MyMedR

A sexual health course was offered and taught by academic staff from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya during semester II of every year as a university elective course to other university students apart from medical students. The course covered a wide range of topics: adolescent sexuality, family planning and pregnancy, violence against women, alternative sexual behavior, physiology of sex, sex and the disabled, gender bias in sexuality, relationship and marriage, sexual dysfunctions, clarification of sexual attitudes and STDs and AIDS. The Sexual Knowledge and Attitude Test (SKAT-II) was used to measure students' pre- and post-course scores on sexual knowledge and attitudes. Fifty-four students who completed both the pre- and post-course tests showed a significant change in sexual knowledge and their attitudes towards sexual myths and autoeroticism. Sexual knowledge was also positively correlated with age, heterosexual relations, autoeroticism and sexual myths scores. However, sexual knowledge is negatively related to religiosity and the influence of religious beliefs on one's attitudes towards sexual matters. This study showed that the sexual health course offered does have a positive impact in increasing one's knowledge and changing one's attitudes towards sexual issues.

Matched MeSH terms: Folklore

Malay customs in relation to childbirth

Kuah KB

Med J Malaya, 1972 Dec;27(2):81-4.

PMID: 4268044

Matched MeSH terms: Folklore

Indigenous Malay psychotherapy

Chen PC

Trop Geogr Med, 1970 Dec;22(4):409-15.

PMID: 5497375

Matched MeSH terms: Folklore

Fulltext The traditional practice in the hospital setting: what are the ethical implications?

Rosnani Zakaria, Muzaimi Mustapha, Tengku Alina Tengku Ismail, Bella Puvok, Kamarul Aryffin Baharuddin, Mohd Suhaimi Ab Wahab, et al.

Education in Medicine Journal, 2015;7(4):68-72.

MyJurnal

Myth, believe in powerful ‘being’ commonly known as jinn and usage of ‘bomoh’ as the medium is still widespread in our community in Kelantan especially among the Malay community. This believe and practice of usin ‘bomoh’ to cure and help with known and unknown disease believe to be caused by the jinn, occasionally poses a significant complication and threat to the management of patient in the hospital. Our case is just one of many cases that happen in our local hospital, and we hope by sharing this case will illustrate how ethical discussion occasionally surpassed the four common ethical pillars.

Matched MeSH terms: Folklore

The traditional birth attendant and neonatal tetanus: the Malaysian experience

Chen PC

J Trop Pediatr Environ Child Health, 1976 Dec;22(6):263-4.

PMID: 1051832

Matched MeSH terms: Folklore*

An analysis of customs related to childbirth in rural Malay culture

Chen PC

Trop Geogr Med, 1973 Jun;25(2):197-204.

PMID: 4717277

Matched MeSH terms: Folklore*

Potential transmission of hymenolepiasis by a practice of Malaysian Chinese folk medicine

Sullivan JT, Palmieri JP, Chu GS

J Parasitol, 1977 Feb;63(1):172.

PMID: 845735

Matched MeSH terms: Folklore*

Fulltext Attitude towards rape: a comparative study among prospective physicians of Malaysia

Sivagnanam G, Bairy KL, D'Souza U

Med J Malaysia, 2005 Aug;60(3):286-93.

PMID: 16379181 MyJurnal

The global statistics reveal that at least one in every five women experiences rape or attempted rape during her lifetime. Rape myths encompass a set of (false) beliefs. Adolescents have high rates of rape victimization than other age groups. Rape myths among health care providers may have a negative influence on proper care of the victims. A total of 422 medical undergraduates of both sexes, studying at two Malaysian Institutes took part in the study. A validated questionnaire used in an earlier study was used for the present study, with a slight modification of scoring system. The age range of medical students was 17 to 34 years: mean +/- SD of men and women, were 20.6 +/- 2.1 and 20.3 +/- 2 respectively. Only about 19% of women and 11% of men had a very good positive attitude. Nearly 1/3 of women and 1/2 of men had a more negative attitude. On the whole the average total score of women was significantly higher (p=0.0004) than men. Nearly 50% of candidates with a village background carried more negative attitude. Violence against women is a significant public health problem. The major revelation of the present study is that only less than 20% of the medical undergraduates had a more positive attitude towards rape. Introduction of courses on 'sexual violence' in medical curriculum is likely to increase a) awareness, b) skills in management, c) in providing support and care for the victims and d) in implementing preventive actions.

Matched MeSH terms: Folklore

The ambiguity of symbols in the structure of healing

Laderman C

Soc Sci Med, 1987;24(4):293-301.

