How Did Participating In a Prenatal Nutrition and Exercise Program Influence Postpartum Experiences During COVID-19?

International Journal of Exercise Science 16(3): 1-11, 2023. Lifestyle interventions focusing on prenatal physical activity (PA) and healthy nutritional habits can carry forward into the postpartum period. As many health resources, like PA facilities and postpartum support groups, were inaccessible due to the Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) pandemic restrictions, it may be plausible that individuals who participated in a prenatal lifestyle intervention continued engaging in positive health behaviours on their own. This study explored experiences of postpartum individuals during the pandemic who had engaged in a prenatal PA and nutrition program prior to COVID-19. Semi-structured interviews were completed with postpartum individuals following a qualitative description approach. The study objectives were to identify and summarize the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on PA and nutritional behaviours postpartum, and the role of previous participation in a prenatal lifestyle intervention, pre-pandemic, on PA and nutritional habits during postpartum quarantine restrictions. Thirteen participants completed interviews and reported that overall, PA levels stayed the same however, there was a change in PA type, as walking became the prominent choice of PA. Diet became more limited and involved a great deal of meal planning. Participation in a prenatal lifestyle intervention prior to the pandemic positively impacted PA and nutritional habits postpartum during COVID-19 restrictions. Specifically, it enabled individuals to implement walking as a daily PA habit and encouraged important concepts such as mindful eating and meal planning. Prenatal lifestyle interventions can be beneficial in establishing healthy postpartum habits, even during pandemic restrictions

Schizophrenia in Malaysian families: A study on factors associated with quality of life of primary family caregivers

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Schizophrenia is a chronic illness which brings detrimental effects in the caregivers' health. This study was aimed at highlighting the socio-demographic, clinical and psychosocial factors associated with the subjective Quality of Life (QOL) of Malaysian of primary family caregivers of subjects with schizophrenia attending an urban tertiary care outpatient clinic in Malaysia.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross-sectional study was performed to study patient, caregiver and illness factors associated with the QOL among 117 individuals involved with caregiving for schizophrenia patients. The study used WHOQOL-BREF to assess caregivers' QOL and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) to assess the severity of patients' symptoms. Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) assessed the stress level due to life events.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The mean scores of WHOQOL-BREF in physical, psychological, social and environmental domains were 66.62 (14.36), 61.32 (15.52), 62.77 (17.33), 64.02 (14.86) consecutively. From multiple regression analysis, factors found to be significantly associated with higher QOL were higher educational level among caregivers in social and environmental domains; caregivers not having medical problem/s in physical and psychological domains; later onset and longer illness duration of illness in social domains; patients not attending day care program in environmental domain; lower BPRS score in physical and environmental domains. SRRS score of caregivers was also found to have a significant negative correlation with QOL in environmental and psychological domains. Other factors were not significantly associated with QOL.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Caregivers with more social advantages such as higher educational level and physically healthier and dealing with less severe illness had significantly higher QOL in various aspects. Supporting the caregivers in some of these modifiable factors in clinical practice is important to achieve their higher level QOL.</p

Kesan Pembelajaran Konstruktivisme Berasaskan Laman Web Di Kalangan pelajar-Fizik Universiti Sains Malaysia.

Artikel ini melaporkan tentang pembangunan laman Web mengikut teori konstruktivisme yang berdasarkan model .- Black & McClintock untuk kursus Fizik pra siswazah di Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) dan juga kajian persepsi terhadap proses pembelajaran yang berlaku setelah pelajar dikenakan rawatan menggunakan laman Web yang dibina

The COMBI (Communication for Behavioural Impact)program in the prevention and control of dengue - the Hulu Langat experience

Background: The COMBI concept is a novel approach by the WHO to control communicable diseases which are influenced by community behaviour. The Ministry of Health is currently evaluating its use against dengue in selected areas throughout Malaysia. COMBI doctrine differs from previous dengue campaigns. It acknowledges that the factors contributing to dengue proliferation may differ between areas. Factors for a given area are analysed, then a single precise behavioural goal to overcome those problems is formulated. To inculcate this behavioural change, the target community is subjected to an intensive campaign using Integrated Marketing Communication techniques adapted from the advertising industry, particularly involving volunteers from the community itself. Methodology: In Selangor the pilot project was implemented in Section 3 and Section 4 of Bandar Baru Bangi, in the district of Hulu Langat. Here, Aedes breeding was found to occur mainly in water containers of semi permanent nature (eg. ‘kolah’, aquatic plant jars, flower pot bases etc). A total of 172 volunteers were recruited to disperse the message of “Suluh – Suluh, Basuh - Basuh” whilst distributing leaflets and flashlights to 2666 homes. Residents were instructed to illuminate such water containers twice weekly and scrub any containers found to contain larvae. The program commenced on 23/5/2004 and lasted 16 weeks. Results : During this period, the initial Aedes Index of 5 was reduced to 0.96 while combined cases of Dengue Fever / Dengue Haemorraghic Fever in Sections 3 and 4 reported to the Hulu Langat District Health Office also dropped to 1 (unconfirmed). Conclusion : The COMBI approach in Hulu Langat successfully demonstrated that correct problem identification synergized with community engagement can potentially reduce Aedes proliferation and dengue morbidity

