Displaying publications 61 - 80 of 191 in total

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  1. Historical review of the changing pattern of infant feeding in developing countries: the case of Malaysia, the Caribbean, Nigeria and Zaire
    King J, Ashworth A
    Soc Sci Med, 1987;25(12):1307-20.
    PMID: 3324358 DOI: 10.1016/0277-9536(87)90129-8
    Prolonged lactation and early supplementation have been traditional practices among low-income mothers in Malaysia, the Caribbean, Nigeria and Zaire. Early supplementation is still the norm but there have been some substantial changes in the types of supplement offered. Thus, except in Zaire, there is now widespread use of processed milks as supplements for very young infants. The use of processed milks began in the 1920s in Malaysia and the Caribbean, but not until the 1960s in Nigeria. Processed milks are, as yet, rarely used in Zaire. The use of processed milks has not, however, led to the abandonment of traditional paps. The latter are still given as supplements to young infants in Nigeria and to older infants in Malaysia and the Caribbean. Breast-feeding duration has declined in Malaysia and the Caribbean although initiation is almost universal. In Nigeria and Zaire most low-income mothers continue to breast-feed for at least 12 months. The changes in the types of supplements used and in breast-feeding duration are analogous to the changes observed in industrialised countries from the mid-19th century, and many of the associated factors are similar: urbanisation; female participation in the labour force; increased availability of processed milks and their promotion both by companies and the health sector; and the regimentation of breast-feeding. This review highlights the negative role played by the health sector in the past, and discusses its future role in promoting and supporting breast-feeding.
    Matched MeSH terms: Women, Working
  2. Human rights violations against women: acid violence in Bangladesh
    Haque SE, Ahsan H
    Am J Prev Med, 2014 Feb;46(2):216-7.
    PMID: 24439357 DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2013.10.013
    Matched MeSH terms: Women*
  3. Hydrops fetalis: a simple novel screen for the rapid identification of haemoglobin Bart's syndrome
    George-Kodiseri E, Faridah K
    Family Physician, 1991;3(1):25-27.
    Haemoglobin Bart's hydrops fetalis syndrome is totally lethal. Globin chain electrophoresis on mylar backed cellulose acetate strips, by a method modified from Ueda and Schneider has been established to demonstrate total absence of alpha chains in this syndrome. This simple test can identify fetuses, stillbirths and newborns with homozygous αo-thalassaemia. In this region where DNA studies are limited, and prenatal diagnosis is unavailable, this test which describes the phenotypic expression of Hb Bart's syndrome will improve genetic counselling of women at risk of homozygous αo-thalassaemia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Women
  4. Illegal abortion: an attempt to assess its cost to the health services and its incidence in the community
    Figà-Talamanca I, Sinnathuray TA, Yusof K, Fong CK, Palan VT, Adeeb N, et al.
    Int J Health Serv, 1986;16(3):375-89.
    PMID: 3733306
    This article describes a study designed to test a method for assessing the cost to the health services of illegally induced abortion and the feasibility of estimating the incidence of induced abortion by a field interviewing approach. The participating centers included three hospitals in Ankara, Turkey; three hospitals in Ibadan, Nigeria; one hospital in Caracas and one in Valencia, Venezuela; and two hospitals in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Hospitalized abortion cases were classified as induced or spontaneous or as "probably induced," "possibly induced," or "unknown" according to a classification scheme comprising certain medical criteria. The sociodemographic characteristics of induced and spontaneous abortion cases were subjected to discriminant function analysis and the discriminating variables best characterizing the induced versus the spontaneous abortion groups were identified for each center. On the basis of this analysis, the "probably" and "possibly" induced and "unknown" categories were further classified as induced or spontaneous abortion, with stated probabilities. Thus an overall estimate is made of the proportion of all hospitalized abortions that can be considered illegally induced outside the hospital. Selected results on costs of induced and spontaneous abortion are shown. The method further tested the feasibility of obtaining valid survey data on abortion from the communities studied by re-interviewing the women hospitalized for induced and spontaneous abortion six months later in their homes. This exercise showed a degree of under-reporting of abortion that varied widely among centers, even among women who had admitted illegal induction at the time of hospitalization. The feasibility of estimating the incidence of illegal abortion by field studies is discussed in the light of these findings.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pregnant Women
  5. Immigrant Health Study. 1. Foreign workers' Health: pilot study sociological aspect. [Abstract]
    Wong YL, Fauza AG
    JUMMEC, 1998;3:60-60.
