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Fulltext Health care delivery in Malaysia: changes, challenges and champions

Thomas S, Beh L, Nordin RB

J Public Health Afr, 2011 Sep 05;2(2):e23.
PMID: 28299064 DOI: 10.4081/jphia.2011.e23

Since 1957, there has been major reorganization of health care services in Malaysia. This article assesses the changes and challenges in health care delivery in Malaysia and how the management in health care processes has evolved over the years including equitable health care and health care financing. The health care service in Malaysia is changing towards wellness service as opposed to illness service. The Malaysian Ministry of Health (MOH), being the main provider of health services, may need to manage and mobilize better health care services by providing better health care financing mechanisms. It is recommended that partnership between public and private sectors with the extension of traditional medicine complementing western medicine in medical therapy continues in the delivery of health care.
Gender and risk of depression in Saudi Arabia, a systematic review and meta-analysis

Alibrahim OA, Al-Sadat N, Elawad NA

J Public Health Afr, 2010 Sep 01;1(1):e7.
PMID: 28299041 DOI: 10.4081/jphia.2010.e7

Depression is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. In the year 2000 depression accounted for 4.4% of the global disability adjusted life years (DALYs). The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has a population of 28 million people and is one of the countries experiencing demographic transition in its population structure. Improvements in socioeconomic status have been shown to be associated with increased chronic diseases including chronic mental diseases like depression, but still there is no comprehensive review summarizing the various reports currently existing in the literature. Although individual studies within Saudi Arabia have reported prevalence rates and risks, the quality of such studies need to be subjected to rigorous assessment and their findings pooled to give combined weighted evidence that will provide basis for targeted intervention. Pooled risks have the advantage of adjusting inherent variations within sampled populations and therefore providing more reliable estimates even though there are concerns about possible magnification of smaller individual risks.
Brain-drain and health care delivery in developing countries

Misau YA, Al-Sadat N, Gerei AB

J Public Health Afr, 2010 Sep 01;1(1):e6.
PMID: 28299040 DOI: 10.4081/jphia.2010.e6

Migration of health workers 'Brain drain' is defined as the movement of health personnel in search of a better standard of living and life quality, higher salaries, access to advanced technology and more stable political conditions in different places worldwide. The debate about migration of health workers from the developing to the developed world has remained pertinent for decades now. Regardless of the push and pull factors, migration of health care workers from developing countries to developed ones, have done more harm than good on the health care deliveries in the developing countries. This article reviews the literature on the effects of cross-border migration of health care professionals.
Media and interpersonal persuasions in the polio eradication campaign in northern Nigeria

Ozohu-Suleiman Y

J Public Health Afr, 2010 Sep 01;1(1):e2.
PMID: 28299036 DOI: 10.4081/jphia.2010.e2

This study is premised on the increasing global concerns over the widespread resistance to polio eradication campaign in northern Nigeria. It aims to determine the level of campaign acceptance and compare the influences of mass media and interpersonal communication sources in Zaria local government area, being one of the high-risk (WPV-endemic) areas in northern Nigeria, where campaign resistance is known to be high. By way of quantitative survey, the study utilized 10% sample of the populations of eight out of the thirteen Wards in Zaria local government area, with a response rate of 78.6%. Findings reveal close ranks between campaign acceptance and resistance in the local government area, thus further confirming the difficulties still faced in polio eradication campaign in the region. This study also indicates higher performance of Interpersonal than Mass Media sources in influencing campaign acceptance and resistance in the local communities. Contact with friends and relations was rated the most influential interpersonal sources in the acceptance and resistance decision of individuals, while newspapers and magazines were rated most influential media sources that influenced campaign resistance in the local communities. The study concludes that a polio eradication campaign, backed with competent and sufficient communication expertise that utilizes knowledge-based indigenous interpersonal communication strategies will likely result in greater community acceptance in northern Nigeria.
Fulltext Healthcare Professionals' Awareness, Knowledge, Attitudes, Perceptions and Beliefs about Ebola at Gondar University Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia: A Cross-sectional Study

Abebe TB, Bhagavathula AS, Tefera YG, Ahmad A, Khan MU, Belachew SA, et al.

