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Fulltext A systematic review on noncommunicable diseases among working women

Idris IB, Azit NA, Abdul Ghani SR, Syed Nor SF, Mohammed Nawi A

Ind Health, 2021 Aug 17;59(3):146-160.
PMID: 33551443 DOI: 10.2486/indhealth.2020-0204

The increasing involvement of women in the paid-labor market has led to multifactorial exposure towards the development of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). This review aims to identify the prevalence of NCDs and the associated risk factors among working women. A systematic review was performed using PubMed and Scopus databases. Twelve articles published between 2015 and 2019 satisfied the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were selected for qualitative synthesis. Among working women, the prevalence of NCDs was as follows: coronary heart disease, 0.3%-5.9%; metabolic syndrome, 52.0%; diabetes mellitus, 8.9%-16.0%; hypertension, 16.6%-66.4%; non-skin cancer, 3.7%. The prevalence of NCD risk factors was as follows: overweight/obesity, 33.8%-77.0%; low physical activity, 51.0%; unhealthy diet, 44.9%-69.9%; dyslipidemia, 27.8%-44.0%. The factors associated with NCDs were long working hours, double work burden, and stress. NCD is an important burden of working women that will lead to reduced work quality and affect family well-being. Disease prevention approaches, such as the intervention of common workplace risk factors and specific work schedule design, are among the strategies for improving the situation.

Matched MeSH terms: Women, Working*
Fulltext Relationship between selected health problems and exposures among women semiconductor workers in Malaysia

Chee HL, Rampal KG

Med J Malaysia, 2003 Aug;58(3):387-98.
PMID: 14750379

A study conducted between 1998-2001 on the semiconductor industry in Penang and Selangor found that irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea and stress were identified as the three leading health problems by women workers from a checklist of 16 health problems. After adjusting for confounding factors, including age, working duration in current factory, and marital status, in a multiple logistic regression model, wafer polishing workers were found to experience significantly higher odds of experiencing irregular menstruation. Dysmenorrhea was found to be significantly associated with chemical usage and poor ventilation, while stress was found to be related to poor ventilation, noise and low temperatures.

Matched MeSH terms: Women, Working*
Multinational corporations, the politics of the world economy, and their effects on women's health in the developing world: a review

Hippert C

Health Care Women Int, 2002 Dec;23(8):861-9.
PMID: 12487701

Presently, globalization and the world economy maintain power relations that hamper the economic integrity and the political autonomy of the developing world. My paper addresses specific economic conditions that perpetuate poverty and poor health. I examine multinational corporations and their effects on women's health, particularly in Mexico and parts of Asia. The advent of multinational corporate business in Mexico, Malaysia, Philippines, India, and Indonesia has led to increased poverty and human rights abuses. Women bear the brunt of this because of specific international economic arrangements and their low social status, both locally and globally. As a result, their physical, mental, and emotional health is suffering. Solutions to these health problems have been proposed on multiple levels: international top-down approaches (i.e., employing international protectionist regulatory standards, exposing multinationals who infringe on their workers' human rights), as well as local grassroots organizational campaigns (i.e., conducting informational human rights workshops for factory workers). Ultimately, the answers lie in holding corporations accountable to their laborers while developing countries maintain their comparative advantage; this is the only way women's health will improve and the developing world can entice corporate investment.

Matched MeSH terms: Women, Working*
Fulltext Working mothers' breastfeeding experience: a phenomenology qualitative approach

Ahmad RS, Sulaiman Z, Nik Hussain NH, Mohd Noor N

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth, 2022 Jan 31;22(1):85.
PMID: 35100980 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-021-04304-4

