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Fulltext Functional status of the elderly in a rural community in Malaysia

Sherina, M.S., Lekhraj, R., Mustaqim, A.

Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 2004;4(1):55-58.
MyJurnal

Functional dependence is common in hte life and may be due to the normal process of ageing or associated with physical disorders. This study was done to determine the prevalence and factors affecting functional dependence among the elderly in a rural community setting. A cross sectional study design using stratifed proportionate cluster sampling method was used in this study. All elderly residents aged 60 years old and above in the selected kampungs in Mukim Sepang were selected as respondents. The Barthel`s Index ( B1) was used to screen for functional dependence among the respondents. Functional dependence in basic Activities of Daily Living (ADL) implies that the respondent needs assistance in one or more of these tasks. Out of the 263 elderly residents, 223 agreed to participate givinga response rate 84.8%. The mean age was 69.7 years with a SD of 6.8 years. Age ranged from 60-99 years. Thirtyyfive (15.7%) of the respondents were dependent in at kast one function of the ADL. The most common problem identifed was urinary incontinence (9.9%). Functional dependence is common among our elderly population. This problem needs to be addressed by the health care personnel to improve the quality of life of the elderly.
Fulltext Aids to diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Umapati P, Rajadurai P, Kook SC, Lekhraj R, Singh J

Med J Malaysia, 1988 Jun;43(2):109-16.
PMID: 3237126
Fulltext Prevalence, Associated Factors and Psychological Determinants of Obesity among Adults in Selangor, Malaysia

Mohd-Sidik S, Lekhraj R, Foo CN

Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2021 Jan 20;18(3).
PMID: 33498401 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18030868

BACKGROUND: The pervasiveness of obesity is a growing concern in the world. This study aims to determine the prevalence of obesity among a segment of the Malaysian population, as well as investigate associated factors and psychological determinants of obesity.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study design was carried out in Selangor, Malaysia. A total of 1380 Malaysian adults (≥18 years old) participated in a structured and validated questionnaire survey. TANITA body scale and SECA 206 body meter were used to measure the respondents' weight and height, from which measurements of their body mass index (BMI) were calculated.
RESULTS: The overall prevalence of obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) among adults in Selangor, Malaysia, was 18.6%. Factors significantly associated with increased risk of obesity were: being female (OR = 1.61, 95% CI [1.20-2.17]), aged between 30 to 39 years old (OR = 1.40, 95% CI [1.04-1.88]), being Indian (OR = 1.55, 95% CI [1.13-2.12]), married (OR = 1.37, 95% CI [1.03-1.83]), and having only primary school education (OR = 1.80, 95% CI [1.17-2.78] or secondary school education (OR = 1.37, 95% CI [1.04-1.81]). In the multiple linear regression analysis (stepwise method), perceived stress (B = -0.107, p = 0.041), suicidal ideation (B = -2.423, p = 0.003), and quality of life in the physical health domain (B = -0.350, p = 0.003) inversely and significantly contributed to BMI among males. Among females, stressful life events contributed positively to BMI (B = 0.711, p < 0.001, whereas quality of life in the psychological domain had a negative effect (B = -0.478, p < 0.001) in this respect.
CONCLUSION: There is an urgent need to integrate psychological approaches to enhance the effectiveness of obesity prevention strategies and weight-loss programs.
Fulltext A community based study on the epidemiology of hypertension in Selangor

