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Social contact, socioeconomic status, and the health status of older Malaysians

Wu ZH, Rudkin L

Gerontologist, 2000 Apr;40(2):228-34.
PMID: 10820926

We tested the applicability of the stress buffering hypothesis in a developing country setting with data from the Senior Sample of the Malaysian Family Life Survey-2. Using ordered logistic regression methods, we examined whether having daily contact with adult children moderates the effect of low socioeconomic status (SES; conceptualized as a chronic stressor) on self-assessed health status. We found that low SES is associated with poorer health for all three ethnic groups--Malay, Chinese, and Indian. Further, for Malays and Chinese, we found that the negative effects of low SES on health tend to be stronger for older people with less frequent contact with adult children than for those who have daily contact. These results provide general support for the buffering model and suggest that, as found in developed countries, active intergenerational relationships in developing country settings may have protective effects on the health of older people experiencing chronic stressors.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Status*
Fulltext Social and health profiles of rural elderly Malays

Shahar S, Earland J, Abd Rahman S

Singapore Med J, 2001 May;42(5):208-13.
PMID: 11513058

To evaluate the social and health functions of rural elderly Malays.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Status*
Fulltext Significance of a clean-tip catheter closed suctioning system in a high-setting ventilated, super morbidly obese patient with profuse respiratory secretions

Mazlan MZ, Mohd Zaini RH, Hassan SK, Ali S, Che Omar S, Wan Hassan WMN

Respir Med Case Rep, 2017;21:129-131.
PMID: 28487824 DOI: 10.1016/j.rmcr.2017.04.014

INTRODUCTION: Closed suctioning is commonly used in the context of high-setting mechanical ventilation (MV), given its ability to prevent lung volume loss that otherwise accompanies open suctioning. However, closed suctioning systems (CSS) are not equivalent regarding components and capabilities, and thus this technique may be differentially effective to adequately clear patient secretions from an endotracheal tube (ETT), which is of paramount importance when the tube size makes the ETT particularly vulnerable to block by patient secretions.
CASE PRESENTATION: A 25-year-old super morbidly obese female (body mass index = 55 kg/meter2) presented with worsening shortness of breath. For MV, pairing of a 6 mm (mm) diameter ETT to accommodate the patient's vocal cord edema, with a CSS not designed to maintain a clean catheter tip, precipitated ETT blockage and respiratory acidosis. Replacement of these devices with a 6.5 mm ETT and a CSS designed to keep the catheter tip clean resolved the complications. After use of the different ETT and CSS for approximately one week, the patient was discharged to home.
DISCUSSION: The clean-tip catheter CSS enabled a more patent airway than its counterpart device that did not have this feature. Use of a clean-tip catheter CSS was an important care development for this patient, because this individual's super morbidly obese condition minimized tolerance for MV complications that would exacerbate her pre-existing tenuous respiratory health status.
CONCLUSION: Special attention should be given to the choices of ETT size and CSS to manage super morbidly obese patients who have a history of difficult airway access.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Status
Sexual health and use of condoms among local and international sex workers in Sydney

O'Connor CC, Berry G, Rohrsheim R, Donovan B

Genitourin Med, 1996 Feb;72(1):47-51.
PMID: 8655167

OBJECTIVES:
To compare indicators of sexual health and predictors of condom use for commercial sex among local and international female sex workers first attending an STD clinic.

SETTING:
A public STD clinic in Sydney, Australia.

SUBJECTS:
All sex workers first attending between June 1991 and May 1993.

METHODS:
Cross-sectional analysis of demographic, behavioural and morbidity data from proforma medical records.

