Displaying publications 81 - 100 of 152 in total

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  1. Determination and speciation of heavy metals in sediments of the Juru River, Penang, Malaysia
    Lim PE, Kiu MY
    Environ Monit Assess, 1995 Apr;35(2):85-95.
    PMID: 24202270 DOI: 10.1007/BF00633708
    The Juru River flows through largely urbanized areas and is grossly polluted by domestic wastes and discharges from pig farms. Other than carrying highly polluting organic materials, these wastes are also contaminated with heavy metals. To ascertain the extent of heavy metal pollution in the river, total and non-residual concentrations of Cu, Pb, Zn, Mn and Fe in sediment samples collected along the river were determined. The results indicate that both the total and non-residual metal concentrations in sediments can successfully be used to identify heavy metal pollution sources. The speciation of Zn, Mn and Fe in the sediment samples were investigated using a sequential leaching technique which identifies the elements among six operationally defined host fractions: (1) exchangeable, (2) carbonate and surface-associated, (3) easily reducible, (4) moderately reducible, (5) bound to organic matter and sulphides and (6) residual. The results indicate that Zn is mainly associated with the reducible fractions. Zn and Fe found in the moderately reducible fraction are significantly correlated, indicating that iron oxides is the preferred host phase by Zn.
    Matched MeSH terms: Urbanization
  2. Phenolic water pollutants in a Malaysian River basin
    Abdullah P, Nainggolan H
    Environ Monit Assess, 1991 Oct;19(1-3):423-31.
    PMID: 24233958 DOI: 10.1007/BF00401330
    Phenolic chemicals with their very low taste and odour thresholds, high persistence and toxicity, are of growing concern as water pollutants. The compounds are known to exist in raw water as well as in treated water. The level of phenolic priority pollutants in water within the catchment area of the Linggi River Treatment Plant in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, which includes the Linggi river basin, was monitored. The 4-aminoantipyrin colourimetric method was used to determine total phenols whereas capillary column gas chromatography was used to determine the individual compounds. The results show that at most sampling stations, particularly those within the Seremban municipality, the level of phenols was found to exceed the recommended Malaysian standard of 2.0 μg/L(-1) for raw water. This is seen as the direct impact of industrial and urbanization of the area and clearly indicates the unhealthy state of the Linggi river. The results also indicate the need to improve the water quality if the river is going to be used as a source of raw water.
    Matched MeSH terms: Urbanization
  3. Socio-economic development, environmental and health perspectives in Malaysia
    DeWitt GF, Sekarajasekaran A, Wan KC
    Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1979 Dec;10(4):572-8.
    PMID: 538507
    With Malaysia independence in 1957, development in the country changed from system maintenance to development planning. Environmental and health perspectives are discussed in relation to current development as reflected in the Second Malaysia Plan 1971--1975 and the Third Malaysia Plan 1976--1980.
    Matched MeSH terms: Urbanization
  4. Development and evaluation of a digital, community-based intervention to reduce noncommunicable disease risk in a low-resource urban setting in Malaysia: a research protocol
    Kataria I, Ngongo C, Lim SC, Kocher E, Kowal P, Chandran A, et al.
    Implement Sci Commun, 2020;1:87.
    PMID: 33033807 DOI: 10.1186/s43058-020-00080-y
    Background: Noncommunicable disease burden is rising in Malaysia, accounting for 72% of all deaths. Urbanization and globalization have contributed to changing patterns of diet and physical activity, creating an obesogenic environment that increases noncommunicable disease risk, especially in low-income populations. Community-based and technological interventions can play an important role in addressing structural determinants that influence noncommunicable disease burden. The Better Health Programme Malaysia aims to co-create and develop a community-based digital intervention for low-income populations to enable community stakeholders to address obesogenic environments and improve people's knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to noncommunicable disease risk.