    The majority of migrant workers studied in this pilot survey were male, from Bangladesh and Muslim. The mean age was 30 years and the majority were aged between 21-30 years. Although almost half of them had 7-13 years of schooling, or an equivalent to secondary education, the majority were work- ing in the Service industry, predominantly in cleaning services. It is noted that this enlployment trend varied from the national situation, whereby majority of legal migrant workers (Indonesian and Thai) are found in the agricultural sector. More than two thirds of the migrant workers were provided with various forms of housing by the employer. However, it is not known if such acconunodation was adequate or not, as there were no questions about housing structures aod extent of overcrowding. Majority of them stated that they had better amenities, such as piped drinking water and sanitaly toilets, here in Malaysia compared to those in their home countries. Yet, the real extent of better sani- tation is difficult to assess since verification of such amenities could not be done. From their self- reports, it appears that the majority did not engage in risk behaviours, such as smoking, alcohol and drug abuse. It is pertinent, however, to include other risk behaviours in the study, particularly the area of sexual behaviour. The pilot study yielded 28 female Indonesian migrant workers. More than two thirds of them were married. Although none of the married women reported that they were pregnant at the time of the survey, more than two thirds of then1 had betweenl-3 children in Malaysia. Since the age range of these children would be an important indicator of the need for preventive health care, it is proposed that age range of the accompanying children and their immunisation status be included in the questionnaire. Just below half of them were currently practising family planning, and more than two thirds were using modern methods, such as, pill, Norplant and IUD. It is recotnmended that in addition to pregnancy and family planning information, the study could also collect data on gynaeco- logical health and the health seeking behaviour for these problems.
    Matched MeSH terms: Women
  6. Immigrant Health Study. 2. Clinical findings in migrant workers - a pilot study. [Abstract]
    Chia YC, McCarthy S
    JUMMEC, 1998;3:60-61.
    This section only examines the clinical findings and some blood chemistly in these workers. A total of 222 men and 28 women were studied. Their ages ranged from 12 to 57 years, the mean being 30.1 (±7.4). Generally most of the physical examination was normal and no external features of infectious diseases were seen. The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure was 120 (±13) and 76(±8.7) nun Hg respectively. About 8.4% of the population had elevated blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg or greater. About 12.4% of these man and women were underweight (Body mass index (EMI) less than 19 kg/m2) while 11.2% were either overweight or obese (BMI>25) with the mean being 21.8 (±2.7). Only 3 had BMI greater than 30. Three subjects had a lnitral regurgitation murmur thought to be due to mitral valve prolapse. Four others had tinea cruris, six had insignificant axillary lymph-nodes, five had cervical lymph-nodes of which one was due to carcinoma of the tonsil 30 with shotty inguinal lymph-nodes which was thought to of no pathological significance. Four subjects had crepitations and five had rhonchi in their lungs. A full blood count revealed that 16.65% of the man and 32.1°/o of the women had haemoglobin levels of less than 14gm/dl and 12gm/dl respectively. The most striking abnormality was the high prevalence of eosinophilia. 37% of the subjects had eosinophilia counts of greater than 450/dl. About 19.4% of this study population had fasting blood glucose of greater than 6mmol/l but only 1.3% with fasting blood glucose of greater than 7.8 mmo/l. About 22% of the urine examined revealed pro- teinuria but were otherwise unremarkable for the other parameters. This group of foreign workers was made up of a presumably fairly healthy young population. Attempts to look for infectious disease on physical examination, not surprisingly did not reveal any remarkable findings. It could be that the majority of these subjects already had a examination prior to coming into the country and another one soon after arrival. However an indirect measurement of infectious diseases via the eosinophilic count revealed a high prevalence of parasitic infestations. Attempts to examine the end results of social hardship, be it intrinsic before or appearing after arrival indirectly shoved some degree of suffering. There was a fairly high prevalence of anaemia, especially amongst the women. The body mass index also revealed this population to be generally less obese than other populations. The value of medical check-ups has been debated, especially if it were done as a pre-employment procedure. This pilot study has shown that it is not cost-effective to do physical examination or blood chem- istry and urine analysis in hying to identify infectious diseases in the migrant workers. In the light of the paucity of clinical findings in this pilot study, it would be prudent to review the strategy for examining the health status of migrant workers. Perhaps the physical examination can be dispensed with, and blood andurine analysis beveryfocused and directedin order to maximise the cost- effectiveness of this programme. Certainly the high prevalence of eosinophilia needs further evalua- tion.
    Matched MeSH terms: Women
  7. Fulltext Immune response to asymptomatic infections by Entamoeba histolytica and other enteric pathogens in pregnant women and their infants in a high HIV burdened setting in Zimbabwe
    Nhidza AF, Naicker T, Stray-Pedersen B, Chisango TJ, Sibanda EP, Ismail A, et al.
    J Microbiol Immunol Infect, 2020 Aug;53(4):612-621.
    PMID: 30583941 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmii.2018.11.005
    BACKGROUND: Asymptomatic Entamoeba histolytica infections in pregnant women puts infants at risk of infection through vertical transmission or transmission during breastfeeding in high HIV prevalence areas. The study aimed at investigating the immune response to asymptomatic E.histolytica infection in pregnant women and their infants in a high HIV burdened setting in Harare, Zimbabwe.

