MyMedR

Motorcycles are a common mode of transport for most Malaysians. Underbone motorcycles are one of the most common types of motorcycle used in Malaysia due to their affordable price and ease of use, especially in heavy traffic in the major cities. In Malaysia, it is common to see a young or child pillion rider clinging on to an adult at the front of the motorcycle. One of the main issues facing young pillion riders is that their safety is often not taken into account when they are riding on a motorcycle. This article reviews the legally available systems in child safety for underbone motorcycles in Malaysia while putting forth the need for a safety system for child pillion riders.

Matched MeSH terms: Wounds and Injuries/prevention & control

A game of Chinese whispers in Malaysia: contextual analysis of child road safety education

Puvanachandra P, Kulanthayan S, Hyder AA

Qual Health Res, 2012 Nov;22(11):1476-85.

PMID: 22910586 DOI: 10.1177/1049732312457245

In 2006, the Malaysian government began implementing road safety education (RSE) programs in primary schools, involving numerous stakeholders. We interviewed 19 stakeholders. Thematic analysis led to the identification of four themes: road traffic injuries (RTIs) among children in Malaysia, the role of RSE, factors affecting successful implementation, and intersectoral involvement. The latter was identified as a significant strength of the overall approach to implementation, and is one of the first examples in Malaysia and in the region of such an approach. Lack of official documentation surrounding ownership, funding responsibilities, and roles among the various sectors led to resistance from some groups. Although we know from scientific studies what works in terms of reducing RTIs, the more important question is how such interventions can be successfully and sustainably implemented, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). The results of this study permit stronger understanding of issues surrounding the implementation of RTI interventions in LMIC.

Matched MeSH terms: Wounds and Injuries/prevention & control*

Motorcycle safety programmes in Malaysia: how effective are they?

Radin Umar RS

Int J Inj Contr Saf Promot, 2006 Jun;13(2):71-9.

PMID: 16707342

This paper presents the approach taken by the Malaysian Government to contain motorcycle casualties in Malaysia. It involves the exposure control, crash prevention, behaviour modification and injury control related to humans, vehicles and the environment based on pre-crash, crash and post-crash scenarios of motorcycle accidents. These initiatives emanated mainly from the research and development carried out by the Road Safety Research Centre at Universiti Putra Malaysia. Recent outcomes from these initiatives are presented and their impact is highlighted.

Matched MeSH terms: Wounds and Injuries/prevention & control*

Mode choice model for vulnerable motorcyclists in Malaysia

Ibrahim Sheikh AK, Radin Umar RS, Habshah M, Kassim H, Stevenson M, Ahmed H

Traffic Inj Prev, 2006 Jun;7(2):150-4.

PMID: 16854709

In developing countries, motorcycle use has grown in popularity in the past decades. Commensurate with this growth is the increase in death and casualties among motorcyclists in these countries. One of the strategic programs to minimize this problem is to reduce motorcyclists exposure by shifting them into safer modes of transport. This study aims to explore the differences in the characteristics of bus and motorcycle users. It identifies the factors contributing to their choice of transport mode and estimates the probability that motorcyclists might change their travel mode to a safer alternative; namely, bus travel.

Matched MeSH terms: Wounds and Injuries/prevention & control*

Impact of the effect of economic crisis and the targeted motorcycle safety programme on motorcycle-related accidents, injuries and fatalities in Malaysia

Law TH, Umar RS, Zulkaurnain S, Kulanthayan S

Int J Inj Contr Saf Promot, 2005 Mar;12(1):9-21.

PMID: 15814371

In 1997, a Motorcycle Safety Programme (MSP) was introduced to address the motorcycle-related accident problem. The MSP was specifically targeted at motorcyclists. In addition to the MSP, the recent economic recession has significantly contributed to a reduction of traffic-related incidents. This paper examines the effects of the recent economic crisis and the MSP on motorcycle-related accidents, casualties and fatalities in Malaysia. The autocorrelation integrated moving average model with transfer function was used to evaluate the overall effects of the interventions. The variables used in developing the model were gross domestic product and MSPs. The analysis found a 25% reduction in the number of motorcycle-related accidents, a 27% reduction in motorcycle casualties and a 38% reduction in motorcycle fatalities after the implementation of MSP. Findings indicate that the MSP has been one of the effective measures in reducing motorcycle safety problems in Malaysia. Apart from that, the performance of the country's economy was also found to be significant in explaining the number of motorcycle-related accidents, casualties and fatalities in Malaysia.

Matched MeSH terms: Wounds and Injuries/prevention & control

Research to prevent injuries

Krishnan R, Karim H

World Health Forum, 1998;19(2):159-60.

PMID: 9652215

Matched MeSH terms: Wounds and Injuries/prevention & control*

Fulltext Safe travel--a worthwhile destination

Krishnan R

World Health Forum, 1992;13(2-3):163-4.

PMID: 1418328

Matched MeSH terms: Wounds and Injuries/prevention & control*

Ng CP, Law TH, Wong SV, Kulanthayan S

Accid Anal Prev, 2013 Jan;50:351-60.