    Methods: This quasi-experimental study will assess community member and community health volunteer knowledge, attitudes, and practices on noncommunicable disease prevention, risk factors, and health-seeking behavior in three geographical areas of Kuala Lumpur, each representing a different ethnicity (Malay, Indian, and Chinese). Assessment will take place before and after a 9-month intervention period, comparing intervention areas with matched control geographies. We plan to engage 2880 community members and 45 community health volunteers across the six geographic areas. A digital health needs assessment will inform modification of digital health tools to support project aims. Intervention co-creation will use a discrete choice experiment to identify community preferences among evidence-based intervention options, building from data collected on community knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Community health volunteers will work with local businesses and other stakeholders to effect change in obesogenic environments and NCD risk. The study has been approved by the Malaysian Ministry of Health Medical Research Ethical Committee.

    Discussion: The Better Health Programme Malaysia anticipates a bottom-up approach that relies on community health volunteers collaborating with local businesses to implement activities that address obesogenic environments and improve community knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to NCD risk. The planned co-creation process will determine which interventions will be most locally relevant, feasible, and needed. The effort aims to empower community members and community health volunteers to drive change that improves their own health and wellbeing. The learnings can be useful nationally and sub-nationally in Malaysia, as well as across similar settings that are working with community stakeholders to reduce noncommunicable disease risk.

    Trial registration: National Medical Research Register, Malaysia; NMRR-20-1004-54787 (IIR); July 7, 2020.

    Matched MeSH terms: Urbanization
  5. Characterization and Risk Analysis of Metals Associated with Urban Dust in Rawang (Malaysia)
    Praveena SM
    Arch Environ Contam Toxicol, 2018 Oct;75(3):415-423.
    PMID: 29802419 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-018-0537-7
    This study was designed to determine the particle size distribution and develop road dust index combining source and transport factors involving road dust for dust pollution quantification in Rawang. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to identify possible sources of potentially toxic elements and spot major pollution areas in Rawang. The health risks (carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic) to adults and children were assessed using the hazard index and total lifetime cancer Risk, respectively. A total of 75 road dust samples were collected and particle sizes (1000, 500, 250, 160, 125 and 63 µm) were determined. Concentrations of potentially toxic elements (Cu, Cd, Co, Cr, Pb, Ni, Zn and As) in particle size of 63 µm were analyzed. The results demonstrated that the highest grain size of 250 µm has contributed almost more than 25% of atmospheric particulate pollution. The highest potentially toxic element concentration was Pb (593.3 mg/kg), whereas the lowest was Co (5.6 mg/kg). Road dust index output indicated that pollution risk fell into moderate levels in eastern and northern areas of Rawang. Similarly, PCA results revealed that potentially toxic elements (Cu, Cd, Pb, Zn, Ni and Cr) were linked with anthropogenic sources (urbanization process, industrial and commercial growth, urban traffic congestion) in northern and southern parts of Rawang. Cobalt and As concentrations were explained mainly from natural sources. Noncarcinogenic risk by hazard index value more than 1.0 was indicated for adults and children. Similarly, carcinogenic risk by total lifetime cancer risk value also showed carcinogenic risks among adults and children.
    Matched MeSH terms: Urbanization
  6. Fulltext Fractionation of as, co, cu and zn by sequential extraction in surface sediment of Kuala Terengganu river estuary
    Muhammad Nazirul Mubin Abd Halim Shah, Lee, Siang Hing, Mohd Yusoff Nurulnadia, Meng, Chuan Ong
    Malaysian Journal of Applied Sciences, 2020;5(2):57-68.