RESULTS:
91 local sex workers and 123 international sex workers (predominantly from Thailand, Malaysia and China) first presented during the study period. There were significantly higher prevalences of chlamydia (0 v. 15%, p = 0.0002), gonorrhoea (0 v. 14%, p = 0.0006), syphilis (0 v. 10%, p = 0.006) and clinical genital herpes (0 v. 5%, p = 0.04) among international sex workers. The only case of HIV infection was in an international sex worker. Inconsistent condom use for commercial sex was significantly more common among international sex workers (RR = 4.5; 95% CI 3.1-6.5). On multivariate analysis, inconsistent condom use in international sex workers was associated with a recent history of prostitution outside Australia (p = 0.04), while inconsistent condom usage among local sex workers was associated with increasing age (p = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS:
These data illustrate the efficacy of condoms and the success of targeted education programmes in local sex workers in Sydney. By contrast, international sex workers continued to be at high risk of STDs. The international sex industry in Sydney requires enhanced culture-specific interventions. Immigration laws as they affect sex workers should also be reviewed.

PIP:
This study analyzes data on all female sex workers who attended the Sydney Sexual Health Center for a first visit for a sexually transmitted disease (STD) screening during June 1, 1991, and May 31, 1993. International sex workers were identified as women who do not speak English at home and were born outside Australia. Diseases were confirmed clinically, by specimen or culture or by antibody or serological tests. Results apply to 91 local and 123 international prostitutes. 47% of international prostitutes and 34% of local prostitutes were aged 21-25 years. Most international sex workers spoke Thai or a Chinese dialect. 10% of local prostitutes were born in Asia. 90% of international prostitutes were born in Thailand, Malaysia, or China. Local prostitutes were better educated. 7% of the local prostitutes and none of the international sex workers had a history of injectable drug use. Local prostitutes tended to use condoms for birth control, and international prostitutes tended to use oral contraceptives. One international prostitute tested HIV positive. 1 in 7 international prostitutes had gonorrhea and the same proportion had chlamydia. Viral STDs (chronic hepatitis B, HIV infection, and genital warts) were more prevalent, but uncommon among international prostitutes. More international prostitutes had multiple STDs. 79 international sex workers and only 9 local sex workers had an STD. 47% of international sex workers and only 10% of local sex workers had worked overseas as a prostitute in the preceding 12 months. Over half of local sex workers and only 8% of international sex workers consistently used condoms. Failure to use condoms was associated with being an international sex worker. Inconsistent use of condoms among local prostitutes was related to increased age.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Status
Sexual Dysfunction and its Associated Factors After Delivery: Longitudinal Study in Iranian Women

Banaei M, Moridi A, Dashti S

Mater Sociomed, 2018 Oct;30(3):198-203.
PMID: 30515059 DOI: 10.5455/msm.2018.30.198-203

Introduction: Considering physical and emotional changes affecting women's sexual function in postpartum period.
Aim: This study was conducted to determine the sexual dysfunction and postpartum-related factors in Bandar Abbas women in 2016.
Material and Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study used systematic random sampling on 432 postpartum women referred to Bandar Abbas Healthcare Centers. Data were collected by Demographic and Obstetrics Questionnaire and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) Questionnaire through interview and were analyzed by using SPSS ver.22 method.
Results: The overall rate of sexual dysfunction was reported 85.95%. The most common postpartum sexual dysfunction was pain sexual dysfunction during sexual intercourse. The mean score of all types of sexual dysfunction increased over time after delivery except sexual satisfaction so that the mean score of sexual satisfaction did not show significant differences over time. There was a significant relationship between sexual dysfunction with factors such as duration of marriage (p< 0.001), number of children (p<0.001), familial relationship (p=0.028), episiotomy status (P=0.002) and contraceptive method (p=0.001).
Conclusion: Considering the high prevalence of sexual disorders in this study, healthcare systems need to pay more attention to this area. In order to promote the health status of the family and ultimate of the society, attention to sexual health as well as the early diagnosis and treatment of sexual dysfunction of couples are important, especially during pregnancy and after childbirth.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Status
Seminar on young child nutrition: improving nutrition and health status of young children in indonesia