PMID: 22633252 DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2012.05.004

The benefit of wearing a rear seatbelt in reducing the risk of motor vehicle crash-related fatalities and injuries has been well documented in previous studies. Wearing a seatbelt not only reduces the risk of injury to rear-seat passengers, but also reduces the risk of injury to front-seat occupant who could be crushed by unbelted rear-seat passengers in a motor vehicle crash. Despite the benefits of wearing a rear seatbelt, its rate of use in Malaysia is generally low. The objective of this study was to identify factors that are associated with the wearing of a seatbelt among rear-seat passengers in Malaysia. Multinomial logistic regression analysis of the results of a questionnaire survey of 1651 rear-seat passengers revealed that rear-seat passengers who were younger, male, single and less educated and who had a perception of a low level of legislation enforcement, a lower risk-aversion and less driving experience (only for passengers who are also drivers) were less likely to wear a rear seatbelt. There was also a significant positive correlation between driver seatbelt and rear seatbelt-wearing behaviour. This implies that, in regards to seatbelt-wearing behaviour, drivers are more likely to adopt the same seatbelt-wearing behaviour when travelling as rear-seat passengers as they do when driving. These findings are crucial to the development of new interventions to increase the compliance rate of wearing a rear seatbelt.

Matched MeSH terms: Wounds and Injuries/prevention & control*

Seat belt use in a developing country: covert noncompliance with a primary enforcement law in Malaysia

Hauswald M

Accid Anal Prev, 1997 Sep;29(5):695-7.

PMID: 9316717

Malaysia has strict laws requiring seat belt use by all vehicle occupants. However, neither passive devices nor inertial reel belts are mandated. Seat belt usage was investigated among 60 taxicab drivers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 1993. Although all drivers appeared to be restrained during an initial curb-side inspection, 60% did not fasten the latch. There was no statistical difference between ethnic groups. Curb-side estimates of restraint use may overestimate actual usage, resulting in falsely low estimates of effectiveness. Requiring inertial reel belts, which would retract if not latched, could greatly increase actual restraint use. This may be cost effective for developing nations.

Matched MeSH terms: Wounds and Injuries/prevention & control*

Fulltext Unintentional injury and its prevention in infant: knowledge and self-reported practices of main caregivers

Ramdzan SN, Liew SM, Khoo EM

BMC Pediatr, 2014;14:132.

PMID: 24885332 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2431-14-132

BACKGROUND:
Unintentional injuries are the major cause of morbidity and mortality in infants. Prevention of unintentional injuries has been shown to be effective with education. Understanding the level of knowledge and practices of caregivers in infant safety would be useful to identify gaps for improvement.

METHODS:
A cross-sectional study was conducted in an urban government health clinic in Malaysia among main caregivers of infants aged 11 to 15 months. Face-to-face interviews were conducted using a semi-structured self-designed questionnaire. Responses to the items were categorised by the percentage of correct answers: poor (<50%), moderate (50% - 70%) and good (>70%).

RESULTS:
A total of 403 caregivers participated in the study. Of the 21 items in the questionnaire on knowledge, 19 had good-to-moderate responses and two had poor responses. The two items on knowledge with poor responses were on the use of infant walkers (26.8%) and allowing infants on motorcycles as pillion riders (27.3%). Self-reported practice of infant safety was poor. None of the participants followed all 19 safety practices measured. Eight (42.1%) items on self-reported practices had poor responses. The worst three of these were on the use of baby cots (16.4%), avoiding the use of infant walkers (23.8%) and putting infants to sleep in the supine position (25.6%). Better knowledge was associated with self-reported safety practices in infants (p < 0.05). However, knowledge did not correspond to correct practice, particularly on the use of baby cots, infant walkers and sarong cradles.

CONCLUSION:
Main caregivers' knowledge on infant safety was good but self-reported practice was poor. Further research in the future is required to identify interventions that target these potentially harmful practices.

Matched MeSH terms: Wounds and Injuries/prevention & control*

Fulltext Randomized Controlled Trial on the Effect of Channa striatus Extract on Measurement of the Uterus, Pulsatility Index, Resistive Index of Uterine Artery and Superficial Skin Wound Artery in Post Lower Segment Caesarean Section Women

Abu Bakar MR, Abdul Kadir A, Abdul Wahab SZ, Abdul Karim AH, Nik Hussain NH, Mohd Noor N, et al.

PLoS One, 2015;10(7):e0133514.

PMID: 26222158 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0133514

AIM: To compare the mean of anteroposterior (AP) measurements of the uterus in longitudinal and oblique transverse planes, and the pulsatility index (PI) and resistive index (RI) of the uterine artery and superficial skin wound artery between patients taking Channa striatus and placebo.

BACKGROUND: Channa striatus, also known as haruan, is a fresh water snakehead fish consumed in many parts of Southeast Asia. Channa striatus is also normally consumed by women postpartum to promote wound healing as well as to reduce post-operative pain.

METHODOLOGY: This study is a randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled study conducted in women after Lower Segment Caesarean Section (LSCS). Subjects were randomised to either a Channa striatus or a placebo group and were given a daily dosage of 500 mg of Channa striatus extract or 500 mg maltodextrin, respectively, for six weeks post LSCS. The anteroposterior measurements of the uterus in the longitudinal and oblique transverse planes, and the pulsatility index (PI) and resistive index (RI) of the uterine and superficial skin wound arteries were assessed using pelvic Gray-scale ultrasound and Doppler ultrasound at baseline (Day 3) and at two weeks, four weeks and six weeks post-operatively.

RESULTS: Sixty-six subjects were randomised into the study with 33 in the Channa striatus group and 33 in the placebo group. No significant differences were detected in terms of the pulsatility index (PI) and the resistive index (RI) of the uterine and superficial skin wound arteries between the Channa striatus and placebo groups. However, in the Channa striatus group, the AP measurements of the uterus on the longitudinal and oblique transverse planes were significantly lower compared to the placebo group (p<0.05 and p<0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSION: Daily intake of Channa striatus extract results in marked differences compared to placebo in terms of uterine involution and recovery in women post LSCS.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: www.isrctn.com 11960786.

Matched MeSH terms: Wounds and Injuries/prevention & control*

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