Kandiah N, Lekhraj R, Paranjothy S, Gill AK

Med J Malaysia, 1980 Mar;34(3):211-20.
PMID: 7412661

A pilot study on the epidemiology of hypertension was carried out in 3 out of the 8 districts in the state of Selangor, namely Klang, Sabak Bernam and UIu Langat. stratified random sampling, 435 households were selected for the study. Eventually 312 (72%) households were surveyed: 963 (94%) out of the 1,030 persons aged 15 years and above living in the selected households were interviewed, and 957 of them were examined. The mean age of the respondents was 33 years. Taking a systolic pressure of more than 140 mmHg and/or diastolic pressure of more than 90 mmHg as hypertension, 1 in every 7 of those equal and mor.e than 15 years of age had hypertension, i.e. 140/0. 5.40/0 had a systolic pressure of equal and more than 160 mmHg, and 4.7% had a diastolic pressure of equal and more than 95 mmHg. The study showed that there was a significant rise in the prevalence rates with age in both sexes. There was no significant difference in the prevalence rates among. the sexes, ethnic groups (Malays, Chinese and Indians) and urban and rural areas. The mean systolic pressure ranged from 112-147 mmHg and diastolic from 69 - 73 mmHg. Hypertension was significantly more common among smokers (18.1%) than nonsmokers. There was no significant relationship between hypertension and tea, coffee and alcohol consumption. Hypertension was significantly more common among those with no physical activity (34.8%) as compared with those with physical activity (13.5%). 67% of the hypertensives were aware of their illness but only 36.1% of them were under treatment.
Fulltext A cross-sectional study to explore postgraduate students' understanding of and beliefs about sexual and reproductive health in a public university, Malaysia

Soleymani S, Abdul Rahman H, Lekhraj R, Mohd Zulkefli NA, Matinnia N

Reprod Health, 2015;12:77.
PMID: 26318873 DOI: 10.1186/s12978-015-0070-3

BACKGROUND:
The main sexual and reproductive health issues among young people are premarital sexual intercourse, unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions and sexually transmitted diseases including Human Immunodeficiency Virus. The aim of this study was to determine the knowledge related to sexual and reproductive health among Malaysian postgraduate students in a public university in Malaysia.

METHODS:
A cross-sectional study was carried out among postgraduate students by systematic random sampling technique. A pre-tested self administered questionnaire was used to collect the data.

RESULTS:
Out of 434 respondents, the majority of students were female (78.6 %) and single (78.3 %). The overall mean age of respondents was 27.0 ranging from 20 to 46 years of age. The main sources of information for sexual and reproductive health awareness were the internet (78.6 %) and newspaper (61.8 %). The majority (97.9 %) of the students knew that AIDS is a sexually transmitted disease. Most of them believed that the spread of sexually transmitted diseases was through shaking hands (92.1 %). Use of condoms was perceived to be the best way to avoid sexually transmitted diseases (88.4 %). Sexual and reproductive health knowledge was significantly associated with the students' age, marital status and faculty. The socio-demographic factors and current educational status accounted for a significant 9 % of the variability in sexual and reproductive health knowledge, f (7, 426) = 11, p <0.001.

CONCLUSIONS:
The postgraduate students' level of knowledge on sexual and reproductive health was not satisfactory. Sexual and reproductive health knowledge was associated with the students' marital status and faculty. Intervention programs related to sexual and reproductive health are recommended.
Fulltext Effectiveness of Health-Led Cognitive Behavioral-Based Group Therapy on Pain, Functional Disability and Psychological Outcomes among Knee Osteoarthritis Patients in Malaysia

Foo CN, Arumugam M, Lekhraj R, Lye MS, Mohd-Sidik S, Jamil Osman Z

Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2020 08 26;17(17).
PMID: 32858791 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17176179

BACKGROUND: Psychosocial interventions for patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee to reduce pain and improve physical and psychological functioning are still lacking in Malaysia.
METHODS: A parallel-group unblinded randomized controlled trial involving 300 patients was conducted in two hospital orthopedics clinics in Malaysia. Patients were randomly assigned to receive cognitive behavioral-based group therapy (n = 150) or no further intervention (n = 150). The primary outcome was the change from baseline in knee pain as determined by the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) at 6 months. The data collected were analyzed by covariate-adjusted mixed design repeated measures analysis of variance. All analyses were performed under the terms of intention-to-treat.
RESULTS: At 6 months, mean change from baseline in the KOOS knee pain score was 0.6 points (95% CI -1.73 to 2.94) in the control group and 8.9 points (95% CI 6.62 to 11.23) (denoting less knee pain intensity) in the intervention group (significant treatment effect p < 0.0001). Patients treated with such an approach also experienced significant improvement in functional ability when performing activities of daily living and had improved ability to cope with depression, anxiety and pain catastrophizing.
CONCLUSION: The intervention module delivered by healthcare professionals had a sustained effect on knee OA pain and functionality over 6 months, thereby leading to an overall improvement in psychological well-being, thus benefitting most of the Malaysian knee OA patients.