PMID: 2436303 DOI: 10.1016/0277-9536(87)90148-1

In his article, 'The Effectiveness of Symbols,' Lévi-Strauss contends that the details of a Cuna birth incantation evoke specific physiological responses from parturient women, aiding them through difficult labors. His argument, which analyzes the incantation as a text divorced from its social setting, has drawn criticism from students of Cuna society on a number of substantive points, primarily centering around the difficulties that the special linguistic form of ritual language would present to a non-adept. If the patient lacks a thorough comprehension of the mythic details, how can the incantation change her physiological processes? In an attempt to evaluate the effect of myth upon a woman in labor, this article calls upon Cuna and Malay ethnographic data, and presents a Malay birth incantation as interpreted by the ritual practitioner who recited it. Following a discussion of the non-semantic aspects of the incantation and the extent to which the patient shares the interpretation of the healer in both the Malay and Cuna societies, recent biomedical studies are cited in support of hypotheses concerning the physiological and biochemical effects of myth in the management of childbirth.

Matched MeSH terms: Folklore

Investigation of phytochemical composition and enzyme inhibitory potential of Anagallis arvensis L

Saleem H, Zengin G, Locatelli M, Abidin SAZ, Ahemad N

Nat Prod Res, 2021 Feb 08.

PMID: 33550873 DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2021.1880404

Anagallis arvensis L. commonly known as 'Scarlet Pimpernel' has been used in folklore as natural remedy for treating common ailments. The present research is aimed to explore the phytochemical composition and enzyme inhibition potential of methanol and dichloromethane (DCM) extracts of A. arvensis aerial and root parts. The phytochemical composition was established via HPLC-PDA polyphenolic quantification and UHPLC-MS analysis, while the inhibition potential against amylase and tyrosinase enzymes were assessed using standard in vitro protocols. The HPLC-PDA polyphenolic quantification revealed the presence of important compounds including catechin, gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, and ferulic acid, whereas 34 different secondary metabolites were tentatively identified by UHPLC-MS of both the DCM extracts. All the extracts showed moderate tyrosinase and a weak amylase inhibition activity. The aerial-DCM extract showed comparatively higher tyrosinase and amylase enzyme inhibition potential, which may be due to the presence of secondary metabolites as tentatively identified by its UHPLC-MS profiling.

Matched MeSH terms: Folklore

Phytochemistry, cytotoxicity and antiviral activity of Catharanthus roseus

Wahab NZA, Azizul A, Ibrahim N

Iran J Microbiol, 2020 Oct;12(5):460-465.

PMID: 33604002 DOI: 10.18502/ijm.v12i5.4608

Background and Objectives: Catharanthus roseus is generally used to treat many diseases in folklore remedies. The present study is aimed at determining phytochemical constituents, cytotoxicity and antiviral activities for crude extract of the plant.

Materials and Methods: The whole plant of C. roseus was extracted using methanol extraction method. Phytochemical qualitative screening was carried out for C. roseus extract according to standard procedures used to test for the presence of alkaloid, saponin, terpenoid and steroid. Cytotoxicity was assessed using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Plaque reduction assays were carried out to evaluate the antiviral activity of C. roseus extract against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). These include post-treatment, pre-treatment and virucidal assays.

Results: C. roseus extract contain secondary metabolites such as alkaloid, saponin and terpenoid but does not contain steroid. Cytotoxicity screening against Vero cells using MTT assay showed that the CC50 values for crude extract of C. roseus was 0.5 mg/mL. The extract prepared from C. roseus possesses phytochemical compound that was non-cytotoxic to the cell with potential antiviral activity. Plaque reduction assays against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) showed that the selective indices (SI = CC50 / EC50) of C. roseus extract in post-treatment, pre-treatment and virucidal assays were 36, 20 and 4.7 respectively. The results revealed that the extract prepared from C. roseus possesses phytochemical compound that was non-cytotoxic to the cell with potential antiviral activity.

Conclusion: This study showed that C. roseus extract has promising potential to be explored as anti-HSV-1 agent regardless of the mode of treatment.

Matched MeSH terms: Folklore

Witch doctors

Williams C

Pediatrics, 1970 Sep;46(3):448-55.

PMID: 5454800

Matched MeSH terms: Folklore

Fulltext Effect of Zingiber officinale on spasm

Nadia, Hisamuddin, Nadhirah, Kamarudin, Mohd Roslan, Sulaiman, Wan Mastura, Shaik Mossadeq

The Pertanika Journal of Scholarly Research Reviews, 2019;5(1):27-36.