    MyJurnal
    Development and urbanization processes around Terengganu River estuary are expected to release a significant amount of heavy metals into the existing surface sediment. However, information on how and why these metals are attached into specific fraction of sediments is still lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to explain the heavy metal concentration distribution in each available fraction in Terengganu River estuary. In this study, nine surface sediments originated from various human activities area in Terengganu River estuary were collected during four different sampling sessions in 2017. Heavy metal content from the collected sediments were extracted using 3-steps BCR sequential extraction method followed by detection using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass-Spectrometer (ICP-MS) and we discovered that the total concentration of arsenic (As), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) ranged from 2.18 to 17.48 mg/kg dry wt., 2.53 to 20.53 mg/kg dry wt., 1.01 to 13.13 mg/kg dry wt., and 6.10 to 65.71 mg/kg dry wt., respectively. Dominance of metals in each fraction can be arranged as follows: As: residual > reducible > exchangeable > oxidizable; Co: residual > exchangeable > reducible > oxidizable; Cu: residual > oxidizable > reducible > exchangeable; Zn: residual > exchangeable > reducible > oxidizable. Availability of metals in the sediment at Terengganu River estuary is limited since that majority of metals resides in non-mobilisable fraction of the sediment. In essence, the sequential extraction provides information regarding the metals’ fractionation, availability and mobility, which could be used in assessing the environmental contamination in the area.
    Matched MeSH terms: Urbanization
  7. Nonlinear effects of increasing nitrogen deposition on rice growth and heavy metal uptake in a red soil ecosystem of southeastern China
    Wang J, Yi X, Cui J, Chang Y, Yao D, Zhou D, et al.
    Sci Total Environ, 2019 Jun 20;670:1060-1067.
    PMID: 31018421 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.03.245
    With the population growth, urbanization and industrialization, China has become a hotspot of atmospheric deposition nitrogen (ADN), which is a threat to ecosystem and food safety. However, the impacts of increased ADN on rice growth and grain metal content are little studied. Based on previous long-term ADN studies, greenhouse experiment was conducted with four simulated ADN rates of 0, 30, 60 and 90 kg N ha-1 yr-1 (CK, N1, N2 and N3 as δ15N, respectively) to assess rice growth and metal uptake in a red soil ecosystem of southeast China during 2016-2017. Results showed that simulated ADN could promote rice growth and increase yields by 15.68-24.41% (except N2) and accumulations of cadmium (Cd) or copper (Cu) in organs. However, there was no linear relationship between ADN rate and rice growth or Cd or Cu uptake. The 15N-ADN was mainly accumulated in roots (21.31-67.86%) and grains (25.26-49.35%), while Cd and Cu were primarily accumulated in roots (78.86-93.44% and 90.00-96.24%, respectively). 15N-ADN and Cd accumulations in roots were significantly different between the two growing seasons (p 
    Matched MeSH terms: Urbanization
  8. Fulltext A Novel International Partnership for Actionable Evidence on Urban Health in Latin America: LAC-Urban Health and SALURBAL
    Diez Roux AV, Slesinski SC, Alazraqui M, Caiaffa WT, Frenz P, Jordán Fuchs R, et al.
    Glob Chall, 2019 Apr;3(4):1800013.
    PMID: 31565372 DOI: 10.1002/gch2.201800013
    This article describes the origins and characteristics of an interdisciplinary multinational collaboration aimed at promoting and disseminating actionable evidence on the drivers of health in cities in Latin America and the Caribbean: The Network for Urban Health in Latin America and the Caribbean and the Wellcome Trust funded SALURBAL (Salud Urbana en América Latina, or Urban Health in Latin America) Project. Both initiatives have the goals of supporting urban policies that promote health and health equity in cities of the region while at the same time generating generalizable knowledge for urban areas across the globe. The processes, challenges, as well as the lessons learned to date in launching and implementing these collaborations, are described. By leveraging the unique features of the Latin American region (one of the most urbanized areas of the world with some of the most innovative urban policies), the aim is to produce generalizable knowledge about the links between urbanization, health, and environments and to identify effective ways to organize, design, and govern cities to improve health, reduce health inequalities, and maximize environmental sustainability in cities all over the world.
