Prevalence and Factors Affecting Child Marriage Practice among Rural Indigenous Communities in Sibu, Sarawak

Child marriage could impinge the accomplishment of at least six out of eight of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Malaysia recorded an average of 1000 child marriage applications annually. Sarawak recorded the highest child marriage cases. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors affecting child marriage among rural indigenous communities in Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia. A validated questionnaire assessed the socio-demographic, knowledge on marriage law, and perceptions on child marriage factors among 244 respondents, aged between 13 to 50 years old. The mean age of the respondents was 34.9 (SD=10.4) years old. The prevalence of female child marriage was as high as 13.2%. More than 50% respondents perceived that child marriage could protect girls from premarital sex and unwanted pregnancy. Almost all respondents (91%) have a misconception about the minimum age of marriage. Education and gender were significant factors that explained about 25% of the total variance of the child marriage occurrence. Based on these findings, there is an urgency for an effective education for sexual health among teens to prevent teenage pregnancy; reformation of the educational system for each child to complete their secondary education up to Form 5; and certainly to establish a clear legal age for marriage at 18 consistent with the international standard

Effects of Leisure Education Programme on Leisure Benefits and Motivation Among Rural Iban Adolescents in Sibu, Sarawak

Leisure education is becoming an important concept in the Western world, but less established and practiced in Malaysia. Evidence has shown the positive effects of leisure education programme to reduce adolescent’s engagement in risky behaviours, such as substance use, sexual behaviour, obesity, and internet addiction, which are detrimental to adolescent’s health and well-being. This study was aimed to examine the effects of leisure education programme on leisure benefits and motivation aspects among rural Iban adolescents in Sibu, Sarawak. The study employed a pre-post evaluation design. Convenience sampling was used to select the participants. Thirty-four Iban adolescents from two longhouses had completed 9-hour leisure education programme for three weeks. Respondents were surveyed before and immediately after the intervention to observe changes in knowledge of leisure benefits and free time motivation scales. Data were analyzed with the use of Wilcoxon signed ranks tests. Significance level was set at p<0.05. The leisure education intervention showed improvement in respondent’s knowledge on benefits of leisure time, but no significant changes was detected in all five motivation types (intrinsic, amotivation, extrinsic, introjected and identified). The leisure education intervention conducted had effectively improved the knowledge of the respondents on leisure benefits. Therefore, leisure education service can be considered to promote a balanced and healthy leisure lifestyle among adolescents

“Feeling Unsafe”: A Photovoice Analysis of Factors Influencing Physical Activity Behavior Among Malaysian Adolescents

Understanding the factors influencing physical activity (PA) in the Asia-Pacific region is critical, given the high prevalence of inactivity in this area. The photovoice technique explores the types of PA and factors influencing PA among adolescents in Kuching, Sarawak. A total of 160 photographs were collected from participants (adolescents, n = 22, mean age = 14.27 ± 0.7 years, and parents, n = 8, mean age = 48 ± 6.8 years). Data analysis used constant comparison methods of a grounded theory. The Analysis Grid for Environments Linked to Obesity was used to categorize PA factors. Study findings were centered on the concept of safety, facilities, parental restriction, friends, cultural traits, media, community cohesiveness, and weather. The central theme was “feeling unsafe” when being outdoors. To promote PA behavior, provision of PA facilities needs to be supported by other programs that build on peer support, crime prevention, and traffic safety, together with other educational campaigns

Determinants of Health Literacy and Healthy Lifestyle against Metabolic Syndrome among Major Ethnic Groups of Sarawak, Malaysia : A Multi-Group Path Analysis

Introduction: Non-communicable diseases like metabolic syndrome can be prevented and controlled by practicing healthy lifestyle. Although health literacy is a critical factor in lifestyle modification to prevent non-communicable diseases and its complications, its role on metabolic syndrome prevention is still understudied. Objective: The main aim of this study was to identify the determinants of health literacy and healthy lifestyle practice against metabolic syndrome among multi-ethnic group of Sarawak based on health literacy skills framework. Methods: Using a stratified multistage sampling, a total of 1006 respondents were recruited to represent the major ethnic groups in Sarawak, Malaysia. Moderator variables, mediator variables and outcome variable (healthy lifestyle practice) were tested using path analysis to examine multiple and interrelated dependence relationships. Multi-group analysis was performed to compare structural models between major ethnic groups in Sarawak, namely Malay/Melanau, Native groups and Chinese. Results: Female respondents and those with higher education status were more likely to have better healthy lifestyle practice. Greater level of health literacy was positively significant with both disease knowledge and healthy lifestyle practice. Participants with good understanding of disease knowledge can directly influence healthy lifestyle. Simultaneously, health literacy and metabolic syndrome knowledge can mediate the relationship between sociodemographic variables, service accessibility, medical and family history with practice of healthy lifestyle. Multi-group path analysis indicated differences in causal pathway leading to healthy lifestyle practice among the ethnic groups

Validity and Reliability of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) Scale for Dog Bite Prevention in Children