    METHODOLOGY: Serum samples from 39 predominantly breastfeeding mother-infant pairs were analyzed for inflammatory cytokine and immunoglobulin profiles using BIOPLEX. The infants' ages ranged from 10 days to 14 weeks.

    RESULTS: IL-1r, IL-4, IL-9, IL-12p70, IL-17a, G-CSF and PDGF-BB were significantly raised in E. histolytica infected compared to non-infected lactating mothers (p women and their infants to assist in decision making linked to treatment and prevention in times of pandemics.

    Matched MeSH terms: Pregnant Women
  8. Impact of cancer on psychosexuality: cultural perspectives of Asian women
    Khoo SB
    Int J Nurs Pract, 2009 Dec;15(6):481-8.
    PMID: 19958401 DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-172X.2009.01797.x
    Cancers and related treatments have devastating effects on psychosexual life of patients. This study helps us to understand the cultural perspectives of 50 Asian women diagnosed with cancer. Median age was 50+ years. Median duration of time from diagnosis to interview was 23 months. Thirty-eight per cent stopped sex before illness, 36% stopped sex completely whereas 18% stopped gradually after diagnosis; 8% continued to have sex till time of interview. Overall, 70% were living with spouse but not engaged in sexual intercourse; 31.4% slept in different room, 48.6% slept in the same room but without any form of sexual contact. Thirty-eight per cent believed sexual activity could cause cancer recurrence, and 30% believed cancer could be sexually transmitted. Eighty-two per cent reported acceptance of changes to physical appearance. Approximately 70-86% did not discuss sexuality with their doctor or spouse; 90% agreed doctors should ask about psychosexual issues on a routine basis. Approximately 74.4% reported good cooperation from spouse. Cultural beliefs of Asians pose as barriers to providing and receiving psychosexual affection between women diagnosed with cancer and their spouse. However, these beliefs also serve as protective factors in their mutual acceptance of change in psychosexual activities. Health-care professionals need to be sensitive to the vast cultural differences in psychosexual expressions and needs of women diagnosed with cancer.
    Matched MeSH terms: Women/psychology*
  9. Fulltext Impact of maternal antepartum depressive and anxiety symptoms on birth outcomes and mode of delivery: a prospective cohort study in east and west coasts of Malaysia
    Nasreen HE, Pasi HB, Rifin SM, Aris MAM, Rahman JA, Rus RM, et al.
    BMC Pregnancy Childbirth, 2019 Jun 14;19(1):201.
    PMID: 31200677 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-019-2349-9
    BACKGROUND: Antepartum depressive and anxiety symptoms (ADS and AAS) are prevalent in Malaysia. Prior evidence linking maternal ADS and AAS with adverse birth outcomes and caesarean section (CS) or instrumental delivery is conflicting. There is no research in Malaysia on the association between maternal mental disorders and adverse birth outcomes and mode of delivery. This study aims to investigate the independent effect of maternal ADS and AAS on low birth weight (LBW), preterm birth (PTB) and CS or instrumental delivery among women in east and west coasts of Malaysia.

    METHODS: We used data from a prospective cohort study of 799 pregnant women from health clinics of two states in east and west coasts of Malaysia. Baseline data were measured at the third trimester of pregnancy on ADS, AAS, socioeconomic condition, anthropometric status, reproductive history and intimate partner violence. Birth outcomes and mode of delivery were determined at the time of delivery. Univariate and multiple Cox's regressions were applied to assess the association between ADS and AAS and LBW, PTB and CS or instrumental delivery.

