Introduction: Low socio-economic status (SES) has been associated with poorer access and worse outcome in kid-ney transplantation (KT) for high-income countries. In contrast, relatively little is known about the KT access and outcome between the socio-economic gradient in Malaysia, which is a low- and middle-income country. The aim is to determine the association of SES with access and outcome of kidney transplantation in Malaysia. Methods: We examined the Malaysian National Renal Registry for kidney transplant candidates listed between 2002 to 2011. Cox’s regression was used to assess associations of SES with transplant access and outcome (survival). Results: 1234 patients were transplanted in 2002-2011 after excluding pediatric patients and multiple transplantations. The mean age of patients was 42.3 ± 12.3 years, 789 (63.9%) were male and 797 (65.0%) were of Chinese ethnicity. After multivariate adjustment, the highest income group were 20% less likely to access KT compared the lowest income group (adjusted HR=0.80, CI: [0.62, 1.04] producing trend for P-Value = 0.001. While patient with highest education were 50% more likely to survive compared to patient with lowest education (adjusted HR=0.50, CI: [0.34, 0.73] producing trend for P-Value < 0.001. Conclusion: Even in a healthcare system that is almost achieving universal health coverage, disparities exist in both extremes of the socio-economic gradient for the access and outcomes for KT in Malaysia. Reducing the SES disparities in KT will require policy initiatives addressing the components of SES (income, education, and employment) as well as the pathways by which this affect the health of KT patient.
Introduction: Kidney transplantation (KT) is the preferred end-stage renal disease (ESRD) treatment because it pro-vides a better survival rate, quality of life as well as a cheaper alternative. However, Malaysia’s KT rates is consis-tently low considering that ESRD rates have been increasing exponentially. With only four hospitals performing KT, there’s a gap to indicate a lack of evaluation in KT system of Malaysia. Qualitative study was undertaken to explore and describe the barriers and solutions improve the rates and service of KT in Malaysia. Methods: Semi-structured interviews adopted as qualitative methodological approach to explore current KT policy and service in Malaysia be-tween March – May 2018 in Kuala Lumpur. Eight key-informants selected using stakeholder analysis and informed consent were obtained. Interviews were digitally audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Barriers and solutions of Malaysia’s KT are the results of complex interplay of personal, cultural, and environmental factors that can be categorized and described using the five levels of influence conceptualized by the socio-ecological model (SEM). Guidance for developing culturally appropriate and sensitive interventional strategies was elicited from the key informants’ experiences to improve KT rate and services in Malaysia. Conclusion:Malaysia is experiencing very low rate of KT compared to other countries. The use of SEM provided a framework to foster a better understanding of current practice, barriers and solutions to KT in Malaysia. Implications of these find-ings could prompt policy change for better KT service delivery model. Further stakeholder engagement and evalua-tion is required to align best practices to improve KT rates and service in Malaysia that is comparable to high-income countries.