    Matched MeSH terms: Urbanization
  9. Fulltext Respiratory health of children exposed to PM10: consequence of construction waste open dumping
    Pravina Jeevanaraj, Samala Munianddey, Zailina Hashim
    Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2020;16(101):66-71.
    MyJurnal
    Introduction: Due to rapid urbanization, Malaysia is currently undergoing extensive amount of construction activities and significant rise in the construction waste. Improper construction wastes management practices have led to rise in the waste open dumping sites which may significantly affect the environment and public health. This study was undertaken to assess air pollution in such a site and the impact to the respiratory health of children studying in a nearby school. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in Sungai Buloh (exposed) and Kuala Selangor (comparative). Concentration of PM10 was monitored at the open dumping site (n=15), a nearby primary school (n=45) and a comparative primary school (n=12). Parents who gave consent (n=229) answered a questionnaire related to child’s respiratory health whereas their children participated in lung function assessment. Results: Concentration of PM10 at the dumping site, exposed school and comparative school was 0.245±0.048mg/ m3 , 0.270±0.020mg/m3 and 0.051±0.016mg/m3 respectively, with the first two significantly exceeded the 24-hour Malaysian Air Quality Standard (MAQS) for PM10 (0.150mg/m3 ). Besides, PM10 concentration in the exposed school was similar to the dumping site (p>0.05) and many folds higher than the comparative school (p
    Matched MeSH terms: Urbanization
  10. Algae utilization and its role in the development of green cities
    Chew KW, Khoo KS, Foo HT, Chia SR, Walvekar R, Lim SS
    Chemosphere, 2020 Dec 15;268:129322.
    PMID: 33359993 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.129322
    With the rapid urbanisation happening around the world followed by the massive demand for clean energy resources, green cities play a pivotal role in building a sustainable future for the people. The continuing depletion of natural resources has led to the development of renewable energy with algae as the promising source. The high growth rate of microalgae and their strong bio-fixation ability to convert CO2 into O2 have been gaining attention globally and intensive research has been conducted regarding the microalgae benefits. The focus on potential of microalgae in contributing to the development of green cities is rising. The advantage of microalgae is their ability to gather energy from sunlight and carbon dioxide, followed by transforming the nutrients into biomass and oxygen. This leads to the creation of green cities through algae cultivation as waste and renewable materials can be put to good use. The challenges that arise when using algae and the future prospect in terms of SDGs and economy will also be covered in this review. The future of green cities can be enhanced with the adaptation of algae as the source of renewable plants to create a better outlook of an algae green city.
    Matched MeSH terms: Urbanization
  11. Fulltext General Perceptions and Awareness Level among Local Residents in Penang Island toward Bats Conservation Efforts
    Shafie NJ, Sah SAM, Mutalib AHA, Fadzly N
    Trop Life Sci Res, 2017 Jul;28(2):31-44.
    PMID: 28890759 MyJurnal DOI: 10.21315/tlsr2017.28.2.3
    The population of bats has declined from year to year caused by human activities such as logging and hunting activities. Since the human factor is linked to the issues of population decline in many animal species, a community-based conservation strategy that involved local communities is needed. We conducted face-to-face surveys among residents in Penang Island to assess knowledge and awareness level toward bats conservation efforts. We collected demographic values such as age, gender, level of education, length of residency as well as their monthly income, since different group in these variable might have different perception. We found that age groups, level of education and monthly income have shown significant differences among the respondents. However, no other significant differences were indicated for by gender and length of residency. Respondent's knowledge of bats showed that the majority of the respondents were less likely to value the importance of bats in the ecosystem. We recommended stronger legal system, earlier exposure towards environmental education, well-planned urbanisation implementation and long-term monitoring programs to strengthen efforts in conserving bats in Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Urbanization
  12. Fulltext Dengue incidence and the prevention and control program in Malaysia
    Rose Nani Mudi
    International Medical Journal Malaysia, 2015;14(1):5-9.
