Factors associated with attendance to early childhood education programs in Malaysia: results from the national health and morbidity survey (Maternal and child health) 2016

The National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2016 was a nationwide cross-sectional survey focusing on maternal and child health. This study aimed to identify the prevalence of, and factors associated with early childhood educational program (ECE) attendance among children aged three to five years in Malaysia. Attendance to ECE has been shown to enhance children’s development, yet there is no national information on ECE attendance in Malaysia, where attendance is not compulsory for children below five years. Parents were interviewed face-to-face utilising a validated questionnaire from the UNICEF Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey using mobile devices. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with ECE attendance. Half (53.4%) of children aged three to five years in Malaysia attend ECE. Older children aged four to five were six times more likely to attend ECE than children three to four years. Malaysian children of Chinese ethnicity were thrice as likely than ethnic Malays to attend ECE. Children with access to >3 children’s books were twice more likely to attend ECE than those who had access to <3 books. Unemployed mothers were less likely to send their children to ECE than mothers employed in civil service. More awareness on the importance and benefits of ECE attendance on children’s development is necessary so that younger children benefit from ECE

Physical inactivity and its associated factors among adults in Malaysia : findings from National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2019

Physical inactivity has been identified as the fourth leading risk factor for worldwide mortality with major implications towards general health. Monitoring the level of physical inactivity may reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and their risk factors. This study aims to determine the prevalence of physical inactivity and its associated factors among adults aged 18 years and above in Malaysia. Data was obtained from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2019. It was a cross-sectional, population-based survey which employed two- stage stratified random sampling design. A total of 10,356 out of 10,472 respondents were interviewed using a short version of International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Overall, the prevalence of physical inactivity among adults aged 18 years and above in Malaysia was 24.6% (95% CI: 23.2, 26.1). Results from multivariable logistic model showed that Chinese ethnicity (aOR 1.32; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.67), urban dwellers (aOR 1.30; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.57), those who were single (including widow, widower and divorcee) (aOR 1.36; 95% CI: 1.14, 1.61), students (aOR 2.10; 95% CI: 1.30, 3.40), higher household income earners (aOR 1.34; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.68) and those with hypercholesterolaemia (aOR 1.25; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.51) were significantly more likely to be physically inactive. Specific and appropriate intervention towards targeted group is in crucial need to increase the level of physical activity and to promote an active living towards an active and healthy Malaysia

Anxiety and its associated factors among school-going adolescents in Malaysia

Many mental health disorders have onset during adolescence. To date, the data on the correlates of anxiety is still lacking. Therefore, this study is crucial to determine the factors associated with anxiety among school-going adolescents in Malaysia. Methods This study was based on 26,892 school-going adolescents from 212 selected schools in Malaysia. Anxiety was measured using Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Associations between anxiety, sociodemographic characteristics and variables of interest were examined using multivariable logistic regression. Results Overall, 10,540 (39.7%) school-going adolescents had anxiety. Anxiety was positively associated with female (odds ratio, OR [95% confidence interval, CI] = 1.30 [1.19,1.42]) compared to male counterpart, feeling loneliness (1.78 [1.54,2.05]) compared to not lonely, unable to sleep due to worry of something (1.79 [1.56,2.05]) compared to able to sleep, being bullied (1.66 [1.48,1.87]) compared to not being bullied, physical abuse (1.33 [1.18,1.49]) compared to no physical abuse, verbal abuse (1.47 [1.35,1.59]) compared to no verbal abuse, current drinker (1.23 [1.06,1.43]) compared to not current drinker, current drug use (1.84 [1.43,2.35]) compared to not current drug use, ever had sex (1.17 [1.01,1.36]) compared to never had sex, physically inactive (1.16 [1.06,1.26]) compared to physically active and internet addiction (2.59 [2.37,2.83]) compared to no internet addiction. Chinese ethnic (0.68 [0.50,0.93]) compared to other ethnic, and Form 2 (0.78 [0.69,0.89]) and Form 3 (0.73 [0.65,0.82]) students compared to Form 1 students, were protective of anxiety. Conclusions Prevention and intervention programs for these “at-risk” adolescents should be planned holistically towards reducing the risk factors

Internet addiction and its associated factors among school-going adolescents in Malaysia

