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Fulltext Making Health Services Adolescent-Friendly in Northeastern Peninsular Malaysia: A Mixed-Methods Study

Awang H, Ab Rahman A, Sukeri S, Hashim N, Nik Abdul Rashid NR

Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2020 02 19;17(4).
PMID: 32093018 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17041341

A mixed-methods study was conducted in a Malaysian state beginning with a cross-sectional quantitative study to determine the relationship between clinic characteristics and clinic score of adolescent-friendliness. Subsequently, perceptions of healthcare providers on the facilitating factors for the provision of adolescent-friendly health services were explored qualitatively to support the quantitative findings. Availability of trained healthcare providers, adequate privacy, dedicated adolescent health services team, and adolescent health promotional activities were the clinic characteristics that significantly (p < 0.05) related with clinics' scores of adolescent-friendliness. The facilitating factors required for adolescent-friendly health services were (1) healthcare providers' commitment and prioritization towards adolescent-friendly health services; (2) organizational supports; (3) appropriate clinic settings; and (4) external supports for adolescent health promotional activities. The qualitative findings reaffirmed those of the quantitative study on the significant clinic characteristics required for adolescent-friendly health services. This study provides valuable insight for the Ministry of Health to elicit the required facilitating factors to further improve the quality of adolescent health services in Malaysia.

Matched MeSH terms: Adolescent Health Services*
Fulltext Assessment of adolescent-friendly health services in north-eastern Malaysia: a sequential explanatory mixed method study

Hafizuddin Awang, Azriani Ab Rahman, Surianti Sukeri, Noran Hashim, Nik Rubiah Nik Abdul Rashid

Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2019;15(104):64-64.
MyJurnal

Introduction: The Ministry of Health Malaysia introduced the national best practices for adolescent-friendly health services in 2018 and it served as an assessment tool in the accreditation of adolescent-friendly clinic status. This study was conducted in Kelantan with the objective to determine the proportion of adolescent-friendly clinics and its determinants and perceptions of healthcare providers regarding the facilitating factors in providing adoles-cent-friendly health services. Methods: The research design was sequential explanatory mixed method. State wide clinics assessment was done to estimate the proportion of adolescent-friendly clinics and to determine the factors associated with adolescent-friendly health services provision. Perceptions of healthcare providers on the facilitating factors for adolescent-friendly health services were explored through in-depth interviews. Descriptive statistics and linear regression analysis were performed for quantitative data, and thematic analysis for qualitative data. Results: Out of 85 health clinics, 30 (35.3%) clinics were accredited as adolescent-friendly. Availability of trained health-care providers in adolescent health modules, private room for adolescent counselling, dedicated team in charge of adolescent programme and adolescent health promotional activities were the statistically significant determinants for adolescent-friendly health services (p

Matched MeSH terms: Adolescent Health Services
Fulltext Virtual and essential - adolescent SRHR in the time of COVID-19

Nanda P, Tandon S, Khanna A

Sex Reprod Health Matters, 2020 12;28(1):1831136.
PMID: 33073718 DOI: 10.1080/26410397.2020.1831136
Matched MeSH terms: Adolescent Health Services/organization & administration*
Fulltext A cross-country comparison of tobacco consumption among youths from selected South-Asian countries

Kabir MA, Goh KL, Khan MH

BMC Public Health, 2013;13:379.
PMID: 23617464 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-13-379

BACKGROUND:
Tobacco consumption (TC) among youths poses significant public health problem in developing countries. This study utilized the data of Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS), 2007 to examine and compare youth TC behavior in Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

METHODS:
The GYTS covered a total of 2,242 Bangladeshi, 1,444 Nepalese and 1,377 Sri-Lankan youths aged 13-15 years. They represented response rates of 88.9%, 94.6%, and 85.0% for the three countries, respectively. Socioeconomic, environmental, motivating, and programmatic predictors of TC were examined using cross tabulations and logistic regressions.

RESULTS:
Prevalence of TC was 6.9% (9.1% in males, 5.1% in females) in Bangladesh, 9.4% (13.2% in males, 5.3% in females) in Nepal and 9.1% (12.4% in males, 5.8% in females) in Sri Lanka. The average tobacco initiation age was 9.6, 10.24 and 8.61 years, respectively. Cross tabulations showed that gender, smoking among parents and friends, exposure to smoking at home and public places, availability of free tobacco were significantly (P < 0.001) associated with TC in all three countries. The multivariable analysis [odds ratio (95% confidence interval)] indicated that the common significant predictors for TC in the three countries were TC among friends [1.9 (1.30-2.89) for Bangladesh, 4.10 (2.64-6.38) for Nepal, 2.34 (1.36-4.02) for Sri Lanka], exposure to smoking at home [1.7 (1.02-2.81) for Bangladesh, 1.81 (1.08-2.79) for Nepal, 3.96 (1.82-8.62) for Sri Lanka], exposure to smoking at other places [2.67 (1.59-4.47) for Bangladesh, 5.22 (2.76-9.85) for Nepal, 1.76 (1.05-2.88) for Sri Lanka], and the teaching of smoking hazards in schools [0.56 (0.38-0.84) for Bangladesh, 0.60 (0.41-0.89) for Nepal, 0.58 (0.35-0.94) for Sri Lanka].

CONCLUSIONS:
An understanding of the influencing factors of youth TC provides helpful insights for the formulation of tobacco control policies in the South-Asian region.

