MyMedR

Displaying publications 761 - 780 of 1434 in total

Abstract:

Sort:

Safe-water shortages, gender perspectives, and related challenges in developing countries: the case of Uganda

Baguma D, Hashim JH, Aljunid SM, Loiskandl W

Sci Total Environ, 2013 Jan 1;442:96-102.
PMID: 23178827 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.10.004

The need for water continues to become more acute with the changing requirements of an expanding world population. Using a logistical analysis of data from 301 respondents from households that harvest rainwater in Uganda, the relationship between dependent variables, such as water management performed as female-dominated practices, and independent variables, such as years of water harvesting, family size, tank operation and maintenance, and the presence of local associations, was investigated. The number of years of water harvesting, family size, tank operation and maintenance, and presence of local associations were statistically significantly related to adequate efficient water management. The number of years of water harvesting was linked to women's participation in household chores more than to the participation of men, the way of livelihoods lived for many years. Large families were concurrent with a reduction in water shortages, partially because of the availability of active labour. The findings also reveal important information regarding water-related operations and maintenance at the household level and the presence of local associations that could contribute some of the information necessary to minimise water-related health risks. Overall, this investigation revealed important observations about the water management carried out by women with respect to underlying safe-water shortages, gender perspectives, and related challenges in Uganda that can be of great importance to developing countries.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Factors
The prevalence and intensity of Amblyomma javanense infestation on Malayan pangolins (Manis javanica Desmarest) from Peninsular Malaysia

Hassan M, Sulaiman MH, Lian CJ

Acta Trop, 2013 May;126(2):142-5.
PMID: 23416121 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2013.02.001

A parasitological survey of 16 pangolins, confiscated from the Department of Wildlife and Nature Park Peninsular Malaysia (DWNP) at Kelantan and Pulau Pinang, Malaysia was conducted in 2011. Amblyomma javanense (family: Ixodidae) was the only ectoparasite found on the pangolins. The prevalence, intensity and life cycle of A. javanense were observed together with the respective pangolins' age and sex. It was found that 68.8% of the pangolins were infected, and significant difference, χ(2)(1, N=16)=4.02, p=0.05 were observed with males higher in infestation (88.9%) as compared to the females (42.9%). However, the mean intensity was higher on females (72) as compared to males (31.6). In addition, significant difference, χ(2) (2, N=16)=6.73, p=0.05 was recorded between adults and juveniles with juveniles found to be 100% infected as compared to adult (63.6%). Nevertheless, the mean intensity was slightly higher on adults (47) than juveniles (35). Adult ticks were found in higher numbers as compared to the nymph and larvae with number of male ticks higher (236) as compared to the females (53). Similarly, a high significant difference χ(2)(2, N=469)=203.47, p=0.05 was recorded in the composition of the tick's life stages with a higher number of adult ticks (61.6%) followed by nymph (30.3%) and larvae (8.1%). As such, the results of this study revealed a picture of the A. javanense life cycle which is related to the age and gender of the Malayan Pangolin.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Factors
Socioeconomic consequences of the 2004 tsunami: policy implications for natural disaster management

Su TT, Saimy BI, Bulgiba AM

Prev Med, 2013;57 Suppl:S74-6.
PMID: 23313790 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2012.12.024

The objective of the study is to assess the socioeconomic status of the households affected by the tsunami of 2004 & to determine the factors associated with the recovery of household economic status.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Factors
Cord IgE and ECP levels of Malay neonates

Yadav A, Naidu R

Allergol Immunopathol (Madr), 2013 Nov-Dec;41(6):364-8.
PMID: 23276420 DOI: 10.1016/j.aller.2012.08.007

Cord IgE and ECP levels are major atopic markers implicated in early childhood allergy development. Most epidemiological studies to date have not utilised current technology to establish baseline cord IgE levels, further aggravated by lack of data in this region. This study also attempts to identify a relationship between cord IgE and ECP levels as a mean to improve sensitivity for early prediction of atopy.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Factors
Stroke incidence in the South West District of the Penang Island, Malaysia: PEARLs: Penang Acute Stroke Research Longitudinal Study