Isabelle M, Chan P

Asia Pac J Clin Nutr, 2011;20(1):141-7.
PMID: 21393122

The Seminar on Young Child Nutrition: Improving Nutrition and Health Status of Young Children in Indonesia held in Jakarta on November 2009 reviewed the current nutritional and health status of young children in Indonesia and identified key nutrient deficiencies affecting their optimal growth. The continuation of child growth from fetal stage is of paramount importance; and maternal and child health should be a central consideration in policy and strategy development. Clinical management of nutrient deficiency and malnutrition, as well as strategies and education to improve feeding practices of young Indonesian children were discussed in the seminar. Relevant experiences, approaches and strategies from France, New Zealand and Malaysia were also shared and followed with discussion on how regulatory systems can support the development of health policy for young children. This report highlights important information presented at the seminar.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Status*
Fulltext Self-reported Health Diagnoses and Demographic Correlates With Kratom Use: Results From an Online Survey

Bath R, Bucholz T, Buros AF, Singh D, Smith KE, Veltri CA, et al.

J Addict Med, 2019 10 1;14(3):244-252.
PMID: 31567595 DOI: 10.1097/ADM.0000000000000570

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether diagnosed pre-existing health conditions correlate with Kratom demographics and use patterns.
METHODS: A cross-sectional, anonymous US national online survey was conducted among 8049 Kratom users in October, 2016 to obtain demographic, health, and Kratom use pattern information.
RESULTS: People who use Kratom to mitigate illicit drug dependence self-reported less pain and better overall health than individuals who used Kratom for acute/chronic pain. Self-reported improvements in pre-existing mental health symptoms (attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder/attention deficit disorder, anxiety, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression) attributed to Kratom use were greater than those related to somatic symptoms (back pain, rheumatoid arthritis, acute pain, chronic pain, fibromyalgia). Demographic variables, including female sex, older age, employment status, and insurance coverage correlated with increased likelihood of Kratom use.
CONCLUSIONS: Kratom use may serve as a self-treatment strategy for a diverse population of patients with pre-existing health diagnoses. Healthcare providers need to be engaging with patients to address safety concerns and potential limitations of its use in clinical practice for specific health conditions.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Status*
Self-rated health and all-cause and cause-specific mortality of older adults: Individual data meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies in the CHANCES Consortium

Bamia C, Orfanos P, Juerges H, Schöttker B, Brenner H, Lorbeer R, et al.

Maturitas, 2017 Sep;103:37-44.
PMID: 28778331 DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2017.06.023

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate, among the elderly, the association of self-rated health (SRH) with mortality, and to identify determinants of self-rating health as "at-least-good".
STUDY DESIGN: Individual data on SRH and important covariates were obtained for 424,791 European and United States residents, ≥60 years at recruitment (1982-2008), in eight prospective studies in the Consortium on Health and Ageing: Network of Cohorts in Europe and the United States (CHANCES). In each study, adjusted mortality ratios (hazard ratios, HRs) in relation to SRH were calculated and subsequently combined with random-effect meta-analyses.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: All-cause, cardiovascular and cancer mortality.
RESULTS: Within the median 12.5 years of follow-up, 93,014 (22%) deaths occurred. SRH "fair" or "poor" vs. "at-least-good" was associated with increased mortality: HRs 1.46 (95% CI 1·23-1.74) and 2.31 (1.79-2.99), respectively. These associations were evident: for cardiovascular and, to a lesser extent, cancer mortality, and within-study, within-subgroup analyses. Accounting for lifestyle, sociodemographic, somatometric factors and, subsequently, for medical history explained only a modest amount of the unadjusted associations. Factors favourably associated with SRH were: sex (males), age (younger-old), education (high), marital status (married/cohabiting), physical activity (active), body mass index (non-obese), alcohol consumption (low to moderate) and previous morbidity (absence).
CONCLUSION: SRH provides a quick and simple tool for assessing health and identifying groups of elders at risk of early mortality that may be useful also in clinical settings. Modifying determinants of favourably rating health, e.g. by increasing physical activity and/or by eliminating obesity, may be important for older adults to "feel healthy" and "be healthy".