MyJurnal

Zingiberaceae is one of the largest plant families consisting of rhizomes that are commonly used as spice in soups and curries as well as alternative medications in folklore medicine. Zingiber officinale or commonly known as ginger is extensively employed in Asian, Ayurvedic, Chinese, and Arabian folklore medicine for the treatment of pain, inflammation and various spasm-associated gastric ailments. The past few decades saw rapid advancements in the extraction process of ginger bioactive constituents and validation of their corresponding pharmacodynamic and pharmacotherapeutic activities, and biological properties in vivo and in vitro. Results reported from several biological studies on ginger showed that extracts and compounds from this tuberous rhizome exhibit antiemetic, anticancer, antipyretic, antispasmogenic and antimicrobial activities. This article reviews the effect of Zingiber officinale and its bioactive constituents on isolated organ preparations from several species of animals in view of its potential use as an alternative treatment for muscle spasms and common gastric ailments.

Matched MeSH terms: Folklore

Fulltext Beliefs and practices of Chinese diabetic patients concerning the cause and treatment of their ill-health

Soong FS

Singapore Med J, 1971 Dec;12(6):309-13.

PMID: 5141587

Information on the beliefs and practices of 50 Chinese diabetic patients concerning the cause and treatment of their ill-health were collected by the interview method with the aid of a questiOnnaire which has been protested. it was found that 34 of the patients were using “Chinese” medicines, in addition to Western-style treatment. Only two of the patients knew the true cause of diabetes. 37 of the patients understood that treatment cannot effect a radical cure. The beliefs and practices of the diabetic patients were inﬂuenced by two main sources of information, the pattern of traditional Chinese beliefs and Western medicine. The implications of the study in community health education on diabetes and education of the diabetic patient were discussed.

Matched MeSH terms: Folklore

Fulltext Melastoma malabathricum (L.) Smith Ethnomedicinal Uses, Chemical Constituents, and Pharmacological Properties: A Review

Joffry SM, Yob NJ, Rofiee MS, Affandi MM, Suhaili Z, Othman F, et al.

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2012;2012:258434.

PMID: 22242040 DOI: 10.1155/2012/258434

Melastoma malabathricum L. (Melastomataceae) is one of the 22 species found in the Southeast Asian region, including Malaysia. Considered as native to tropical and temperate Asia and the Pacific Islands, this commonly found small shrub has gained herbal status in the Malay folklore belief as well as the Indian, Chinese, and Indonesian folk medicines. Ethnopharmacologically, the leaves, shoots, barks, seeds, and roots of M. malabathricum have been used to treat diarrhoea, dysentery, hemorrhoids, cuts and wounds, toothache, and stomachache. Scientific findings also revealed the wide pharmacological actions of various parts of M. malabthricum, such as antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, wound healing, antidiarrheal, cytotoxic, and antioxidant activities. Various types of phytochemical constituents have also been isolated and identifed from different parts of M. malabathricum. Thus, the aim of the present review is to present comprehensive information on ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemical constituents, and pharmacological activities of M. malabathricum.

Matched MeSH terms: Folklore

Fulltext Perceptions and myths regarding oral health care amongst strata of low socio economic community in Karachi, Pakistan

Khan SA, Dawani N, Bilal S

J Pak Med Assoc, 2012 Nov;62(11):1198-203.

PMID: 23866411

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of dental myths and perceived knowledge regarding oral healthcare practices and its associations with levels of education amongst low socioeconomic strata in Karachi, Pakistan.
METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted in January 2011. Two-staged random sampling was conducted to achieve a sample size of 576 participants from 8 union councils of Gadap Town, Karachi, Pakistan. An interview-based questionnaire was used to determine the participants' perceptions towards oral health and hygiene practices as well as the prevalence of common dental myths. The subjects were interviewed through a formulated questionnaire that was cross-translated into Urdu language.
RESULTS: Response rate from the participants was 550 (95.48%). Of the total, 270 (47%) respondents believed in the myth of tooth extraction affecting the eye vision. This was significantly associated with the socio-demography of the respondents. Besides, 421 (73%) thought that tooth extraction is not the ultimate remedy for pain relief and it was statistically significant with age and educational status of the participants. Those who considered bleeding while brushing to be normal were 144 (25%), and it was significantly associated with age and education level. Impact of oral health on general health was positively responded by 392 (68%), while 418 (72.5%) respondents did not think that the retention of baby teeth is important. Both these perceptions were significantly associated with age and level of education.
CONCLUSION: Pakistani population has considerable belief in myths and false perceptions regarding oral health issues. Various stakeholders should be involved to develop policies towards healthy attitudes and beliefs within the community towards their oral healthcare.

Matched MeSH terms: Folklore

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