Neelamegam M, Looi I, Cheah WK, Narayanan P, Hamid AM, Ong LM

Prev Med, 2013;57 Suppl:S77-9.
PMID: 23295169 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2012.12.022

This community based incidence study aims to report the stroke incidence in the south-west region of the Penang Island.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Factors
Fulltext Association between occupational stress and respiratory symptoms among lecturers in Universiti Putra Malaysia

Nur Aqilah MY, Juliana J

Glob J Health Sci, 2012 Nov;4(6):160-9.
PMID: 23121752 DOI: 10.5539/gjhs.v4n6p160

There was considerable evidence that a subject's psychological status may influence respiratory sensations and that some subjects may experience respiratory symptoms regardless of the presence of a respiratory disease. The objective of this study was to determine the association between occupational stress and respiratory symptoms among lecturers. This cross sectional study was conducted in Universiti Putra Malaysia, involved 61 lecturers from various faculties. Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ) and questionnaires based on American Thoracic Society were used to collect the data on socio-demography, stress level and respiratory symptoms. High level of occupational stress (high strain) was determined among 16 of the respondents (26.2%). Breathlessness was the common symptom experienced by the respondents. Female lecturers were significantly experienced high stress level compared to male (p=0.035). They were also significantly having more breathlessness symptom compared to male lecturer (p=0.011). Study highlighted in study population, gender plays a significant role that influenced level of occupational stress and also gender has role in resulting occupational stress level and respiratory symptoms. There was no significant association between occupational stress and respiratory symptoms. It can be concluded that this group of lecturers of Universiti Putra Malaysia did not experienced high occupational stress level. Occupational stress level was not statistically significantly associated with all respiratory symptoms being studied.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Factors
Validity and reliability of the Malay version of WHO Women's Health and Life Experiences Questionnaire

Saddki N, Sulaiman Z, Ali SH, Tengku Hassan TN, Abdullah S, Ab Rahman A, et al.

J Interpers Violence, 2013 Aug;28(12):2557-80.
PMID: 23508088 DOI: 10.1177/0886260513479029

The Women's Health and Life Experiences questionnaire measures the prevalence, health implications, and risk factors for domestic violence. This cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the validity and reliability of the Malay version of World Health Organization (WHO) Women's Health and Life Experiences Questionnaire. Construct validity and reliability assessment of the Malay version of the questionnaire was done on 20 specific items that measure four types of intimate partner violence (IPV) act; controlling behaviors (CB), emotional violence (EV), physical violence (PV), and sexual violence (SV), which were considered as the domains of interest. Face-to-face interviewing method was used for data collection. A total of 922 women completed the interviews. The results showed that exploratory factor analysis of four factors with eigenvalues above 1 accounted for 63.83% of the variance. Exploratory factor analysis revealed that all items loaded above 0.40 and the majority of items loaded on factors that were generally consistent with the proposed construct. The internal consistency reliability was good. The Cronbach's α values ranged from 0.767 to 0.858 across domains. The Malay version of WHO Women's Health and Life Experiences Questionnaire is a valid and reliable measure of women's health and experiences of IPV in Malaysia.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Offenses
A cross-cultural comparison of autistic traits in the UK, India and Malaysia

Freeth M, Sheppard E, Ramachandran R, Milne E

J Autism Dev Disord, 2013 Nov;43(11):2569-83.
PMID: 23494561 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-013-1808-9

The disorder of autism is widely recognised throughout the world. However, the diagnostic criteria and theories of autism are based on research predominantly conducted in Western cultures. Here we compare the expression of autistic traits in a sample of neurotypical individuals from one Western culture (UK) and two Eastern cultures (India and Malaysia), using the Autism-spectrum Quotient (AQ) in order to identify possible cultural differences in the expression of autistic traits. Behaviours associated with autistic traits were reported to a greater extent in the Eastern cultures than the Western culture. Males scored higher than females and science students scored higher than non-science students in each culture. Indian students scored higher than both other groups on the Imagination sub-scale, Malaysian students scored higher than both other groups on the Attention Switching sub-scale. The underlying factor structures of the AQ for each population were derived and discussed.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Factors
Fulltext Review of Dengue hemorrhagic fever fatal cases seen among adults: a retrospective study