Matched MeSH terms: Health Status*
Self-efficacy and self-care behavior of Malaysian patients with type 2 diabetes: a cross sectional survey

Sharoni SK, Wu SF

Nurs Health Sci, 2012 Mar;14(1):38-45.
PMID: 22288688 DOI: 10.1111/j.1442-2018.2011.00658.x

This study investigated the association between self-efficacy and self-care behavior to determine the degree of self-efficacy and to examine differences in self-efficacy according to patient variables, including state of health, of Malaysian patients with type 2 diabetes. The sample comprised 388 patients (respondents). We collected the data from December 2010 to February 2011. We found a significant positive relationship between self-efficacy and self-care behavior (r(s) = 0.481, P < 0.001). The degree of self-efficacy was moderately high (mean = 7.570). We found significant differences between self-efficacy and education level (Wilk's Lambda = 0.918, F[12, 1008] = 2.779, P < 0.05), duration of diabetes (Wilk's Lambda = 0.954, F[8, 736] = 2.264, P < 0.05), other chronic conditions (Wilk's Lambda = 0.967, F[4, 383] = 3.304, P < 0.05) and diabetic complications (Wilk's Lambda = 0.963, F[4, 383] = 3.653, P < 0.05). Self-efficacy can be used as a model to understand self-care behavior. Individualized nursing interventions based on self-efficacy theory should be utilized in high risk diabetic patients so as to assist and improve self-care behavior.
Study site: Diabetic clinic and the medical, nephrology, orthopedic, and surgery wards, University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Matched MeSH terms: Health Status
Self-care actions taken for vasomotor symptoms by some postmenopausal Kelantanese women

Dhillon HK, Singh HJ, Mahmood NM, Ghaffar NA

Climacteric, 2008;11(6):518-24.
PMID: 18991079 DOI: 10.1080/13697130802491031

OBJECTIVE:
Documentation of self-care actions for vasomotor complaints by some postmenopausal women in Kelantan.

METHODS:
A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to 326 naturally menopausal women to determine the prevalence and types of self-care actions taken for vasomotor complaints.

RESULTS:
Fractionally more women took self-care actions for night sweats than hot flushes. The choice of self-care action depended upon the area of residence and the educational level. The most common action taken for night sweats was to sleep either in an air-conditioned room or under a ceiling fan. About one-quarter of the complainants used hormone replacement therapy, the majority of who were urban-living and with secondary education. Only a small fraction used traditional remedies.

CONCLUSION:
A large proportion of women complaining of vasomotor complaints took self-care actions and the choice of self-care actions depended on the area of residence and educational level. The use of modern remedies and less of the traditional remedies was more common amongst the more affluent and educated women than women in rural areas who either did nothing or resorted to the more simple type of self-care actions. Contrary to our expectations, the use of traditional remedies was low.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Status
Fulltext Selected data on health status of migrant women respondents

Siti Norazah Z

JUMMEC, 2002;7(1):15-23.

Reproductive health is "a state of complete, mental and social well-being in all matters relating to the reproductive system and to its functions and processes. Implicit in this is the right of men and women to be informed and to have access to safe, effective and affordable and acceptable methods of family planning of their choice, as well as other methods of their choice for regulation of fertility, which are not against the law, and the right of access to health-care services that enable women to go safely through pregnancy and childbirth." The survey on Health Problems of Migrant Workers included a section on Women's Health covering aspects of reproductive health. This was based on concerns over reproductive health needs of migrant women workers, particularly since the large majority are in the reproductive age-group, and the utilisation of government healthcare facilities. The latter has implications for the potential burden on public healthcare services in terms of resources and costs. Specifically, the Women's Health section included questions on pregnancy, place of delivery of last baby (born in Malaysia), postnatal care related to this delivery, and mode of payment. For those currently pregnant, questions were asked of sources of antenatal care, postnatal care and respective modes of payment for thsoe services. This section also included questions on current contraceptive practices, source of supplies, and mode of payment for contraceptive methods.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Status
School health in Malaysia: where are we now?