J Public Health Afr, 2016 Dec 31;7(2):570.
PMID: 28299161 DOI: 10.4081/jphia.2016.570

A poor understanding of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) among Health Care Professionals (HCPs) may put our lives at risk. We aimed to assess the awareness, knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, beliefs of HCPs towards Ebola at Gondar University Hospital (GUH) in Northwest Ethiopia. We conducted a hospital based, cross-sectional survey among 245 randomly selected HCPs working at GUH from August-October, 2015. A validated, self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. We calculated descriptive statistics with P<0.05 being statistically significant. Of the 245 participants, 211 (86.1%) completed the study. The majority had heard about EVD and used news media (62%) as a source of information. Still, many were afraid of getting EVD (56.4%; P=0.001). A significant number of HCPs thought EVD can cause paralysis like polio (45%) and can be treated with antibiotics (28.4%). In addition, 46.4% of the HCPs felt anger or fear towards Ebola infected patients (P=0.006). We identified poor knowledge and negative incorrect beliefs among doctors and allied health professionals. There is a need for intensive training for all HCPs reduce EVD risk.
Fulltext Chemoinformatics approach to design and develop vanillin analogs as COX-1 inhibitor

Norhayati, Ekowati J, Diyah NW, Tejo BA, Ahmed S

J Public Health Afr, 2023 Mar 30;14(Suppl 1):2517.
PMID: 37492541 DOI: 10.4081/jphia.2023.2517

BACKGROUND: Coronary Heart Disease (CHD), commonly known as the silent killer, impacted the severity of COVID-19 patients during the pandemic era. Thrombosis or blood clots create the buildup of plaque on the coronary artery walls of the heart, which leads to coronary heart disease. Cyclooxygenase 1 (COX-1) is involved in the production of prostacyclin by systemic arteries; hence, inhibiting the COX-1 enzyme can prevent platelet reactivity mediated by prostacyclin. To obtain good health and well-being, the research of discovery of new drugs for anti-thrombotic still continue.
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to predict the potential of 17 compounds owned by the vanillin analog to COX-1 receptor using in silico.
METHODS: This research employed a molecular docking analysis using Toshiba hardware and AutoDock Tools version 1.5.7, ChemDraw Professional 16.0, Discovery Studio, UCSF Chimera software, SWISSADME and pKCSM, a native ligand from COX- 1 (PDB ID: 1CQE) was validated.
RESULTS: The validation result indicated that the RMSD was <2 Å. The 4-formyl-2-methoxyphenyl benzoate compound had the lowest binding energy in COX-1 inhibition with a value of -7.70 Å. All vanillin derivatives show good intestinal absorption, and the predicted toxicity indicated that they were non-hepatotoxic. All these compounds have the potential to be effective antithrombotic treatments when consumed orally.
CONCLUSION: In comparison to other vanillin derivative compounds, 4-formyl-2-methoxyphenyl benzoate has the lowest binding energy value; hence, this analog can continue to be synthesized and its potential as an antithrombotic agent might be confirmed by in vivo studies.
Fulltext Eurycoma longifolia: an overview on the pharmacological properties for the treatment of common cancer

Jothi S, Parumasivam T, Mohtar N

J Public Health Afr, 2023 Mar 30;14(Suppl 1):2495.
PMID: 37492537 DOI: 10.4081/jphia.2023.2495

Eurycoma longifolia plant, the so called Tongkat Ali in Malaysia, is a well grown prominent tree in all Southeast Asia. It is well known among traditional medicine practitioners as a curative plant for many diseases and health conditions. The major quassinoid from the plant is eurycomanone, which exhibits many prominent effects on various cancer cell lines. Numerous studies have shown that eurycomanone inhibits cancerous cell growth and encourages cell death both in vitro and in vivo test. Even though analyses of safety and toxicity have been conducted, there is still a substantial knowledge barrier when it comes to providing a scientific foundation for the molecular mechanism as well as intervention strategy in the living people cancer cell. In a way to offer adequate baseline data for future investigations based on molecular mechanism and intervention, the present work seeks to review the researches conducted to date on this herbal plant.
Effect of glutamine, glucose unhidrate and Moringa oleifera on blood lymphocytes in white mice (Rattus Novergicus) Wistar strain, following induction of a proteinenergy- deficient diet

Katmawanti S, Yunus M, Kurniawan AW, Sulistyorini A, Fauzi R, Supriyadi S, et al.