Introduction: Rabies is a highly fatal disease that is mostly caused by a dog bite. The Dog Bite Prevention KAP scale is a 30-item scale that is designed to measure children’s level of safety knowledge on dog’s behaviour, precautionary behaviour around dogs, perceived vulnerability towards dogs and help-seeking behaviour following a dog bite. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the test-retest reliability and validity of outcome measures.Methods: This questionnaire was administered to samples of school student aged from 13 years to 14 years at a secondary school located in Bau District, Sarawak. They were purposively selected for a baseline interview (Time 1) anda ten-day follow-up (Time 2). This study was conducted within four months, which were from 10 April to 31 August 2018. Descriptive analysis, content analysis, Cronbach’s alpha, intra-class correlation and exploratory factor analysis were performed in thisstudy.Results: A total of 64 boys and 114 girls were involved in the study, whereby 79.2%, 10.1%, 7.9%, 2.2% and 0.6% of them were of Bidayuh ethnic, Chinese, Iban, Malays and other ethnic, respectively. The Cronbach's alpha was 0.796. The test-retest intra-class correlation was adequate, with 0.84 for perceived vulnerability towards dogs and 0.81 for precautionary behaviour around dogs. Principal components analysis with varimax rotation resulted in two factors, which explained 39% of the variance (perceived vulnerability towards dogs) and 49% of the variance (precautionary behaviour around dogs).Conclusion: The questionnaire is a valid and reliable tool for a dog-bite prevention survey

Physical Activity Among Adolescents in an East Malaysian Rural Indigenous Community: Exploring the Influence of Neighborhood Environmental Factors

This study explores the rural environmental factors that influence adolescents’ participation in physical activities (PA). Thirty-six indigenous adolescents, aged 13 to 17 years from rural communities of East Malaysia were involved in the photovoice procedures: photo-taking, selecting, contextualizing, and codifying themes. Despite being endowed with natural resources such as river, forest, hills, and so on, the adolescents and the community did not capitalize on these rich resources to promote and engage in PA. Poor maintenance of natural resources, the lack of pedestrian infrastructures and road safety, the lack of PA facilities, and negative perception of ancestors’ agricultural activities were among factors that constrained adolescents’ PA. Although basic amenities such as play spaces and pedestrian infrastructures are necessary to increase adolescents’ PA, any intervention should make the most of the natural resources, which are cheaper, environment friendly, and sustainable

The Relationship between Usage of Digital Devices and Musculoskeletal Symptoms: A Cross-Sectional Study among University Students in Sarawak

Digital devices such as mobile phone, personal computer and laptop are playing a major role in students’ life, but if overused they can bring certain impacts on the musculoskeletal system. Objective: To determine the relationship between usage of digital devices and musculoskeletal symptoms among the university students. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire consist of digital devices use items and the Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Question (CMDQ) were administered among 363 311 university students. Correlation analysis was done by using the SPSS software. Results: The mean age of study respondents was 21.6 years old (SD=1.0). A majority of respondents use mobile phone (94.9%) on a prolonged sitting position ranging from 5.0 to 7.5 hours per day. About 32% to 60% of respondents experienced musculoskeletal discomfort in at least one body part at least one on their body parts, with higher prevalence on the neck, shoulder, lower back, and upper back. Females are more prone to experience musculoskeletal symptoms. Time spent on digital devices, eye-to-screen distance, body posture, and age of first use were significantly correlated with musculoskeletal symptoms. Conclusions: University students are at a higher risk to experience musculoskeletal symptoms related to the usage of a handheld digital device. If these musculoskeletal symptoms are not prevented, it may further cause dysfunction and disability. To mitigate these problems, some form of targeted health promotion initiative need to be implemented in the university

Falls risk screening tools intended to reduce fall risk among independent community-dwelling older adults : A systematic review

Aims: The aim of this study is to evaluate an evidence-based fall risk screening tool to predict the risk of falls suitable for independent community-dwelling older adults guided by the World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (WHO-ICF) components, and to examine the reliability and validity of the fall risk screening tool to predict fall risks, and to examine the feasibility of tools among independent community-dwelling older adults. Methods: A systematic literature search guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement was performed using the EBSCOHost® platform, ScienceDirect, Scopus and Google Scholar between July and August 2021. Studies from January 2010 to January 2021 were eligible for review. Nine articles were eligible and included in this systematic review. The risk of bias assessment used the National Institutes of Health quality assessment tool for observational cohort and cross-sectional studies. The WHO-ICF helped to guide the categorization of fall risk factors. Results: Seven screening tools adequately predicted fall risk among communitydwelling older adults. Six screening tools covered most of the components of the WHO-ICF, and three screening tools omitted the environmental factors. The modified 18-item Stay Independent Brochure demonstrated most of the predictive values in predicting fall risk. All tools are brief and easy to use in community or outpatient settings. Conclusion: The review explores the literature evaluating fall risk screening tools for nurses and other healthcare providers to assess fall risk among independent community-dwelling older adults. A fall risk screening tool consisting of risk factors alone might be able to predict fall risk. However, further refinements and validations of the tools before use are recommended