    RESULTS: ADS was significantly associated with an increased risk of giving birth to LBW babies in both east coast (RR = 3.64; 95% CI 1.79-7.40) and west coast (RR = 3.82; 95% CI 1.86-7.84), but not with PTB. AAS was associated with increased risk of both LBW (RR = 2.47; 95% CI 1.39-4.38) and PTB (RR = 2.49; 95% CI 1.16-5.36) in the east coast, but not in west coast. The risk of CS or instrumental delivery was evident among women with ADS (RR = 2.44; 95% CI 1.48-4.03) in west coast only.

    CONCLUSION: ADS predicts LBW in both coasts, AAS predicts LBW and PTB in east coast, and ADS predicts CS or instrumental delivery in west coast. Policies aimed at detection and management of ADS and AAS during antenatal check-up in health clinics may help improve birth outcomes and reduce obstetric interventions.

    Matched MeSH terms: Pregnant Women/psychology*
  10. Fulltext Improving IUCD usage among reproductive women with Diabetes Mellitus in Health Clinics of Perlis
    Muhammad Ridzwan Rafi’i
    Q Bulletin, 2019;1(28):26-34.
    MyJurnal
    Pregnant women with diabetes mellitus pose an increased risk of maternal and infant morbidity and mortality. In Perlis, for the year of 2016, only 3 (0.3%) out of 1,114 reproductive women with diabetes mellitus were using an intrauterine device (IUCD) as their main contraceptive measure. This project aims to improve the usage of IUCD to 10% among reproductive women with diabetes mellitus in nine health clinics of Perlis.
    A retrospective contraception card review was undertaken to determine the baseline in providing IUCD services. Two sets of validated questionnaires were distributed to patients and healthcare providers in the pre and post-remedial period.
    Customised training sessions were organised for both doctors and nurses’ group. A quick reference for IUCD was developed to guide the healthcare providers during counselling sessions. The Model of Good Care (MOGC) was integrated into the Maternal and Child Health State Plan of Action 2016 to ease the supervision of quality improvement.
    Of the 244 diabetic women who had undergone counselling, 44 (18%) agreed to use IUCD and 38 (16%) of them inserted the IUCD within two weeks. Our project was able to increase the usage of IUCD among diabetic women in nine Perlis health clinics from 3 (0.3%) to 38 (3.4%) within six months. There was a gap reduction in achievable but not achieved (ABNA) from 9.7% to 6.6%. [ABNA = Achievable benefit not achieved]
    Low usage of IUCD among diabetic women is a challenging issue and patient refusal to use IUCD, lack of husband support and comfortable with the previous contraception method were among the main contributing factors. However, providing continuous awareness and new process of effort in promoting the usage of IUCD among diabetic women do improve the uptake of the approach
    Matched MeSH terms: Pregnant Women
  11. Incentives for potential workers and settlers: a concern for socioeconomic research in Trengganu Tengah
    Dev Forum, 1977 Jun;7(1):17-31.
    PMID: 12309536
    Matched MeSH terms: Women
  12. Increased levels of depressive symptoms among pregnant women in The Netherlands after the crash of flight MH17
    Truijens SE, Boerekamp CA, Spek V, van Son MJ, Oei SG, Pop VJ
    Am J Epidemiol, 2015 Sep 1;182(5):426-30.
    PMID: 26173773 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwv161
    On July 17, 2014, Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down, a tragedy that shocked the Dutch population. As part of a large longitudinal survey on mental health in pregnant women that had a study inclusion period of 19 months, we were able to evaluate the possible association of that incident with mood changes using pre- and postdisaster data. We compared mean Edinburgh Depression Scale (EDS) scores from a group of women (n = 126 cases) at 32 weeks' gestation during the first month after the crash with mean scores from a control group (n = 102) with similar characteristics who completed the EDS at 32 weeks' gestation during the same summer period in 2013. The mean EDS scores of the 126 case women in the first month after the crash were significantly higher than the scores of 102 control women. There were no differences in mean EDS scores between the 2 groups at the first and second trimesters. The present study is among the first in which perinatal mental health before and after the occurrence of a disaster has been investigated, and the results suggest that national disasters might lead to emotional responses.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pregnant Women/psychology*
  13. Influence of polycystic ovary syndrome on the periodontal health of Indian women visiting a secondary health care centre
    Varadan M, Gopalkrishna P, Bhat PV, Kamath SU, S K, K TG, et al.
    Clin Oral Investig, 2019 Aug;23(8):3249-3255.
    PMID: 30430337 DOI: 10.1007/s00784-018-2741-2
    OBJECTIVES: Periodontal disease and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) share risk factors like obesity, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia, along with evidence of chronic inflammation in the two conditions. Evaluating the influence of PCOS on periodontal health would, therefore, identify a possible association.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty women, divided into equal groups of PCOS and healthy patients, were clinically examined for periodontal parameters like probing depth (PD), plaque index (PI), modified gingival index (mGI), and bleeding on probing (BOP). Fasting blood sugar (FBS), insulin (FI), triglycerides (TG), and free testosterone along with serum and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were the biochemical parameters evaluated.