BACKGROUND: Breastfeeding practice is influenced by the mother's attitude toward and knowledge of breastfeeding. Working mothers face many challenges and need support to maintain breastfeeding. This study aimed to explore working mothers' breastfeeding experiences and challenges that can influenced their practices.
METHODS: The qualitative phenomenological approach involving working mothers in Kota Bharu who fulfilled the inclusion criteria and consented to participate in the study were recruited using purposive sampling. Sixteen participants aged 24 to 46 years were interviewed using semi-structured in-depth interviews in the study. All interviews were recorded in digital audio, transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic analysis.
FINDINGS: Three main themes emerged from the data analysis: perception of breastfeeding, challenges in breastfeeding, and support for breastfeeding. Two subthemes for perceptions were perception towards breastfeeding and towards infant formula. Challenges had two subthemes too which were related to perceived insufficient milk and breastfeeding difficulty. Where else, two subthemes for support were internal support (spouse and family) and external support (friends, employer, and healthcare staff).
CONCLUSIONS: Maintaining breastfeeding after return to work is challenging for working mothers and majority of them need support to continue breastfeeding practice. Support from their spouses and families' influences working mothers' decision to breastfeed. Employers play a role in providing a support system and facilities in the workplace for mothers to express and store breast milk. Both internal and external support are essential for mothers to overcome challenges in order to achieve success in breastfeeding.

Matched MeSH terms: Women, Working/psychology*
Fulltext Family-friendly work conditions and well-being among Malaysian women

Mat Pozian N, Miller YD, Mays J

Womens Health (Lond), 2024;20:17455057241233113.
PMID: 38426373 DOI: 10.1177/17455057241233113

BACKGROUND: Although participation in paid work improves women's quality of life and well-being, the health benefits decline for women with young children. Implementing family-friendly work conditions is one strategy for improving working women's well-being, especially those with competing unpaid work responsibilities.
OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the extent to which accessibility and use of 11 specific family-friendly work conditions were associated with physical health, anxiety and depression in Malaysian women with young children.
DESIGN: A cross-sectional design using a retrospective self-complete, anonymous, online survey was conducted between March and October 2021.
METHODS: Women with a child aged 5 years or less (N = 190) completed an online survey measuring their exposure (availability and use) to 11 specific family-friendly work conditions, and their physical health, anxiety, and depression. The sample included women who were currently and recently working and with both formal and informal employment.
RESULTS: After accounting for potential confounders, women who used paid maternity leave have a lower likelihood of having anxiety symptoms.
CONCLUSION: Future research is needed to extend the findings from this study by over-sampling women who are informally employed and not currently working. Policy creation and development processes, including research and decision-making, should be led by and inclusive of women. For example, research funding could be allocated to 'lived experience' research that privileges the co-design of research with consumers. Based on these findings, the extent to which family-friendly work conditions fulfill their intent to improve the well-being for working women requires further critique.

Matched MeSH terms: Women, Working*
Predictors of Work-Family Role Conflict and Its Impact on Professional Women in Medicine, Engineering, and Information Technology in Nigeria

Uzoigwe AG, Low WY, Noor SN

Asia Pac J Public Health, 2016 Oct;28(7):629-637.
PMID: 27637552 DOI: 10.1177/1010539516667782

This study examines work-family role conflict and the factors predicting it, with a sample of 173 professional women in engineering and information technology (IT) firms, including 2 hospitals-1 public and 1 private. Our findings show no significant difference in the level of work-family role conflict encountered by women across medicine, engineering, and IT, whereas hours of work, family responsibilities, job demand, and work role overload were significantly correlated with work-family role conflict. Multiple linear regression analysis indicates that only work role overload, family responsibilities, and hours of work significantly predicted 45.9% of work-family role conflict. This implies that working women are burdened by work demands, which invariably affects the work-family role conflict they experience and leads to deterioration of their occupational health. It is suggested that employers should create a flexible work schedule and establish family-friendly policies in the workplace to promote a healthy work-life balance for women in science careers.