    MyJurnal
    The trend of dengue incidence in the regions and many countries has shown an increasing trend for the past few decades. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that the incidence increased dramatically over the last 50 years and that dengue virus infections expanded to new countries, and from urban to rural settings. Malaysia is one of the countries that experience similar situation. The trend of dengue incidence in Malaysia has continued to increase since 2001 until 2014. In 2001, the dengue incidence rate (IR) was 72 cases in 100,000 population and progressively increased to 361 cases in 100,000 populations in 2014. There were temporary decrease of the incidence rate in 2011 and 2012 to 69.9 and 76 cases per 100,000 populations. Despite the close monitoring and continuous efforts from the Ministry of Health and Municipals to conduct the prevention and control activities, the number of dengue cases continues to increase due to multiple uncontrolled factors. There are at least five major factors that influence the transmission of dengue disease which include the dengue virus, the human as the host, the environmental condition such as cleanliness, the vectors and its behavior and the climate change. Due to these multiple factors that influence the disease pathophysiology and transmission of dengue virus, the control of mosquito-borne viral infection is very challenging and different from managing other infectious diseases. In addition, the rapid urbanization, population growth and human behavior together with international travel, making the control of dengue transmission even more difficult. Based on the circumstances, Ministry of Health Malaysia has implemented the intergrated strategy for dengue prevention and control program in the National Dengue Strategic Plan (NDSP) since 2011. There are seven strategies included in the NDSP which is strengthening of the dengue surveillance, practicing intergrated vector management, emphasizing on the dengue case management, social and community mobilization towards the prevention activity, ensuring rapid response in managing the dengue outbreak and developing new innovative method through dengue research. Most of the factors that contribute to the occurrence of dengue cases are difficult to be controlled and these leave with only manipulation and intervention with the environment, vector control and changing the human behavior for the prevention and control of dengue.
    Matched MeSH terms: Urbanization
  13. Fulltext Do wild-caught urban house sparrows show desensitized stress responses to a novel stressor?
    Salleh Hudin N, Teyssier A, Aerts J, Fairhurst GD, Strubbe D, White J, et al.
    Biol Open, 2018 Jun 15;7(6).
    PMID: 29632231 DOI: 10.1242/bio.031849
    While urbanization exposes individuals to novel challenges, urban areas may also constitute stable environments in which seasonal fluctuations are buffered. Baseline and stress-induced plasma corticosterone (cort) levels are often found to be similar in urban and rural populations. Here we aimed to disentangle two possible mechanisms underlying such pattern: (i) urban environments are no more stressful or urban birds have a better ability to habituate to stressors; or (ii) urban birds developed desensitized stress responses. We exposed wild-caught urban and rural house sparrows (Passer domesticus) to combined captivity and diet treatments (urban versus rural diet) and measured corticosterone levels both in natural tail feathers and in regrown homologous ones (cortf). Urban and rural house sparrows showed similar cortf levels in the wild and in response to novel stressors caused by the experiment, supporting the growing notion that urban environments are no more stressful during the non-breeding season than are rural ones. Still, juveniles and males originating from urban populations showed the highest cortf levels in regrown feathers. We did not find evidence that cortf was consistent within individuals across moults. Our study stresses the need for incorporating both intrinsic and environmental factors for the interpretation of variation in cortf between populations.
    Matched MeSH terms: Urbanization
  14. Assessing drivers of benthic macroinvertebrate community structure in African highland streams: An exploration using multivariate analysis
    Dalu T, Wasserman RJ, Tonkin JD, Alexander ME, Dalu MTB, Motitsoe SN, et al.
    Sci Total Environ, 2017 Dec 01;601-602:1340-1348.