J Public Health Afr, 2022 Dec 07;13(Suppl 2):2418.
PMID: 37497140 DOI: 10.4081/jphia.2022.2418

The aim of this research was studied the influence of giving Glutamine, Glucose Unhydrate and Moringa oleifera the blood lymphocyte of white rat (Rattus novergicus) Strain Wistar that was induced with protein energy malnutrtion (PEM). This was an experimental study with Completely Random Design, sample was white rats in PEM induced with parched rice for 15 days and those with normal diet with total 30 sample. The concluded is that there was a significant difference in the blood lymphocytes of white rats (Rattus novergicus) Strain Wistar gived glumorry with sig. (0.000) and glutamin + glucose unhydrate with sig. (0.001), while in the group gived Moringa oleifera there was no significant difference with sig. (0.076). Glumorry intervention has the highest level of significance by 19,2382 × 103/mm3 compared to all treatment groups. This suggests that the glumorry (Glucose Unhydrate, Glutamine, and Moringa oleifera) intervention successfully increased the lymphocyte count higher in the study sample with PEM condition compared to the group that was only given Glucose Unhidrat + Glutamine and the group that was only given Moringa Oleifera.
Oral health literacy in Malang City, Indonesia

Gayatri RW, Deniati EN, Saub RB

J Public Health Afr, 2022 Dec 07;13(Suppl 2):2414.
PMID: 37497136 DOI: 10.4081/jphia.2022.2414

Dental and oral health are the main indicators of health, well-being, and quality of life. The concept of Oral Health Literacy (OHL) has become important because it regards individual capacity to understand and use dental information to transform into oral health behaviours. Thus, the aim of this study was to discover and describe the OHL status of adults in Malang City and its relationship with sociodemographic status so that it can be used as a basis for making policy. This study used observational analytical study design involving 450 respondents in Malang by quota random sampling method. The data was collected by the self-administered 29-item HeLD-ID (Health Literacy in Dentistry Indonesian Version) questionnaire. The study resulted that the overall HeLD-ID score was 3.68±0.69. The HeLDID score significant difference was affected by sex (p<0.05) and the other sociodemographic determinants (age, last education, and income) were not. However, there were significant differences of HeLD scores in communication domain (p<0.05) affected by age, sex, and income.
Work-life balance mediating stress and quality of life in academics during COVID-19 in Malaysia

Aye LM, Tan JEH, Ramasamy S

J Public Health Afr, 2024;15(1):562.
PMID: 39229342 DOI: 10.4102/jphia.v15i1.562

BACKGROUND: Following the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, academicians from the universities in Malaysia needed to ensure that the quality-of-service delivery to the stakeholders is undisturbed by adopting new challenging norms. This compromises the work-life balance (WLB), causes more stress and potentially affects their quality of life (QoL).
AIM: This study investigates how perceived stress (PS) impacts the QoL of Malaysian academicians during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the mediating role of WLB.
SETTING: Academics working in Malaysia during COVID-19 pandemic.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study, using a voluntary response sampling method, was conducted among 417 academicians from universities in Malaysia in September 2021. A self-reported online questionnaire, measuring PS, WLB and QoL, was distributed.
RESULTS: The QoL scored a mean of 50 (standard deviation [s.d.] = 9.84), PS scored a mean of 24.26 (s.d. = 8.19) and WLB had a mean score of 51.12 (s.d. = 18.73). Work-life balance was a significant mediator of PS and QoL (β = -0.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -0.52 to -0.35, p = 0.0001). Perceived stress was a significant predictor of WLB (β = 1.62, p = 0.0001).
CONCLUSION: Institutions should consider implementing flexible working arrangements, and providing workshops on crisis management, time management, and resilience. Stress coping methods are recommended for enhancing WLB among academicians.
CONTRIBUTION: This study contributes to the pool of evidence to support intervention strategies and policy recommendations aimed to enhance well-being.
Fulltext Hepatitis B serology testing and vaccination for Gambian healthcare workers: A pilot study

Manjang B, Keita E, Bittaye SO, Jallow B, Mbye S, Badjie AB, et al.