Matched MeSH terms: Women, Working/psychology*; Women, Working/statistics & numerical data
Fulltext A Heideggerian hermeneutic study: Malaysian Chinese women’s expectations and lived experiences of childbirth

Lee Na

Int J Public Health Res, 2011;1(2):131-138.
MyJurnal

Pregnancy and childbirth are generally regarded as a turning point for women even though it is not an illness. This is because the physiological and psychosocial adaptation can bring about stress and anxiety. Ontologically a pregnant woman is not merely an object that can be classified as a
primigravida or according to her obstetric condition. The contention is that she is also a daughter, a working woman, and a wife with her past, present and future. All these determine who she is and influence how she thinks, acts, feels and behaves during childbirth (Polt, 1999). This journal is about Heideggerian hermeneutic study: Malaysian Chinese women’s expectations and lived experiences of childbirth.

Matched MeSH terms: Women, Working
Gender, migration, and career trajectories in Malaysia

Chattopadhyay A

Demography, 1998 Aug;35(3):335-44.
PMID: 9749325

With data from the Malaysian Family Life Survey, I use a continuous-state hazards model to study the impact of migration on the dynamics of individuals' careers. I distinguish between the effects of family migration and solo migration by gender. The results show that migration alters the career trajectory primarily by accelerating the process of occupational mobility rather than by increasing the level of occupational attainment. Further, the effect of migration on careers varies by type of migration, especially for women. Male-female differences in the outcome of family migration, however, are visible only in transitions into and out of employment.

Matched MeSH terms: Women, Working/statistics & numerical data*
Fulltext Work-family conflict among married professional women in Malaysia

Ahmad A

J Soc Psychol, 1996 Oct;136(5):663-5.
PMID: 8942323 DOI: 10.1080/00224545.1996.9714054
Matched MeSH terms: Women, Working/psychology*
Fulltext Work-family conflict, work- and family-role salience, and women's well-being

Noor NM

J Soc Psychol, 2004 Aug;144(4):389-405.
PMID: 15279329 DOI: 10.3200/SOCP.144.4.389-406

The author considered both the direct effect and the moderator effect of role salience in the stress-strain relationship. In contrast to previous studies that have examined the effects of salience on well-being within specific social roles, the present study focused on the work-family interface. From a sample of 147 employed English women with children, the present results of the regression analyses showed that both effects are possible, depending on the outcome measures used. The author observed a direct effect of role salience in the prediction of job satisfaction; work salience was positively related to job satisfaction, over and above the main-effect terms of work-interfering-with-family (WIF) conflict and family-interfering-with-work (FIW) conflict. In contrast, the author found a moderator effect of role salience and conflict for symptoms of psychological distress. However, contrary to predictions, the author found that work salience exacerbated the negative impact of WIF conflict, rather than FIW conflict, on well-being. The author discussed these results in relation to the literature on work-family conflict, role salience, and the issue of stress-strain specificity.

Matched MeSH terms: Women, Working/psychology*
Fulltext Knowledge and practice of breast self examination and Pap smear screening among a group of electronics women workers

Chee HL, Rashidah S, Shamsuddin K, Sharifah Zainiyah SY

Med J Malaysia, 2003 Aug;58(3):320-9.
PMID: 14750370

A total of 486 Malaysian women electronics workers participated in a study of reproductive health knowledge and cancer screening. The practice of Breast Self Examination (BSE) was found to be related to educational attainment; while ever having had a Pap smear was found to be related to being older than 30 years old, being ever married, living with family or relatives, and not staying in hostels. Knowledge on reproductive health was found to be higher for older women, married women, living with family or relatives, not staying in hostels, ever having done BSE and ever having had a Pap smear.