    PMID: 28605853 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.06.023
    Understanding the drivers of community structure is fundamental for adequately managing ecosystems under global change. Here we used a large dataset of eighty-four headwater stream sites in three catchments in the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe, which represent a variety of abiotic conditions and levels of impairment, to examine the drivers of benthic macroinvertebrate community structure. We focused our assessment on macroinvertebrate family level community composition and functional feeding group classifications. Taxonomic richness was weakly positively correlated with ammonium, phosphates and pH, and weakly negatively correlated with detrital cover and dissolved oxygen. Measured abiotic variables, however, had limited influence on both macroinvertebrate diversity and functional feeding group structure, with the exception of ammonium, channel width and phosphates. This reflected the fact that many macroinvertebrate families and functional feeding guilds were well represented across a broad range of habitats. Predatory macroinvertebrates were relatively abundant, with collector-filterers having the lowest relative abundances. The findings of the study suggest that for certain ecological questions, a more detailed taxonomic resolution may be required to adequately understand the ecology of aquatic macroinvertebrates within river systems. We further recommend management and conservation initiatives on the Save River system, which showed significant impact from catchment developmental pressures, such as urbanisation, agriculture and illegal mining.
    Matched MeSH terms: Urbanization
  15. Modelling gully-erosion susceptibility in a semi-arid region, Iran: Investigation of applicability of certainty factor and maximum entropy models
    Azareh A, Rahmati O, Rafiei-Sardooi E, Sankey JB, Lee S, Shahabi H, et al.
    Sci Total Environ, 2019 Mar 10;655:684-696.
    PMID: 30476849 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.11.235
    Gully erosion susceptibility mapping is a fundamental tool for land-use planning aimed at mitigating land degradation. However, the capabilities of some state-of-the-art data-mining models for developing accurate maps of gully erosion susceptibility have not yet been fully investigated. This study assessed and compared the performance of two different types of data-mining models for accurately mapping gully erosion susceptibility at a regional scale in Chavar, Ilam, Iran. The two methods evaluated were: Certainty Factor (CF), a bivariate statistical model; and Maximum Entropy (ME), an advanced machine learning model. Several geographic and environmental factors that can contribute to gully erosion were considered as predictor variables of gully erosion susceptibility. Based on an existing differential GPS survey inventory of gully erosion, a total of 63 eroded gullies were spatially randomly split in a 70:30 ratio for use in model calibration and validation, respectively. Accuracy assessments completed with the receiver operating characteristic curve method showed that the ME-based regional gully susceptibility map has an area under the curve (AUC) value of 88.6% whereas the CF-based map has an AUC of 81.8%. According to jackknife tests that were used to investigate the relative importance of predictor variables, aspect, distance to river, lithology and land use are the most influential factors for the spatial distribution of gully erosion susceptibility in this region of Iran. The gully erosion susceptibility maps produced in this study could be useful tools for land managers and engineers tasked with road development, urbanization and other future development.
    Matched MeSH terms: Urbanization
  16. Microplastics in the freshwater and terrestrial environments: Prevalence, fates, impacts and sustainable solutions
    Wong JKH, Lee KK, Tang KHD, Yap PS
    Sci Total Environ, 2020 Jun 01;719:137512.
    PMID: 32229011 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137512
    The ubiquitous occurrences of microplastics in the environment have raised much concern and resulted in voluminous studies related to microplastics. Studies on microplastics pollution of the marine environment have received significantly higher attention compared to those of the freshwater and terrestrial environments. With the impetus to better understand microplastics in the freshwater and terrestrial environments, this review elucidates the findings of >100 articles related to the prevalence, fates and impacts of microplastics therein and the sustainable solutions, mostly in the past 10 years. This review shows the interconnection between terrestrial and freshwater microplastics with wastewater and sewage treatment plants as the most significant contributors of environmental microplastics via sludge and effluent discharges. Microplastics in both ecosystems comprise the primary and secondary forms with the latter resulted from weathering of the former. Besides retaining in soil and infiltrating with rainwater underground, terrestrial microplastics also enter the freshwater environment. The environmental microplastics interact with the biotic and abiotic components resulting in entrainment, settlement, biofouling, degradation, fragmentation and entry into the food chain, with subsequent transfer across the food chain. The abundance of environmental microplastics is attributed to population density and urbanization though tidal cycle, storms, floods and human activities can affect their distribution. The leaching of additives from microplastics poses major health concern and sustainable solutions target at reduction of plastics use and disposal, substitution with bioplastics and wastewater treatment innovations. Further studies on classification, detection, characterization and toxicity of microplastics are necessary to permit more effective formulation of solutions.