Matched MeSH terms: Adolescent Health Services
Fulltext Adolescent health services: do they address the needs of the adolescents - an experience in Barat Daya, Penang

Saraswathi, B.R.

Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 2004;4(1):59-65.
MyJurnal

A cross sectional study was carried amongst adolescent school children in Barat Daya, in 2000. This was to determine the characteristic features of adolescents in the district and to look into their sexual activities, substance use and psychosocial problems with the aim to plan an appropriate adolescent health program. Some 400 students from Form 2 and Form 4 were selected by purposive stratifed and systematic sampling. The study was carried out by trained nurses with an interview using a structured questionnaire. The majority of the respondents were Malays (78.8%) with a household income of less than RM2, 000.00 per if month. Family relations and parental influence were found to be strong. Mental health characteristics scored negatively significantly in this study and those particularly at risk were those who performed poorly in schools. Most claimed not to be involved in high risk behaviour though they knew of friends who did so. Adolescent health services in the district should take an integrated approach with other stakeholders. Health information should be easily available and focus should be given to poor achievers in school.

Matched MeSH terms: Adolescent Health Services
Fulltext Do adolescents attending Bandar Mas primary care clinic consult health professionals for their common health problems?

Khairani O, Zaiton S, Faridah MN

Med J Malaysia, 2005 Jun;60(2):134-9.
PMID: 16114152

The aims of the study were to determine the prevalence of the common health problems namely acne, overweight, smoking and depressive symptoms among adolescents attending a primary healthcare clinic, whether they seek treatment for these problems and the reasons for not consulting health professionals. It was a clinic-based, crosssectional study. All adolescents aged 13 to 20 years who attended the clinic during the study period were included in the study. The respondents were given self-administered questionnaires and their weights were measured to assess if they had the above disorders. A total of 215 adolescents were included in the study. The proportion of adolescents who had acne were 70.7%, overweight 8.9%, smoking 41.9% and depressive symptoms 9.8%. Only 25% of those who had acne, 47% of those who were overweight, 9.5% who had depressive symptoms and none of those who smoked had ever sought treatment for these problems. The common reasons given for not consulting the health professionals were 'did not consider it as a problem', 'shy' and 'thought there was no treatment available'. The majority of the adolescents who attended the clinic did not consult health professionals the above common health problems. It is important to educate them on these disorders and encourage health-seeking behaviour in adolescents.

Matched MeSH terms: Adolescent Health Services/organization & administration*
Fulltext Adolescent health problems and adolescent friendly health clinic from adolescents’ perspective (Besut and Kuala Terengganu): a qualitative research

Hassan N, A. Rahman K, Aris Kasah M, Jusoh M

Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 2002;2(2):9-14.
MyJurnal

A qualitative research was carried out in Besut and Kuala Terengganu to identyy adolescents’ health problems and needs jiom adolescent perspective, and to establish a priority area in the development of Adolescent Health Clinic in the district. A total of 61 adolescents were selected and divided into four groups and stratified according to age, 13-15 years old and 16 - 17 years old. Generally all participants wished to live in an environment free hom negative health risk factors. The obstacles they perceived were mainly related to lack of care or too much control by their parents. Some of them perceived that their parents in general had inadequate knowledge and skills on parenting. Among local behavioural problems mentioned were loafing, running away from home, vandalism, school absenteeism, aggressive behaviour, substance abuse, pre-marital sexual activities, "bohsia", “bohjan" and even involvement in crimes. More than hah' agreed that counselling service is important for adolescents, and it should be made available in the community preferably outside the schools. They perceived an adolescent friendly health clinic concept as an important concept that should be introduced. To them adolescent friendly health clinic is a clinic run by professionals who are knowledgeable, caring, good listeners, non—judgemental, and who exercise confidentiality. The clinic preferably should be situated in a location which is away from the present health facilities to avoid the image of a place for sick people. Clinic hours preferably during weekends, should provide appropriate technologies and situated in a comfortable ambience. Adolescent participation in the clinic was also mentioned as an important entity for adolescent friendly health services.

Matched MeSH terms: Adolescent Health Services
Fulltext Body weight status of school adolescents in Terengganu, Malaysia: a population baseline study

Ahmad A, Zulaily N, Abdul Manan NS, Shahril MR, Syed Saadun Tarek Wafa SW, Mohd Amin R, et al.

BMC Public Health, 2017 01 05;17(1):9.
PMID: 28056904 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-016-3911-2

BACKGROUND: Body weight is highly associated with overall health status. Being severely thin or obese may impose the risk of many health problems. Early detection of body mass index (BMI) status may help to reduce the associated comorbidities. Although many studies in the literature have investigated the BMI of school adolescents in Malaysia, the data on status of body weight among school adolescents in suburban states like Terengganu is limited. This study aimed to describe the body weight status of the whole population of school adolescents in all seven districts in Terengganu, Malaysia.
METHODS: Using a cross-sectional study design, body weight and height were measured, and BMI was calculated and classified using WHO BMI-for-age Z-score. Data was obtained using the National Fitness Standard (SEGAK) assessment, which was uploaded in a specific Health Monitoring System (HEMS).
RESULTS: From a total of 62,567 school adolescents, 50.7% were boys and 49.3% were girls. Girls had significantly higher BMI than boys in age groups of 13 to 15 and 16 to 17 years old. Among boys and girls, there were significant differences in mean BMI of school adolescents between rural and urban school locations in all age groups (p

Matched MeSH terms: Adolescent Health Services