Matched MeSH terms: Women, Working*
Timing of return to work and women's breastfeeding practices in urban Malaysia: A qualitative study

Sulaiman Z, Liamputtong P, Amir LH

Health Soc Care Community, 2018 01;26(1):48-55.
PMID: 28560792 DOI: 10.1111/hsc.12460

Nearly half of the working population in Malaysia are women, and with only a short period of maternity leave, they may struggle to achieve the recommended 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding. The aim of this paper was to explore the relationship between the timing of return to work and beliefs and breastfeeding practices among women in urban Malaysia. A qualitative inquiry based on a phenomenological framework and multiple methods was used: face-to-face interview, participant diary and researcher field notes. Data collection took place in Penang and the Klang Valley, Malaysia, from March to September 2011. Eligible participants were purposely identified at randomly selected recruitment sites. A thematic analysis method was used to develop the typologies and categories of the findings. A total of 40 working women with a mean age of 32 years (SD 3.4) were interviewed and 15 participated in the diary writing. Most women (75%) returned to work between 2 and 3 months. Only 10% returned to work 4 months or later postpartum, and 15% had an early return to work (defined here as less than 2 months). The women fell into three groups: Passionate women with a strong determination to breastfeed, who exclusively breastfed for 6 months; Ambivalent women, who commenced breastfeeding but were unable to sustain this after returning to work; and Equivalent women, who perceived formula feeding as equally nutritious as breast milk. Although longer maternity leave was very important for Ambivalent women to maintain breastfeeding, it was not as important for the Equivalent or Passionate women. In conclusion, returning earlier was not an absolute barrier to continuing breastfeeding. Instead, a woman's beliefs and perceptions of breastfeeding were more important than the timing of her return to work in determining her ability to maintain breastfeeding or breast milk feeding.

Matched MeSH terms: Women, Working/psychology*
Fulltext Socio-demographic and psychosocial factors associated with physical activity of working woman in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia

Siti Affira K, Mohd Nasir MT, Hazizi AS, Kandiah M

Malays J Nutr, 2011 Dec;17(3):315-24.
PMID: 22655453

This study was conducted on 215 working women from four private corporate companies in a suburb in Malaysia to determine the factors related to their physical activity levels.

Matched MeSH terms: Women, Working/psychology*
Fulltext Prevalence of nontraumatic foot pain among urban young working women and its contributing factors

Chua YP, Tan WJ, Yahya TS, Saw A

Singapore Med J, 2013 Nov;54(11):630-3.
PMID: 24276099

INTRODUCTION: Foot pain is a common problem, especially in women, and studies have shown that it is related to footwear. This study was conducted to establish the prevalence of nontraumatic foot pain and its contributing factors in young working Malaysian women in an urban setting.

METHODS: The survey was conducted on a group of working women (age range 21-40 years) selected using convenience sampling. Data on foot problems was collected through an investigator-directed questionnaire and during clinical inspection of the foot.

RESULTS: A total of 400 women, with a mean age of 29.4 years, were recruited. Half (n = 200) of the women had experienced recurrent nontraumatic foot pain in the past one year. Subjective assessments of foot pain using the Numeric Intensity Scale gave an average score of 4.89 ± 1.78 (range 2-10), with most episodes occurring at the heel. There was no statistically significant association between foot pain and age, ethnicity or body mass index. However, there was a higher incidence of foot pain in women wearing high-heeled footwear than those wearing non-high-heeled footwear (p = 0.027, odds ratio 1.591).

CONCLUSION: Nontraumatic foot pain is common among young working women in our society. More than half (68.4%) of the women with foot pain in our study attributed the pain to footwear. Wearing high-heeled shoes to work was a significant contributing factor. Increased public awareness on the importance of proper footwear may help to reduce the prevalence of nontraumatic foot pain in working women.

Matched MeSH terms: Women, Working/statistics & numerical data*
Nutritional evaluation of working Malay women in Kuala Lumpur as studied by total food duplicate method

Shimbo S, Moon CS, Zhang ZW, Watanabe T, Ismail NH, Ali RM, et al.