    Matched MeSH terms: Urbanization
  17. Fulltext Readiness of school teachers to accept notifications about causes and preventive measures on food poisoning
    Marzo RR, Bhattacharya S, Niranjan V, Shagaran K, Mohd Idris MAB, Clement BJ, et al.
    J Educ Health Promot, 2020;9:43.
    PMID: 32318611 DOI: 10.4103/jehp.jehp_505_19
    INTRODUCTION: In this era of globalization, urbanization, and rapidly expanding unhygienic food corners across the globe, the incidence of food poisoning is very common nowadays.

    AIM: The aim of our study was to investigate the perceptions and readiness of schoolteachers to accept notifications on food poisoning as a part of education to the students.

    METHODOLOGY: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out with the help of a validated questionnaire for data collection. Our research involved schoolteachers from both primary and secondary schools in Muar. The questionnaire was pretested among the eligible trainee teachers and yielded an internal consistency reliability coefficient (c = Cronbach's alpha) of 0.082. This study was conducted from October 29, 2017, to December 14, 2018, in Muar. Our sample size was 259. Ethical consent was obtained from the Institution Ethical Committee.

    RESULTS: A total of 259 schoolteachers from both primary and secondary schools in Muar were included in this study. In our study, 81.1% of the teachers responded that they can easily educate their students about food poisoning. Most of them (93.1%) were ready to receive notifications on food poisoning in any mode, and about 72% of the teachers preferred WhatsApp as their mode of receiving notification. The least (1.2%) preferred mode of notification was LINE (a social app). Teachers' willingness to disseminate the information regarding food poisoning was also higher (98.5%).

    CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that majority of the schoolteachers had a good perception and were ready to receive the notifications on food poisoning through WhatsApp as a part of education to the students.

    Matched MeSH terms: Urbanization
  18. Fulltext The association between climatic factors and dengue fever: a study in Subang Jaya and Sepang, Selangor
    Nik Syaza Lina Nik Ruzman, Haliza Abdul Rahman
    Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 2017;17 Special(1):140-150.
    Dengue fever is one of the most dangerous vector-borne diseases. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), dengue fever is a mosquito-borne infection caused by virus serotype DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3 and DEN-4. In Malaysia, dengue fever cases are on the rise from 6,000 cases in 1995 to over 40,000 in 2010, and this number is still rising. In 2014, the increase of dengue fever cases was alarming. It was reported that up to the end of the year 2014, there were 108,698 notified cases, indicating an increment of 151% compared to the same period of time in 2013 with only 43,346 reported cases. Selangor was the highest contributor of dengue fever cases in 2014. The objective of this paper is to study the relationship between climatic factors namely temperature, rainfall and humidity to the prevalence of dengue fever in Subang Jaya and Sepang district, Selangor. Data on monthly average temperature, precipitation, relative humidity and dengue fever cases for each month in 2014 and 2013 were collected. Data collection was dealt with a few institutions such as Malaysian Meteorological Department, Subang Jaya and Sepang Municipal Council and health district offices. Data were analysed using SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) Version 20. General linear model analysis was used to investigate the relationship between the climatic variables and dengue prevalence. Results and Discussion: Based on the general linear model, rainfall and humidity were found to have significant relationships to monthly dengue fever cases (p= <0.001, p= 0.002). Rainfall was identified as the most significant predictor because rainfall can provide more breeding places for Aedes mosquitoes. As for humidity, higher relative humidity had been associated with increased Aedes aegypti feeding activity, survival and egg development. Temperature was not significantly related to monthly dengue fever cases (p= 0.561) in this study. However, this could be due to the short period of study. Conclusion: Climatic factors play an important role in the prevalence of dengue fever. However, there are many other factors of dengue fever that should be considered such as urbanisation as well as community knowledge, attitude and practice.
