METHOD: The study utilized data from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2020, a nationwide cross-sectional survey employing a two-stage stratified random sampling technique to ensure national representativeness. HIV knowledge was assessed using the UNGASS indicators questionnaire, which comprises five questions on HIV prevention and transmission. The data were collected using the computer assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) method. Respondents who did not correctly answer all five questions were considered to have inadequate knowledge about HIV. Descriptive analysis and complex sample logistic regression were performed using SPSS version 28.0.
RESULTS: The survey identified 5,561 eligible respondents, leading to the participation of 3,187 individuals in the second phase of the study, which resulted in a response rate of 57.3%. Our study revealed an overall prevalence of inadequate HIV knowledge at 77.4%, with adolescents aged 13-19 exhibiting the highest prevalence at 86.1%. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that respondents with no formal education (aOR 4.34, 95% CI: 0.65, 29.08) were over four times more likely to lack HIV knowledge. Additionally, respondents with only secondary education had an increased risk of 1.79 times. Individuals residing in rural areas were significantly more likely to have inadequate HIV-related knowledge. Furthermore, respondents who worked as unpaid workers, homemakers, or caregivers (aOR 1.71, 95% CI: 1.05, 2.82) showed a higher likelihood of lacking HIV knowledge.
CONCLUSION: Three out of four individuals in the general Malaysian population were found to lack sufficient knowledge about HIV. This underscores the need for targeted interventions in HIV education, particularly in rural areas and among populations with lower educational attainment. Additionally, digital platforms and youth-focused campaigns could be especially effective for reaching adolescents. Policymakers must prioritize inclusive, accessible HIV prevention strategies to address these gaps and reduce transmission rates.
METHOD: The current study used 9,013 children under five years old. An ordinal logistic regression (e.g., proportional odds model) was applied to determine the associated risk factors of being underweight. The current study used SAS software version 9.4 at the 5% significance level.
RESULTS: The prevalence of underweight was 25.3%. Variables such as children's sex, place of residence, whether the child is twin at birth, breastfeeding status, size of children at birth, childbirth order, employment status of mothers, parents' educational level, children's age groups, the incidence of diarrhea in the past two weeks, and baby fortified food were statistically associated with underweight among under-five age in years.
CONCLUSIONS: Underweight among under-five children is predicted by place of residence. In addition, there is a regional disparity of underweight among children. Therefore, further effort is needed to improve health education in children's welfare and health facilities to enhance patients' understanding of proper information and feeding.