Tohoku J Exp Med, 1996 Oct;180(2):99-114.
PMID: 9111760

Nutrient intake was surveyed by the total food duplicate method in 49 adult ethnically Malay women (at the ages of 18 to 47 years and mostly at 30-39 years) working in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Simultaneously, hematological examinations, serum biochemistry, anthropometry and clinical examination were conducted. Nutrient intakes were estimated in reference to the weight of each food item and the standard food composition tables. Lunch was the most substantial meal of the day with rice as a staple food. Compared with the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) values, daily intakes of energy (1,917 kcal as an arithmetic mean), protein (62.2 g), vitamin B1 (0.83 mg) and vitamin B2 (1.18 mg) were sufficient, but intakes of minerals [i.e., calcium (347.8 mg) and iron (12.5 mg)] and some vitamins [i.e., vitamin A (equivalent to 627 micrograms retinol) and niacin (7.84 mg)] were less than RDA. When evaluated on an individual basis, the prevalence of those who took less than 80% RDA was highest for iron (92%), followed by niacin (80%), calcium (57%) and vitamin A (57%). The presence of 7 hypohemoglobinemia cases may be related to the insufficient iron intake. Overweight cases (14 women) were also detected, the prevalence of which increased at advanced ages. Lipid intake was rather high (28% of total food on energy basis), for which the major source was plants with limited contribution from fish/shellfish.

Matched MeSH terms: Women, Working*
Fulltext Socio-demographic and psychosocial factors associated with physical activity of working woman in Petaling Jaya,Malaysia

Siti Affira, K., Mohd Nasir, M.T., Hazizi, A.S., Kandiah, M.

Malays J Nutr, 2011;17(3):315-324.
MyJurnal

Introduction: This study was conducted on 215 working women from four private corporate companies in a suburb in Malaysia to determine the factors related to their physical activity levels. Methods: Data were collected using a questionnaire which included socio-demographic characteristics, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), perceived barriers and benefits to physical activity, self-efficacy to physical activity and an 8-item questionnaire on current
behavioral stage of physical activity. Results: The majority of the respondents were Malay (81.9%) with 10.2% being Chinese and 7.9% Indian. Most of the respondents were executives (64.2%), while the rest were non-executives (24.7%) and managers (11.2%). The mean weight, height, BMI and waist circumference were 59.4±13.1 kg, 1.6±0.6 m, 23.7±4.8 kg/m² and 77.0±12.1cm respectively. In this sample, 24.7% and 7.9% were overweight and obese respectively, while 34%
were at risk of abdominal obesity. A total of 28.8% of the respondents had low physical activity level, while 48.8% and 22.3% were in the moderate and high physical activity categories respectively. An association was found between monthly income (χ2=110.17; p

Matched MeSH terms: Women, Working
Fulltext Prevalence of Psychological Distress and Depressive Disorders among Married Working Women in Malaysia

Umi Adzlin, S., Marhani, M., salina, A.A., Ruzanna, Z., Rosdinom, R., Rozhan Sharif, M.R., et al.

Malaysian Journal of Psychiatry, 2011;20(1):1-12.
MyJurnal

This two-phase study examined the prevalence of depressive disorders among married working women in a sub-urban area in Malaysia. The Malay version of the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12) was used for initial screening. Using multistage cluster sampling, there were 700 subjects from 25 workplaces that were approached, of which 307 filled out GHQ-12 in the initial phase. The prevalence of psychological distress (GHQ 2/3 cut off) is 22.8% (n=70, 95% CI 18.1-27.5). In the second phase, all 49 consenting patients who were screened positive for severe psychological distress (GHQ 3/4 cut off point) were telephone-interviewed by a trained psychiatrist with the Malay version of Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I) to diagnose depressive disorders. The prevalence of depressive disorders was 5.5% (n=17, 95% CI 3.5-7.5). The prevalence of depressive disorders is comparable to those found in the working population worldwide.