Pavlin BI, Ali O, Poh BK

Asia Pac J Public Health, 2014 Sep;26(5 Suppl):4S-6S.
PMID: 25143526 DOI: 10.1177/1010539514545286
Matched MeSH terms: Health Status*
Scanning laser edema index: a reliable tool to correlate with diabetic retinopathy and systemic risk factors?

Peyman M, Tajunisah I, Loo A, Chuah KC, Subrayan V

J Diabetes Complications, 2012 May-Jun;26(3):210-3.
PMID: 22520399 DOI: 10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2012.03.019

To correlate Heidelberg Retina Tomograph (HRT) derived macular edema (DME) index with severity of diabetic retinopathy and systemic factors. A total of 300 diabetic patients were recruited for the study for each of them a value for the macular edema index was obtained using the HRT II. Patients' age, gender, duration and type of diabetes mellitus, latest HbA1c result and presence or absence of co-morbid factors (hypertension, ischemic heart disease, nephropathy) were recorded together with the stage of diabetic retinopathy. These were correlated with DME. Out of 300 patients, HRT defined macula edema was seen in 68 patients (22.6%). There is a wider and higher range (95% percentile) of macula edema index in the severe non proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) group. Independent samples t test showed significant difference between the severe NPDR group and no DR group (p<0.001), mild NPDR group (p<0.05) and moderate NPDR group (p<0.05). A higher macula edema index was also found to have a low degree of correlation with more advanced stages of retinopathy (r=0.310; p<0.001). Also nephropathy showed a strong and significant correlation with DME. Hypertension had moderately significant correlation with DME. This study found no correlation between ischemic heart disease and DME. HRT derived scanning laser edema index is a reliable objective tool to evaluate diabetic retinopathy and systemic risk factors.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Status Indicators*
SF-36v2 norms and its' discriminative properties among healthy households of tuberculosis patients in Malaysia

Atif M, Sulaiman SA, Shafie AA, Asif M, Ahmad N

Qual Life Res, 2013 Oct;22(8):1955-64.
PMID: 23239084 DOI: 10.1007/s11136-012-0337-x

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to obtain norms of the SF-36v2 health survey and the association of summary component scores with socio-demographic variables in healthy households of tuberculosis (TB) patients.
DESIGN: All household members (18 years and above; healthy; literate) of registered tuberculosis patients who came for contact tracing during March 2010 to February 2011 at the respiratory clinic of Penang General Hospital were invited to complete the SF-36v2 health survey using the official translation of the questionnaire in Malay, Mandarin, Tamil and English. Scoring of the questionnaire was done using Quality Metric's QM Certified Scoring Software version 4. Multivariate analysis was conducted to uncover the predictors of physical and mental health.
RESULTS: A total of 649 eligible respondents were approached, while 525 agreed to participate in the study (response rate = 80.1 %). Out of consenting respondents, 46.5 % were male and only 5.3 % were over 75 years. Internal consistencies met the minimum criteria (α > 0.7). Reliability coefficients of the scales were always less than their own reliability coefficients. Mean physical component summary scale scores were equivalent to United States general population norms. However, there was a difference of more than three norm-based scoring points for mean mental component summary scores indicating poor mental health. A notable proportion of the respondents was at the risk of depression. Respondents aged 75 years and above (p = 0.001; OR 32.847), widow (p = 0.013; OR 2.599) and postgraduates (p < 0.001; OR 7.865) were predictors of poor physical health while unemployment (p = 0.033; OR 1.721) was the only predictor of poor mental health.
CONCLUSION: The SF-36v2 is a valid instrument to assess HRQoL among the households of TB patients. Study findings indicate the existence of poor mental health and risk of depression among family caregivers of TB patients. We therefore recommend that caregivers of TB patients to be offered intensive support and special attention to cope with these emotional problems.
Study site: Respiratory clinic, Hospital Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

Matched MeSH terms: Health Status*
Role of schools of public health on maternal and child health programmes in the Asia-Pacific region

