of older adults and their engagement in society.
This qualitative article explores the potential role of health care social enterprises (SEs) as disruptive innovators in improving the availability, accessibility, and affordability of health care delivery. It focuses on the context and mechanisms that enable SEs to produce positive health outcomes. Findings from an in-depth interview with the representatives of SEs and stakeholders in Malaysia reveal that strategies to balance the elements of social and enterprise (business) are the key for SEs to sustain in the market. This is supported with several inclusive business models such as inclusive employment model, cross-subsidization, and flexible fees payment mechanism, as well as collaborative engagement with multiple stakeholders, expert domains, and social workers. This article also highlights several main challenges in health care SEs, namely financial sustainability, impact measurement, scaling up of project, and political influence. This article ends with a few salient policies that focus on nurturing and strengthening health care SEs.