Sam SS, Omar SF, Teoh BT, Abd-Jamil J, AbuBakar S

PLoS Negl Trop Dis, 2013;7(5):e2194.
PMID: 23658849 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002194

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral disease endemic in many countries in the tropics and sub-tropics. The disease affects mainly children, but in recent years it is becoming more of an adult disease. Malaysia experienced a large dengue outbreak in 2006 to 2007, involving mostly adults, with a high number of deaths.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Factors
Fulltext Patterns of smoking among adolescents in Malaysia and Thailand: findings from the International Tobacco Control Southeast Asia survey

Hammond D, Kin F, Prohmmo A, Kungskulniti N, Lian TY, Sharma SK, et al.

Asia Pac J Public Health, 2008;20(3):193-203.
PMID: 19124313 DOI: 10.1177/1010539508317572

At present, 70% of the world's 1.1 billion smokers are in developing countries, with over 50% in Asia alone. The current study examined patterns of youth smoking in Thailand and Malaysia. Respondents were 2002 youths between the ages of 13 and 17 from Thailand (n = 1000) and Malaysia (n = 1002). Respondents were selected using a multistage cluster sampling design and surveyed between January 2005 and March 2005. Approximately 3% of youth between the ages of 13 and 17 were current smokers, with an additional 10% to 12% reporting experimental smoking. Males were between 7 and 15 times more likely to report smoking behavior than females. Less than 1% of females respondents in either country met the criteria for current smoking, and less than 5% met the criteria for experimental smoking. In contrast, more than 50% Thai males and approximately one-third of Malaysian males aged 17 met the criteria for either experimental or current smoking.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Distribution
Oral cancer presentation among Malay patients in hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan

Razak AA, Saddki N, Naing NN, Abdullah N

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2009;10(6):1131-6.
PMID: 20192598

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to identify the characteristics of oral cancer among Malay patients in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM), Kelantan.
METHODS: A retrospective record review was conducted from August to December 2006 in HUSM. Of 133 patients with oral cancer diagnosed from 1986 to 2005, 118 were Malay. Data on socio-demographic background, high-risk habits practiced, clinical and histological characteristics, and treatment profile of the patients were obtained.
RESULTS: Malay patients with oral cancer were predominantly elderly, aged 60 years old and above (51.7%) at the time of diagnosis, with a mean age of 58.1 years (SD 16.81). Most patients were males (64.4%) and the majority of them were married (83.9%). More than half (58.5%) had been smokers, and of those who smoked, 89.9% were males. Some had a betel quid chewing habit (22.9%) but none ever consumed alcohol. The majority of the patients (77.1%) were diagnosed at stage IV. The tongue was the most usual site involved (37.3%) and squamous cell carcinoma was the most common histological type seen (75.4%).
CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of oral cancer among Malay patients in HUSM is high (88.7%). It is predominantly found in elderly males and the majority of cases present at advanced stage.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Factors
Predisposing factors and prevalence of fractured anterior teeth among 12 and 16 years old school Malaysian children

Gopinath VK, Ling KT, Haziani KN, Ismail NM

J Clin Pediatr Dent, 2008;33(1):39-42.
PMID: 19093650

This study reports on the predisposing factors and prevalence of fractured anterior teeth among 12 and 16 years-old school children in Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, West Malaysia.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Distribution
Fulltext Identification of Neisseria gonorrhoeae as the causative agent in a case of culture-negative dermatitis-arthritis syndrome using real-time PCR

Kimmitt PT, Kirby A, Perera N, Nicholson KG, Schober PC, Rajakumar K, et al.

J Travel Med, 2008;15(5):369-71.
PMID: 19006515 DOI: 10.1111/j.1708-8305.2008.00240.x

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are an increasingly common and important cause of a fever in a returning traveler. Systemic complications of STIs, human immunodeficiency virus seroconversion illness, and secondary syphilis are diagnoses that can easily be missed. We present a case of culture-negative disseminated gonococcal infection presenting with fever, malaise, polyarthralgia, arthritis, and a rash that developed following orogenital contact and was diagnosed using real-time polymerase chain reaction. This technology has major potential to improve the speed and sensitivity of diagnosis and consequent management of patients with this syndrome.
Study site: United Kingdom (patient had recent travel to Thailand and Malaysia)

Matched MeSH terms: Unsafe Sex
Effect of maternal age, birth weight and infant sex on total nucleated cell (TNC) count and volume of umbilical cord blood (UCB) collected

Choong SN, Ng YK, Kamalan A, Saraswathy S, Goh EH, Lee MJ, et al.