Zulkifli SN, Yun-Low W, Yusof K

Asia Pac J Public Health, 1998;10(1):10-6.
PMID: 10050201

This paper assessed the role of public health schools on maternal and child health programmes in the Asia Pacific region. Economic development and its associated effects, particularly in the ASEAN countries, for example, migrant labour, ageing, environmental health, turbulence and social climate, has a tremendous impact on maternal and child health. Based on these current issues, it is evident that public health schools can play a major role in maternal and child health in terms of policy formulation and programme development. Several areas were proposed as to what schools of public health can do, namely, through networking, communication, research and training.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Status Indicators
Fulltext Role of high augmentation index in spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage

Lee HK, Ghani AR, Awang MS, Sayuthi S, Idris B, Abdullah JM

Asian J Surg, 2010 Jan;33(1):42-50.
PMID: 20497882 DOI: 10.1016/S1015-9584(10)60008-5

Intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) is the most disabling and least treatable form of stroke. Its risk factors include old age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolaemia, smoking and high alcohol intake, which are also associated with arterial stiffness. The aim of the present study was to determine the prognostic value of high augmentation index (AI), which is a surrogate marker of arterial stiffness, in patients with spontaneous ICH.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Status Indicators
Fulltext Risk Factors Associated with Mortality Among Patients with Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in Africa

Mohammed M, Muhammad S, Mohammed FZ, Mustapha S, Sha'aban A, Sani NY, et al.

J Racial Ethn Health Disparities, 2021 10;8(5):1267-1272.
PMID: 33051749 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-020-00888-3

BACKGROUND: The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was first reported in China and later spread rapidly to other parts of the world, including Africa. Africa was projected to be devastated by COVID-19. There is currently limited data regarding regional predictors of mortality among patients with COVID-19. This study aimed to evaluate the independent risk factors associated with mortality among patients with COVID-19 in Africa.
METHODS: A total of 1028 confirmed cases of COVID-19 from Africa with definite survival outcomes were identified retrospectively from an open-access individual-level worldwide COVID-19 database. The live version of the dataset is available at https://github.com/beoutbreakprepared/nCoV2019 . Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to determine the risk factors that independently predict mortality among patients with COVID-19 in Africa.
RESULTS: Of the 1028 cases included in study, 432 (42.0%) were females with a median (interquartile range, IQR) age of 50 (24) years. Older age (adjusted odds ratio {aOR} 1.06; [95% confidence intervals {95% CI}, 1.04-1.08]), presence of chronic disease (aOR 9.63; [95% CI, 3.84-24.15]), travel history (aOR 2.44; [95% CI, 1.26-4.72]), as well as locations of Central Africa (aOR 0.14; [95% CI, 0.03-0.72]) and West Africa (aOR 0.12; [95% CI, 0.04-0.32]) were identified as the independent risk factors significantly associated with increased mortality among the patients with COVID-19.
CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic is evolving gradually in Africa. Among patients with COVID-19 in Africa, older age, presence of chronic disease, travel history, and the locations of Central Africa and West Africa were associated with increased mortality. A regional response should prioritize strategies that will protect these populations. Also, conducting a further in-depth study could provide more insights into additional factors predictive of mortality in COVID-19 patients.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Status Disparities*
Return to work after spinal cord injury in Malaysia