J Public Health Afr, 2024;15(1):489.
PMID: 39145290 DOI: 10.4102/jphia.v15i1.489

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B infection is a significant global health threat contributing to healthcare worker (HCW) harm, threatening already precarious health systems.
AIM: To document self-reported hepatitis B vaccination history and serology results.
SETTING: A select group of high-risk HCWs in a tertiary care hospital in Banjul, the Gambia.
METHODS: This was a cross-sectional pilot study conducted from 12 June 2023 to 16 June 2023. Participants were HCWs at high risk for blood exposure who completed a health history interview prior to serology testing for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) and vaccination.
RESULTS: The pilot study enrolled 70 HCWs who were primarily female (n = 44; 62.9%). The majority of the participants, 43 (61.4%) reported having received at least one dose of the hepatitis B vaccine in the past. The overall prevalence of HBsAg positivity in this study was 4.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.5-11.9), all in older participants. Importantly, 60.0% (95% CI: 48.3-70.7) of participants had no anti-HBs detected.
CONCLUSION: This pilot study documents a higher prevalence of hepatitis B infection among older workers and the lack of anti-HBs across the majority of participants. This suggests a serious vulnerability for the individual health worker and indicates the need for a wider screening and vaccination campaign to assess the risk across the Gambian health workforce.
CONTRIBUTION: This pilot study provides the first evidence to support a wider assessment of hepatitis B serology status of Gambian health workers to gauge the need for a broader vaccine campaign.
Fulltext The association between the severity of anemia and socio-demographic factors among children under five years of age in Kut City

Al Kaabi SZ, Al-Saad DS, Al-Rubaye AK, Alkinani AAA

J Public Health Afr, 2023 Aug 07;14(8):2676.
PMID: 37859706 DOI: 10.4081/jphia.2023.2676

BACKGROUND: Anemia is a public health issue that affects both industrialized and developing nations. Childhood anemia has severe consequences, including reduced growth, poor motor and cognitive development, and increased death and morbidity.
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine sociodemographic factors associated with the severity of anemia among under-five children in Kut City.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study with a convenience sample (non-probability) was conducted among 264 children admitted to hospitals in Kut City, from September 1st, 2022, to March 1st, 2023. Data were collected via questionnaires, and descriptive and inferential statistics were used to evaluate the data.
RESULTS: The total number of children participating in the study was 264, with 39.0% having mild anemia and 60.0% having moderate anemia, according to the World Health Organization classification of anemia. The results showed that the children most at risk of developing anemia were within 4 years of age and had a lower mean hemoglobin level than the rest of the age groups of the children participating in the study, compared to the mean+standard deviation (SD) (9.46+0.99). Boys are more affected than girls, and those who reside in rural areas have lower hemoglobin (HB) percentages with a mean+SD of (9.21+0.93). Unemployed mothers who read and write had the lowest HB percentage. In contrast, parents with primary education and government jobs have the lowest percentage of HB. Children of married mothers are more affected by anemia. Families with high overcrowding showed the lowest rate of HB. They experienced low socioeconomic status as a result. The degree of anemia was significantly correlated with the child's age, residence, mother's educational level, father's job, and socioeconomic position.
CONCLUSION: This study concludes a significant association between the severity of anemia and sociodemographic factors, both unmodifiable (age) and modifiable (residence, mothers' education, fathers' jobs, and economic and social status). Children with modifiable risk factors need to have their anemia risk constantly evaluated.
Fulltext Non-pharmacological that most effective to reduce of primary dysmenorrhea intensity in women childbearing age: a literature review

Ilmiah WS, Abdullah I, Koesrini J

J Public Health Afr, 2023 Dec 27;14(12):2349.
PMID: 38204814 DOI: 10.4081/jphia.2023.2349