    RESULTS: Women with PCOS had statistically significant differences in mGI, PI, testosterone, FBS, and TG when compared with healthy women (p women with PCOS and controls were also significantly different. BOP and mGI showed a moderate positive correlation (r = 0.45 and 0.44) with serum levels of MDA. Relatively greater gingival inflammation was observed in patients with PCOS compared to healthy controls, independent of the risk factors present.

    CONCLUSION: PCOS seemed to have an impact on gingival inflammation, in addition to the effect of dental plaque and other local factors in the oral cavity, in PCOS patients when compared with healthy individuals.

    CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Women diagnosed with PCOS may have probabaility of co-existing gingival inflammation. Therefore, emphasis on medical treatment for PCOS and periodic screening for periodontal disease may be warranted.

    Matched MeSH terms: Women*
  14. Fulltext Influence of vitamin D binding protein polymorphism, demographics and lifestyle factors on vitamin D status of healthy Malaysian pregnant women
    Lee SS, Ling KH, Tusimin M, Subramaniam R, Rahim KF, Loh SP
    BMC Pregnancy Childbirth, 2020 Nov 23;20(1):714.
    PMID: 33228578 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-020-03397-7
    BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) has been related to vitamin D binding protein (GC) gene polymorphism, demographics and lifestyle factors in different populations. However, previous studies only focused on demographic and lifestyle factors or genetic factors alone. Therefore, this cross-sectional study aimed to assess the association between GC gene polymorphism, demographics and lifestyle factors with VDD among Malaysian pregnant women.

    METHOD: Information on demographic characteristics, dietary vitamin D intake from supplement and food, time spent outdoors, skin type and clothing were collected using a questionnaire. Plasma total 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels were measured using an Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC). Maternal GC single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs4588 and rs7041) were determined using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) technique.

    RESULTS: Results showed that 50.2% of pregnant women were vitamin D deficient (25OHD women. The discrepancy in the association between GC rs7041 gene polymorphism and VDD reflects the variation in the factors associated with VDD in pregnancy compared to non-pregnant state.