Ramakrishnan K, Chung TY, Hasnan N, Abdullah SJ

Spinal Cord, 2011 Jul;49(7):812-6.
PMID: 21221119 DOI: 10.1038/sc.2010.186

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey.
OBJECTIVES: To determine the employment outcomes of persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) and to investigate the impact of various demographic, injury-related and work-related variables on these outcomes.
SETTING: People living with SCI in Malaysia who are members of a disability support organization.
METHODS: A total of 84 members of the Malaysian Spinal Injury Association, who have had traumatic SCI for at least 2 years and were between 15 and 64 years of age at the time of study, were interviewed through phone using a questionnaire to identify the association between demographic, injury-related and work-related variables and employment outcomes.
RESULTS: The return to work rate in this study was 57.1% (employed at the time of study). The overall employment rate after SCI was 76.2% (worked at some point after injury). Those who were younger at time of injury (<20 years of age), able to drive a modified vehicle, independent in personal care and mobility were positively related to being employed. On the other hand, being hospitalized in the preceding 1 year and receiving financial incentives were negatively related to employment.
CONCLUSION: Functional independence, especially ability to drive, was strongly associated with return to work and should be one of the priority goals of comprehensive rehabilitation of persons with SCI. The negative impact of recent hospitalization as well as financial compensation needs to be probed further.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Status*
Results from Malaysia's 2016 report card on physical activity for children and adolescents

Sharif R, Chong KH, Zakaria NH, Ong ML, Reilly JJ, Wong JE, et al.

J Phys Act Health, 2016 11;13(11 Suppl 2):S201-S205.
PMID: 27848721 DOI: 10.1123/jpah.2016-0404

BACKGROUND: The 2016 Malaysia Active Healthy Kids Report Card aims to collect, assess, and grade current and comprehensive data on physical activity (PA) and associated factors in Malaysian children and adolescents aged 5 to 17 years.
METHODS: This report card was developed following the Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card protocol. The Research Working Group identified the core matrices, assessed the key data sources, and evaluated the evidence gathered for grade assignments. A grade was assigned to each indicator by comparing the best available evidence against relevant benchmark using a standardized grading scheme.
RESULTS: Overall Physical Activity, Active Transportation, and Sedentary Behavior were assigned the D grade. The lowest grade of F was assigned to Diet, while School and Government Strategies and Investments were graded higher with a B. Five indicators were assigned INC (incomplete) due to a lack of representative data.
CONCLUSIONS: The report card demonstrates that Malaysian children and adolescents are engaging in low levels of PA and active commuting, high levels of screen time, and have extremely low compliance with dietary recommendations. More efforts are needed to address the root causes of physical inactivity while increasing the opportunities for children and adolescents to be more physically active.
MESH: screen time

Matched MeSH terms: Health Status Indicators*
Respiratory health status of workers that exposed to welding fumes at Lumut shipyard

Ithnin A, Zubir A, Awang N, Mohamad Sulaiman NN

Pak J Biol Sci, 2019 Jan;22(3):143-147.
PMID: 30972984 DOI: 10.3923/pjbs.2019.143.147

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Welding fume exposure has led to the respiratory problems among welders including cough, phlegm, chest illnesses, nausea and fatigue. Inadequate ventilation during welding works causes the situation to worsen. Welding fumes can cause a decrease in lung function among welders. Chronic exposure will lead to other health effects especially COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). The objective of this study is to determine the exposure of welding fumes (Cd, Fe, Pb and Zn) towards respiratory health including lung function test (FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC, PEFR) of workers in Lumut shipyard, Perak.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: This research study the relationship between exposures of welding fumes towards lung function test among workers in Lumut shipyard, Perak. Lung function test was measured by spirometry among 30 welders and 31 non-welders. The concentration welding fume exposure was measured using OSHA ID-121 method. Sociodemographic data, respiratory symptoms and smoking habit data was analyzed based on the ATS 1987 questionnaire.

RESULTS: The mean concentration for Pb in welding fumes was 2.752 mg m-3 which is above 0.5 mg m-3 PEL-TWA. The FEV1 and FVC readings showed significant different between welders and non-welders (p = 0.001). Cough and phlegm symptoms showed significant different between welders and non-welders (p = 0.001). Welders had higher prevalence in smoking habit than the non-welders. Chest illnesses symptom showed an association with the smoking habit (p = 0.01).

CONCLUSION: There is relationship between welding fumes exposure on lung function test of workers in Lumut shipyard. Pb in welding fumes has high concentration and exceeded PEL-TWA level. The FEV1 and FVC in welders are lower than non-welder due to the fumes exposure. Welders showed higher respiratory symptoms than non-welders. Smoking habit is a contributing factor towards respiratory problem.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Status

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