    Matched MeSH terms: Urbanization
  19. Population Density and Risk of Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Prospective Population-Based Study in 13 Countries or Regions in Asia-Pacific
    Ng SC, Kaplan GG, Tang W, Banerjee R, Adigopula B, Underwood FE, et al.
    Am J Gastroenterol, 2019 01;114(1):107-115.
    PMID: 30177785 DOI: 10.1038/s41395-018-0233-2
    INTRODUCTION: Living in an urban environment may increase the risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It is unclear if this observation is seen globally. We conducted a population-based study to assess the relationship between urbanization and incidence of IBD in the Asia-Pacific region.

    METHODS: Newly diagnosed IBD cases between 2011 and 2013 from 13 countries or regions in Asia-Pacific were included. Incidence was calculated with 95% confidence interval (CI) and pooled using random-effects model. Meta-regression analysis was used to assess incidence rates and their association with population density, latitude, and longitude.

    RESULTS: We identified 1175 ulcerative colitis (UC), 656 Crohn's disease (CD), and 37 IBD undetermined (IBD-U). Mean annual IBD incidence per 100 000 was 1.50 (95% CI: 1.43-1.57). India (9.31; 95% CI: 8.38-10.31) and China (3.64; 95% CI, 2.97-4.42) had the highest IBD incidence in Asia. Incidence of overall IBD (incidence rate ratio [IRR]: 2.19; 95% CI: 1.01-4.76]) and CD (IRR: 3.28; 95% CI: 1.83-9.12) was higher across 19 areas of Asia with a higher population density. In China, incidence of IBD (IRR: 2.37; 95% CI: 1.10-5.16) and UC (IRR: 2.63; 95% CI: 1.2-5.8) was positively associated with gross domestic product. A south-to-north disease gradient (IRR: 0.94; 95% CI: 0.91-0.98) was observed for IBD incidence and a west-to-east gradient (IRR: 1.14; 95% CI: 1.05-1.24) was observed for CD incidence in China. This study received IRB approval.

    CONCLUSIONS: Regions in Asia with a high population density had a higher CD and UC incidence. Coastal areas within China had higher IBD incidence. With increasing urbanization and a shift from rural areas to cities, disease incidence may continue to climb in Asia.

    Matched MeSH terms: Urbanization
  20. Fulltext Ethnic characteristics of coronary heart disease risk factors and mortality in peninsular Malaysia
    Khor GL
    Asia Pac J Clin Nutr, 1994 Jun;3(2):93-8.
    PMID: 24351241
    The types and prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors vary somewhat among the three main ethnic groups in peninsular Malaysia. Indians consistently show the highest prevalence for hypercholesterolemia and diabetes mellitus. Among the Malays, a relatively high prevalence of hypertension and hypertriglyceridemia have been reported. Overweight is also a risk factor among the Indians and Malays. In general, Chinese tend to have a lower prevalence for these CHD risk factors than the Indians and Malays. Parallel to the rapid socio-economic development and urbanization in recent decades is a rise in the percentage of deaths due to cardiovascular disease in peninsular Malaysia, that is from 1.8% of total deaths from all causes in 1950 to about 30% in 1991. Coronary heart disease accounts for 40% of all cardiovascular diseases. The mortality rate for CHD has more than doubled between 1965 and 1991, from 24.6 per 100 000 to 57.2. While Indians have been showing the highest CHD mortality rate so far, that of the Malays has been increasing most rapidly since 1970, concomitant with the latter's increase in their proportion of the urban population in peninsular Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Urbanization
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