Med J Malaysia, 2008 Jul;63 Suppl A:55-6.
PMID: 19024981

This study evaluates the effect of maternal age, birth weight and infant sex on two main UCB parameters for use and long-term cryopreservation: TNC and volume. Data from 1000 UCB units were collected and analyzed in this study. The results indicate that TNC is correlated to infant birth weight and sex but not maternal age at delivery. Volume is only correlated to birth weight but not maternal age and infant sex.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Factors
Fulltext Gender and ethnic differences in cardiovascular risks in Songkhla province, Thailand: the interASIA-south

Chongsuvivatwong V, YipIntsoi T, Apakupakul N

J Med Assoc Thai, 2008 Apr;91(4):464-70.
PMID: 18556853

The subset of data on southern Thai InterAsia study conducted in 2000 was revisited in order to document gender and ethnic breakdown of prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Three hundred and seventy-five men and 630 women with overall mean +/- SD age of 53.2 +/- 11.7 years were recruited. Combined gender prevalences were: 21.1% for smoking, 15.5% for drinking, 21.8% for hypertension (systemic blood pressure > or = 140/90 mmHg), 49.8% for impaired fasting plasma glucose (FPG 110-125 mg/dl), 9.9% for diabetes mellitus (FPG > or = 126 mg/dl), 10% for body mass index > or = 30 kg/m2, 43.5% for large waist circumference (WC > or = 90 cm in men and > or = 80 in women), 62.8% for total serum cholesterol (TC), > 200 mg/dl, 38.5% for TC divided by high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) > or = 5 and 61.6% for low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), > or = 130 mg/dl. After using logistic regression, adjusting the effects of age and community of residence, women were less likely than men to be smokers, drinkers, or showed impaired FPG but significantly more likely to have large WC, TC > or = 200 mg/dl and LDL-C > or = 130 mg/dl. Muslims showed significantly lower risk for drinking and large WC but higher risk for low HDL-C. The differences require further research. In conclusion, gender and age have stronger association with various risk factors than ethnicity in this selected population.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Factors
Normal motor nerve conduction studies using surface electrode recording from the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, deltoid, and biceps

Buschbacher RM, Weir SK, Bentley JG, Cottrell E

PM R, 2009 Feb;1(2):101-6.
PMID: 19627883 DOI: 10.1016/j.pmrj.2008.08.002

Proximal peripheral nerve conduction studies can provide useful information to the clinician. The difficulty of measuring the length of the proximal nerve as well as a frequent inability to stimulate at 2 points along the nerve adds a challenge to the use of electrodiagnosis for this purpose. The purpose of this article is to present normal values for the suprascapular, axillary, and musculocutaneous nerves using surface electrodes while accounting for side-to-side variability.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Factors
Fulltext Prevalence of acne and its impact on the quality of life in school-aged adolescents in Malaysia

Hanisah A, Omar K, Shah SA

J Prim Health Care, 2009 Mar;1(1):20-5.
PMID: 20690482

AIM: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of facial acne and its impact on the quality of life among adolescents attending secondary schools in Muar, Malaysia.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted where 409 samples were selected using stratified cluster random sampling from two secondary schools in Muar, involving Form 1 to Form 5 students. Students were diagnosed clinically and the severity of facial acne was assessed using Global Acne Grading System. A self-reported Cardiff Acne Disability Index was used to assess the quality of life among adolescents who had acne.
RESULTS: The prevalence of facial acne among the adolescents was 67.5% (n = 276). Facial acne increased with increasing age (p = 0.001). It was more common among males (71.1%) than females (64.6%), p = 0.165. The males also had a higher prevalence of severe acne (p = 0.001). The quality of life was affected by the severity of acne. Students with severe acne had higher levels of Cardiff Acne Disability Index (rho = 0.521).
CONCLUSION: Facial acne is a common disorder and appears to have a considerable impact on quality of life among adolescents. The above findings should alert health care professionals and the school authorities to actively identify, manage and educate adolescents with facial acne.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Factors
Validation study of the Mini-Mental State Examination in a Malay-speaking elderly population in Malaysia

Ibrahim NM, Shohaimi S, Chong HT, Rahman AH, Razali R, Esther E, et al.

Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord, 2009;27(3):247-53.
PMID: 19246909 DOI: 10.1159/000203888

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In view of the differing sensitivity and specificity of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) in the non-English-speaking populations, we conducted the first validation study of the Malay version (M-MMSE) in Malaysia among 300 subjects (from the community and outpatient clinics).
METHODS: Three versions were used: M-MMSE-7 (serial 7), M-MMSE-3 (serial 3) and M-MMSE-S (spell 'dunia' backwards). Dementia was assessed using the criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV. The optimal cutoff scores were obtained from the receiver operating characteristics curves.
RESULTS: Seventy-three patients (24.3%) had dementia and 227 (75.7%) were controls. Three hundred patients completed the M-MMSE-7, 160 the M-MMSE-3 and 145 the M-MMSE-S. All 3 versions were valid and reliable in the diagnosis of dementia. The optimal cutoff scores varied with each version and gender. In the control group, significant gender differences were observed in the patients with the lowest educational status. Increasing educational levels significantly improved the M-MMSE performance in both genders.
CONCLUSION: All 3 versions of the M-MMSE are valid and reliable as a screening tool for dementia in the Malaysian population, but at different cutoff scores. In those with the lowest educational background, gender-adjusted cutoff scores should be applied.
Study site: Community, neurology and dementia outpatient clinics, Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (PPUKM), University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC)

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Factors
Male fetuses are associated with increased risk for cesarean delivery in Malaysian nulliparae

Viegas OA, Lee PS, Lim KJ, Ravichandran J

Medscape J Med, 2008;10(12):276.
PMID: 19242582

The association between fetal sex and outcome of pregnancy and labor has been well documented in western populations. However, no studies in Malaysia or other developing countries have examined the effect of fetal sex on such outcomes.The main objective of this study was to determine the influence of fetal sex on the outcome of labor at term in a cohort of Malaysian nulliparae.A retrospective observational study was designed using data from 4644 Malaysian nulliparae who gave birth consecutively to singleton male babies at Hospital Sultanah Aminah, Johor Bahru, after normal full-term pregnancies.The results of this study indicate that mothers giving birth to male infants have a greater risk of requiring cesarean delivery because male babies are heavier and have statistically significantly greater head circumference (P < .001). These findings concur with those obtained in western populations and suggest that the differences in outcome observed are biological, not dictated by race, ethnicity, or environmental conditions. Such information could help in the antenatal assessment of Malaysian patients and stimulate more comprehensive studies of the mechanisms involved in this sex-based difference in outcomes. Reasons for such differences are proposed.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Factors
Fulltext Mobile computing with special reference to readability task under the impact of vibration, colour combination and gender

Mallick Z, Siddiquee AN, Haleem A

J Hum Ergol (Tokyo), 2008 Dec;37(2):57-66.
PMID: 19227193 DOI: 10.11183/jhe1972.37.57

The last 20 years have seen a tremendous growth in the field of computing with special reference to mobile computing. Ergonomic issues pertaining to this theme remains unexplored. With special reference to readability in mobile computing, an experimental research was conducted to study the gender effect on human performance under the impact of vibration in a human computer interaction environment. Fourteen subjects (7 males and 7 females) participated in the study. Three independent variables, namely gender, level of vibration and screen text/background colour, were selected for the experimental investigation while the dependent variable was the number of characters read per minute. The data collected were analyzed statistically through an experimental design for repeated measures. Results indicated that gender as an organismic variable, the level of vibration and screen text/background colour revealed statistically significant differences. However, the second order interaction was found to be statistically non-significant. These findings are discussed in light of the previous studies undertaken on the topic.

Matched MeSH terms: Sex Factors

Filters

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

External Links