Matched MeSH terms: Women, Working
Fulltext Weight loss practice using physical activity among working women in Klang Valley, Malaysia

Sena Abdullah Abdul Jabbar Al-Qalah, Hasanain Faisal Ghazi, Zaleha Md.Isa, Norimah A. Karim

Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 2014;14(3):0-0.
MyJurnal

An increase in physical activity is a key component for effective weight loss. It helps to control weight loss by using excess calories as well as boosting metabolism and lowering insulin levels. Physical activity also helps prevent many chronic diseases and improve the overall human health. The objective of this study was to assess weight loss practice using physical activity strategies among working women in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. A total of 639 adult Malaysian working women were screened and 120 respondents were identified based on their experience of losing at least 10% of their highest lifetime body weight, which is a criterion for successful weight-loss. Self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information from 120 successful weight loss respondents. Physical activity was measured by using International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) short version. Results showed that 35.8% of women had low physical activity level; slightly above than one third of women (38.3%) had moderate activity level, while 25.8% women had high physical activity level.The most common physical activity monitoring strategies implemented were exercise at least 30 minutes per day (22.5%) and incorporate physical activity into daily life (21.7%). A total of 70.8% women regained weight after significant weight loss. A total of 40.0% who regained weight as compared to 25.7% of those who did not regain weight were physically inactive (p=0.138). There was no statistically significant different in daily sitting time between the two groups (p=0.627). As a conclusion, government working women in Kuala Lumpur have low to moderate physical activity levels. Majority women regained weight after significant weight loss. Common strategies to lose weight are exercise at least 30 minutes per day and incorporate physical activity into daily life. More education and promotion regarding the importance of physical activity should be done to all community members especially to the government working women.

Matched MeSH terms: Women, Working
Fulltext Work engagement among breast cancer survivors: are they less engaged in their work?

Zoharah Omar, Roohangiz Karimi, Nor Azida Nayan, Najwa Haneem Mohamad, Nor Aina Emran

Int J Public Health Res, 2014;4(2):457-464.
MyJurnal

Introduction This study investigates work engagement of employed breast cancer
survivors in comparison to unmatched control samples of healthy working
women without cancer and any other chronic diseases from the general
population.

Methods A case-control study design using unmatched controls was adopted in this
study. The case comprised of 80 female breast cancer survivors who have
returned to full-time employment selected using purposive sampling
technique. Meanwhile, controls were 88 healthy female working women in
full time paid employment, selected using quota sampling. Questionnaire
covering socio-demographic characteristics and self-rated work engagement
measured using Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES) was distributed to
the cancer survivors through face-to-face meeting during their hospital visits.
For the healthy controls the questionnaires were distributed using drop-andcollect
method through the human resource personnel of the participating
organization.

Results The results revealed, after controlling for age, marital status, ethnic group and
tenure with organization, no significant differences in the overall work
engagement was found between the breast cancer survivors [mean (SD) =
4.66 (0.92)] and the healthy controls [mean (SD) = 4.75 (0.85)]; F(1, 163)
=1.70. In comparison to the work engagement domains, only the Vigor
domain was found to be significantly lower for the survivors, survivors [F (1,
163) =14.94; p

Matched MeSH terms: Women, Working
Work and women's well-being: religion and age as moderators

Noor NM

J Relig Health, 2008 Dec;47(4):476-90.
PMID: 19093675

Religion has been found to moderate the stress-strain relationship. This moderator role, however, may be dependent on age. The present study tested for the three-way interaction between work experience, age, and religiosity in the prediction of women's well-being, and predicted that work experience and religiosity will combine additively in older women, while in younger women religiosity is predicted to moderate the relationship between work experience and well-being. In a sample of 389 married Malay Muslim women, results of the regression analyses showed significant three-way interactions between work experience, age, and religiosity in the prediction of well-being (measured by distress symptoms and life satisfaction). While in younger women the results were in line with the predictions made, in the older women, both additive and moderator effects of religiosity were observed, depending on the well-being measures used. These results are discussed in relation to the literature on work and family, with specific reference to women's age, religion, as well as the issue of stress-strain specificity.

Matched MeSH terms: Women, Working/psychology*

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