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Fulltext Accentuating technology acceptance among academicians: A conservation of resource perspective in the Malaysian context

Toh SY, Ng SA, Phoon ST

Educ Inf Technol (Dordr), 2023;28(3):2529-2545.
PMID: 36035977 DOI: 10.1007/s10639-022-11288-x

Although recent research looked at the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model among academicians, there is still lacking an adequate account for their technology adoption intentions and behaviors in the face of the COVID-19 virus. This study applies the conservation of resource (COR) theory to ground the statistical results investigating the moderation and moderated mediation effects of COVID-19 anxiety in relation to the UTAUT model. According to the COR theory, anxiety linked with the COVID-19 pandemic endangers resources such as human connections (death of friends and relatives), job security and finances, as well as physical health and psychological well-being. Since resource loss is more salient according to COR theory, academicians are more willing to employ technologies like Zoom, MS Teams, and Google Classroom since the COVID-19 threat is existential and the resource loss is eminent. To test the theory, data was collected through an anonymous survey during the months of December 2020 and January 2021. The resultant data from 215 academicians was analyzed using Hayes Process Macro in SPSS. COVID-19 Anxiety positive moderates both the direct effects of Performance Expectance-Behavior Intention and the mediating Performance Expectance-Behavior Intension-Usage relationships. Similar results were seen for other predictors, albeit the moderated mediations for Effort Expectancy and Facilitating Conditions were not significant. These findings overwhelmingly corroborate the claims that COR theory more comprehensively explains the effects of COVID-19 anxiety among academicians in relation to the UTAUT model.
Breastfeeding prevalence and practices among Singaporean Chinese, Malay and Indian mothers

Foo LL, Quek SJ, Ng SA, Lim MT, Deurenberg-Yap M

Health Promot Int, 2005 Sep;20(3):229-37.
PMID: 15814526

The National Breastfeeding Survey 2001 was the first comprehensive study on breastfeeding conducted on a national level in Singapore. It aimed to establish the prevalence of breastfeeding among Chinese, Malay and Indian mothers and to identify factors influencing breastfeeding. A total of 2098 mothers were interviewed in this two-phase study, with the first interview conducted 2 months after delivery and the second interview 6 months after birth among mothers who were still breastfeeding at 2 months. Frequency distributions of breastfeeding prevalence and types of breastfeeding practices at different time intervals (from birth to 6 months) were produced. Multivariate logistic regression was carried out to construct a model with predictive information on factors which influence continued breastfeeding till 2 months and 6 months after delivery respectively. The study found that about 94.5% of the mothers attempted breastfeeding. At 1 month, 71.6% were still breastfeeding, 49.6% continued to do so at 2 months, and 29.8% persisted till 4 months. By 6 months, the breastfeeding prevalence rate fell to 21.1%. The results of this study show higher breastfeeding prevalence rates compared to past studies in Singapore. Despite this, exclusive breastfeeding is still not a common practice. Various factors were found to be significant in influencing mothers' decision to breastfeed. Factors such as ethnicity, age, educational attainment, religion and baby's sex are non-modifiable in the short term or at an individual level. However, factors such as awareness of breastfeeding benefits, advice from health professionals and previous breastfeeding experience are potentially modifiable. Efforts aimed at promoting breastfeeding in Singapore need to take these modifiable factors into consideration so as to better tailor health promotion efforts on breastfeeding to women.
Fulltext Fruit and Vegetable Intake Patterns and Their Associations with Sociodemographic Characteristics, Anthropometric Status and Nutrient Intake Profiles among Malaysian Children Aged 1-6 Years

Chong KH, Lee ST, Ng SA, Khouw I, Poh BK

Nutrients, 2017 Jul 31;9(8).
PMID: 28758956 DOI: 10.3390/nu9080723

This study aimed to assess fruit and vegetable intake patterns and their associations with sociodemographic characteristics, anthropometric status and nutrient intake profiles among Malaysian children aged 1-6 years. Using the Malaysian dataset of South East Asian Nutrition Surveys (SEANUTS Malaysia), a total of 1307 children aged 1-6 years with complete datasets were included in this analysis. Dietary intake was assessed using age-specific, validated food frequency questionnaires. On average, Malaysian children consumed 0.91 and 1.07 servings of fruits and vegetables per day, respectively. Less than one-fifth of the children achieved the daily recommended servings of fruits (11.7%) and vegetables (15.8%). Fruit intake was associated with age, parental educational level and geographical region, and vegetable intake was associated with ethnicity and geographical region. There was little evidence of an association between fruit and vegetable intake and children's anthropometric status, but an adequate intake of fruits and vegetables contributed significantly and differently to children's micronutrient intake. Future nutrition interventions should focus on addressing the sociodemographic determinants and be tailored to the needs of the low consumers to more effectively promote and encourage the adequate intake of fruit and vegetables among young children.
South East Asian Nutrition Surveys (SEANUTS) II - a multi-country evaluation of nutrition and lifestyle indicators in children aged 12 years and below: Rationale and Design

Tan SY, Poh BK, Sekartini R, Rojroongwasinkul N, Tran TN, Wong JE, et al.

Public Health Nutr, 2024 Apr 19.
PMID: 38639132 DOI: 10.1017/S1368980024000910

OBJECTIVE: To assess the nutritional status, growth parameters and lifestyle behaviours of children between 0.5-12 years in nationally representative samples in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the four countries, between May 2019 and April 2021. Data collected can be categorized into four categories: (1) Growth - anthropometry, body composition, development disorder, (2) Nutrient intake and dietary habits - 24-hour dietary recall, child food habits, breast feeding and complementary feeding, (3) Socio-economic status - food insecurity and child health status/environmental, and (4) Lifestyle behaviours - physical activity patterns, fitness, sunlight exposure, sleep patterns, body image and behavioural problems. Blood samples were also collected for biochemical and metabolomic analyses. With the pandemic emerging during the study, a COVID-19 questionnaire was developed and implemented.
SETTING: Both rural and urban areas in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
PARTICIPANTS: Children who were well, with no physical disability or serious infections/injuries and between the age of 0.5-12 years old were recruited.
RESULTS: The South East Asian Nutrition Surveys II recruited 13,933 children. Depending on the country, data collection from children were conducted in schools and commune health centres, or temples, or sub-district administrative organizations.
CONCLUSIONS: The results will provide up-to-date insights into nutritional status and lifestyle behaviours of children in the four countries. Subsequently, these data will facilitate exploration of potential gaps in dietary intake among Southeast Asian children and enable local authorities to plan future nutrition and lifestyle intervention strategies.