    Matched MeSH terms: Pregnant Women
  15. Informed consent in Malaysia: an overview
    Che Ngah A
    J Int Bioethique, 2005 Mar-Jun;16(1-2):143-61, 199.
    PMID: 16637139 DOI: 10.3917/jib.161.0143
    The right of a person to control his body is a concept that has long been recognized in Malaysia under the law of torts. The purpose of requiring informed consent is to preserve that right in medical decision-making. Informed Consent is a relatively new concept in medical litigation cases. However in the late 1990's, it has become one of the important claims under negligence made against the doctor for failure to disclose relevant information to patients in respect of the treatment proposed. Whether Malaysia has begun to recognize patient's right to decision-making is yet to be seen. Furthermore the social-cultural relationship between doctors and patients had to be considered. In this respect, the researcher had conducted interviews with doctors and patients to gauge their reaction towards a shared process of decision-making, which is the central issue in the doctrine of informed consent. Findings suggest that in society where primary health care is the main thrust to achieve health for all, the possibility of recognition of the rights of patients to receive information before making decisions about treatment appears remote. The findings also underscore the importance of incorporating aspects of informed consent as part of providing quality service to patients.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pregnant Women
  16. Inside view of estate health. Care of pregnant women in malarious places
    Siva K
    Malayan Medical Journal, 1926;1:6-7.
    Matched MeSH terms: Women
  17. International Women's Day observed in Malaysia
    CIRDAP Dev Dig, 1999 Dec.
    PMID: 12157876
    On the eve of International Women's Day, 80 women representing five women's groups in Malaysia, including Persatuan Sahabat Wanita, CAW's network member, marched from Petaling Jaya to Penang to attend the Women's Day celebration. The group had organized the visitation in order to strengthen its networking. During their meeting with some reporters before their departure to Penang, they demanded that the women's groups be consulted before any guideline on the prevention and handling of sexual harassment at the workplace is drawn up. They said that they have been handling several complaints and their input would help the Human Resource Ministry formulate a comprehensive set of guidelines. This demand by the women's group was in response to the announcement by the Human Resource Minister Datuk Lim Ah Lek that in a month time a code would be ready on guidelines about the establishment and implementation of in-house preventive and redress mechanisms for dealing with sexual harassment.
    Matched MeSH terms: Women*; Women's Rights
  18. Interventions in Reducing Caesarean Section in the World: A Systematic Review
    Moradi F, Aryankhesal A, Heidari M, Soroush A, Sadr SR
    Malays J Med Sci, 2019 Sep;26(5):21-37.
    PMID: 31728116 DOI: 10.21315/mjms2019.26.5.3
    Caesarean section without medical indication imposes many problems to families, personnel and medical equipment causing some side effects to pregnant woman and foetus, compared to natural childbirth. The present study aimed to evaluate the interventions in reducing caesarean section in the world. This study was a systematic review using Embase, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, Magiran and SID databases and grey literature. All studies conducted during 2000-2018 were reviewed and finally the studies with inclusion and exclusion criteria were selected. A total of 19 studies were selected among 5,559 studies. The interventions conducted for reducing caesarean section included training the specialists and women by using Six Sigma method, changing the guidelines, reviewing the definition of natural childbirth various stages, encouraging the natural childbirth and expanding painless childbirth. All interventions were divided into educational strategy and managerial strategy. The interventions can be implemented to change the behaviour of physicians and attitude of pregnant women in order to reduce caesarean section. In this regard, the authorities are recommended to make more efforts.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pregnant Women
  19. Intestinal parasites in women and children in Singapore
    Andrews MN, Shrimpton EAG
    Journal of the Malaya Branch of the British Medical Association, 1938;2:136-43.
    Matched MeSH terms: Women
  20. Fulltext Iodine deficiency disorders among pregnant women in Sarawak, Malaysia
    Lim KK, Chan YY, Mahmud NA, Ismail H, Tan BC, Chua BK, et al.
    Int J Public Health Res, 2018;8(2):980-986.
    MyJurnal
    Introduction Iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) during pregnancy may impair the neurological development of the fetus. The aim of this study is to determine the iodine status among pregnant women (PW) in Sarawak after introduction of mandatory universal salt iodisation (USI) for seven years.
    Methods A total of 508 first trimester PW attending government Maternal and Child Health Care clinics in all 11 divisions in Sarawak between 1st April and 15th June 2015 were recruited. Urine samples were obtained and analysed for urinary iodine concentration (UIC) using the modified Sandell-Kolthoff reaction method. For pregnant women, an adequate iodine intake was defined as a median UIC between 150-249 µg/L according to the WHO/UNICEF/ICCIDD’s criterion. For further analyses, the 11 divisions were then combined into 3 regions, namely Northern (Miri, Bintulu, Limbang), Central (Kapit, Mukah, Sibu, Sarikei, Betong) and Southern (Kota Samarahan, Kuching, Sri Aman).
    Results TThe median UIC of the PW in Sarawak was 105.6 µg/L, indicating iodine deficiency. A total of 330 (65.0%) PW had UIC<150 µg/L. In terms of urinary iodine levels by region, the median UIC in Northern, Central and Southern regions were 136.3 µg/L, 85.5 µg/L and 97.4 µg/L respectively. The differences in median UIC between regions were significant. In addition, the Northern region (p = 0.001), Malay/Melanau ethnicity (p = 0.015) and parous parity (p = 0.014) were significantly associated with higher median UIC. No significant association was found for locality, age nor gravida.
    Conclusions This study indicates inadequate iodine status among PW in Sarawak despite seven years of mandatory USI. In fact, the majority of PW appear not to be protected against IDD and its consequences. In future, a comprehensive study should be carried out to determine the levels of iodine in salt at the retail outlets, villages and households in Sarawak.
    Keywords Iodine deficiency disorders - Pregnant women - Mandatory USI - Sarawak
    Matched MeSH terms: Women
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