One of the most common female reproductive health problems is primary dysmenorrhea. Data on the incidence of primary dysmenorrhea complained about 50-90% of women in the world. Primary dysmenorrhea data in the US is 30-70%, in Sweden is 30%, in Mexico is 64%, in Italy is 68%, in Jordan is 55.8%, in Turkey is 84.9%, and in Malaysia is 74.5%, in Indonesia is 60-70 and 15% of its, it interferes with daily activities including work. The cause of this is hypercontractility of the myometrium due to excessive secretion of prostaglandins. This study aims to explore the most effective non-pharmacological therapies in reducing the level of primary dysmenorrhea pain in women of childbearing age. The design of this study is a literature review with the PRISMA method. Database Google, Google Scholar, Research gate, Cochran Data Base, Embase, NCBI, Sciendirect, SAGE, Elsevier, Sinta. The population of this study was all full-text international journals indexed by Scopus and national journals indexed by Sinta 1-6 published in 2011-2021 including RCT amount of 114 articles. A sample of 23 articles meets the inclusion criteria and used thematic data analysis. The results of non-pharmacological therapy that effectively overcome primary dysmenorrhea pain, namely the first group with (P=0.000). The conclusions showed that Murrotal Qur'an, yoga, acupressure, counter pressure massage, effleurage massage, consume green coconut water and avocado juice combination with massage were proven to be equally effective in overcoming complaints of primary dysmenorrhea pain quickly without being accompanied by side effects.
Mapping the pandemic: a review of Geographical Information Systems-based spatial modeling of Covid-19

Aboalyem MS, Ismail MT

J Public Health Afr, 2023 Dec 27;14(12):2767.
PMID: 38204808 DOI: 10.4081/jphia.2023.2767

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), COVID-19 has caused more than 6.5 million deaths, while over 600 million people are infected. With regard to the tools and techniques of disease analysis, spatial analysis is increasingly being used to analyze the impact of COVID-19. The present review offers an assessment of research that used regional data systems to study the COVID-19 epidemic published between 2020 and 2022. The research focuses on: categories of the area, authors, methods, and procedures used by the authors and the results of their findings. This input will enable the contrast of different spatial models used for regional data systems with COVID-19. Our outcomes showed increased use of geographically weighted regression and Moran I spatial statistical tools applied to better spatial and time-based gauges. We have also found an increase in the use of local models compared to other spatial statistics models/methods.
Fulltext Nutrition education has significant impact on perceived barriers to healthy diet among adults with and without COVID-19 history

Dewi RK, Mahmudiono T, Yuniar CT, Zebadia E, Sahila N, Wijanarko MAV, et al.

J Public Health Afr, 2023 Nov 30;14(11):2430.
PMID: 38162330 DOI: 10.4081/jphia.2023.2430

Healthy diet is an important tool to lower the risk and severity of COVID-19 infection. Low diet quality is usually caused by perceived barriers that stop people to do certain behavior. Perceived barriers can be overcome by implementing proper method such as conducting nutrition education. This study aimed to analyze the impact of nutrition education on perceived barrier to healthy diet among adults with and without covid-19 history in Padang, Indonesia. This study was a pre-experimental study using pre and post-design. This study was conducted on 70 adults with or without COVID-19 infection history, residing in Padang, Indonesia. The intervention was given in the form of nutrition education. Difference test was conducted to assess the impact of nutrition education on respondents' nutrition knowledge and perceived barriers. The majority of the respondents both with and without COVID-19 history (71.4 and 80%) had medium level of nutritional knowledge before the intervention. After the intervention, there was a significant (P<0.05) improvement on respondents' nutritional knowledge for both groups (100%). The result also showed 40% of the respondents with COVID-19 history had medium level of perceived barriers, while 28.6% respondents without COVID-19 history (65.7%) had medium level of perceived barriers before the intervention. A significant improvement (P<0.05) also showed on respondents' perceived barriers after the intervention. On both groups more 90% of the respondents only had low level of perceived barriers. The result shows that nutrition education has significant impact both on respondents' nutritional knowledge and perceived barriers.
XEC severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 subvariant in Africa: A rising health alarm

Abdulrahim A, Gulumbe BH, Oluwasola MA, Danlami MB, Adebisi YA

J Public Health Afr, 2025;16(1):1235.
PMID: 40083463 DOI: 10.4102/jphia.v16i1.1235

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