Internet usage has changed the way adolescents socialize. This study aims to determine the determinants of internet addiction among school-going adolescents in Malaysia. This study was a cross-sectional study involving 27,455 school-going adolescents from 212 selected schools in Malaysia, as part of the 2017 National Health and Morbidity Survey that implemented a two-stage stratified cluster sampling design. Data collection via a self-administered questionnaire was conducted from March till May 2017. Overall, 8,049 (29.0%) school-going adolescents had internet addiction. Internet addiction was positively associated with male (odds ratio, OR [95% confidence interval, CI] = 1.20 [1.08,1.34]) compared to female, Chinese ethnicity (1.67 [1.12,2.48]) compared to other ethnicity, feeling loneliness (1.37 [1.20,1.57]) compared to never feel lonely, unable to sleep due to worrying of something (1.40 [1.17,1.67]) compared to able to sleep, insufficient parental supervision (1.30 [1.14,1.48]) compared to sufficient parental supervision, depression (1.67 [1.48,1.89]) compared to no depression, anxiety (2.12 [1.95,2.30]) compared to no anxiety and stress (2.26 [1.96,2.61]) compared to no stress. The odds of having internet addiction increase from Form 2 (1.51 [1.28,1.78]), Form 3 (2.37 [2.01,2.80]), Form 4 (2.60 [1.76,3.85]) to Form 5 adolescents (2.96 [1.98,4.41]) compared to Form 1 adolescents. Our results suggest that being a male, of Chinese ethnicity, higher form level, feeling loneliness, unable to sleep due to worrying of something, insufficient parental supervision, depression, anxiety and stress were positively associated with internet addiction among school-going adolescents

Anemia among Men in Malaysia: A Population-Based Survey in 2019

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of anemia and factors associated with anemia among men in Malaysia. The researchers used data from the 2019 National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS). The hemoglobin levels of men aged 15 years and above who gave their consent was measured using the HemoCue® Hb 201+ System©. The majority of them (87.2%) were men aged 15–59 years, referred to as the younger age group in this study. The prevalence of anemia among men was 12.6% (95% confidence interval (CI): 10.9, 14.5). The prevalence was higher among older men (30.7%; 95% CI: 26.6, 35.1) than younger men (10.0%; 95% CI: 8.2, 12.2). Anemia among men was associated with older age (adjusted odds ratios (aOR) = 3.1; 95% CI: 2.1, 4.4) and those with diabetes (aOR = 1.5; 95% CI: 1.2, 2.1) via a logistic regression analysis. In conclusion, older men were more affected by anemia than younger men in this study. Anemia among older men in Malaysia is at the level of moderate to severe public health significance. The likelihood of developing anemia is increased among older men with diabetes compared to older men without diabetes. These often-overlooked issues among men need to be detected and treated early in order to prevent complications and improve their quality of life

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Self-Reported Vision Disability among the Elderly in Malaysia: Findings from National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2018

Introduction. Disability has adverse effects on health, wellbeing, and life quality. Vision disorder is one of the top-ranked causes of disability in the elderly population. This study aims to determine the prevalence and factors associated with vision disability among the elderly in Malaysia. Methodology. Data collection from National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2018 was obtained. This survey focused on elderly health by using two-stage stratified cluster sampling design. The Washington Group Extended Question Set on Functioning (WG ES-F) was used to determine the vision disability. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 21.0 utilizing a complex sample design with multivariable logistic regression analysis to determine the prevalence and associated factors to vision disability. Results. A total of 3,977 elderly completed the vision disability questionnaire. The overall prevalence of vision disability among those who were 60 years old and above was 4.5%. Multiple logistic regression revealed that no formal education (AOR: 6.69, 95% CI: 1.52, 29.49), only primary education (AOR: 4.26, 95% CI: 1.01, 18.03), unemployed/retiree or homemaker (AOR: 3.25, 95% CI: 1.79, 5.89), hypertension (AOR: 1.45, 95% CI: 1.00, 2.09), and malnourished elderly (AOR: 2.84, 95% CI: 1.76, 461) had higher odds for having vision disability. Conclusion. The findings suggest that a low education level, unemployment, hypertension, and malnourishment are significant risk factors for VD among Malaysia’s elderly. Strengthening awareness campaigns to increase VD awareness and provide high-quality rehabilitation services must target specific groups, such as the elderly with a low level of education and the unemployed. Empower primary healthcare providers with the knowledge and skills necessary to improve the quality of eye care delivery and expand eye screening in settling VD issues nationally