Amalan calitan pap dan faktor hubungkait di kalangan wanita berkahwin di Kg. Sesapan Kelubi, daerah Hulu Langat, Selangor D.E. Malaysia

Pengenalan : Kajian hirisan lintang telah dilakukan di kalangan wanita berkahwin di Kg. Sasapan Kelubi, Hulu Langat, Selangor, Malaysia. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengenalpasti prevalens amalan calitan pap serta serta faktor-faktor yang berhubungkait dengannya. Metodologi : Persampelan universal ke atas semua wanita berkahwin yang bersetuju terlibat di dalam kajian ini telah dilakukan dari rumah ke rumah. Alatan kajian berbentuk soalselidik menjadi asas temuduga berpandu. Data dianalisa melalui perisian SPSS versi 12.0. Hasil Kajian : Seramai 154 orang responden memberi maklumbalas. Min umur adalah 23.3 ± 4.4 tahun. Hanya 66 responden (42.9%) pernah menjalani calitan pap, tetapi hanya 6 orang (3.9%) sahaja mengamalkannya mengikut jadual yang disarankan oleh Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia. Antara sebab mereka tidak pernah menjalani calitan pap termasuk tidak tahu mengenainya (N=46, 52.3%), perasaan takut (N=22, 425.0%), berasa malu (N= 21, 23.9%), tiada kesempatan masa (N=19, 21.6%), rasa tidak penting (N=7, 8.0%), ketiadaan doktor wanita (N= 6, 6.8%), tidak peduli dan berasa klinik kesihatan terlalu jauh (N= 3, 3.4%) dan kos calitan yang dirasa mahal (N = 1, 1.1%). Hanya satu faktor yang dikaji menunjukkan hubungan bererti dengan amalan calitan pap iaitu skor pengetahuan mengenai calitan, yang mana responden yang menjalani calitan pap menunjukkan min skor yang lebih tinggi berbanding responden yang tidak pernah menjalani calitan pap. Kesimpulan : Kajian ini menunjukkan banyak lagi usaha diperlukan untuk meningkatkan pengetahuan dan kesedaran penduduk wanita di kampung demi mengatasi jurang pengetahuan, kesilapan persepsi dan alasan lain yang mengekang penerimaan amalan calitan pap di kalangan mereka

Effect of temperature on porosity of iron ore sinter with biochar derived from EFB

This paper presents the outcomes of an experimental investigation on the effects of forming temperature and sintering schedule to the final characteristics of FeCuAl powder mass formed at different temperature and sintered at different schedule. A lab-scale uni-axial die compaction rig was designed and fabricated which enabled the compaction of powder mass at room temperature as well as elevated temperature. Iron (Fe) powder ASC 100.29 was mechanically mixed with other elemental powders, namely copper (Cu), and aluminum (Al) for 60 minutes and compacted at three different temperature, i.e., 30°C, 150°C, and 200°C by applying 425 MPa of simultaneous downward and upward axial loading to generate green compacts. The as-pressed samples were inspected visually and the defect-free green compacts were subsequently sintered in an argon gas fired furnace at 800°C for 60 min at three different heating/cooling rates, i.e., 5, 10, and 15°C/min, respectively. The sintered samples were then characterised for their physical, electrical, and mechanical properties. The microstructures of the sintered samples were also analysed. The results revealed that a forming temperature of 150°C and a sintering rate of 10°C/min could produce a product with better characteristic

Characteristics of iron ore sinter with EFB addition

Utilization of EFB-derived biochar in sintering of iron ore has been conducted in this work with regards to the porosity of iron sinter. EFB has been heated up in argon atmosphere to 450ºC in order to produce biochar. In the present work, the sintering process was conducted at 1150ºC with variations of biochar content from 5% to 10%. In this case, the apparent density for iron sinter shows significant decrease as the biochar addition increase. The porosity of iron sinter showed a gradual increment from 5% to 7.5% and escalated at 10% biochar content. The results of porosity and apparent density were in line with the micrograph of iron sinter

Characterization of municipal solid waste in Malaysia for energy recovery

Municipal solid waste (MSW) generation that grows continuously without proper management become worrying phenomenon. Currently, Malaysia is dependent on landfills with almost 85% of waste collected ending up in dumpsites. In order to propose an alternative for solid waste management plan instead of landfill, and to develop a waste-to-energy (WtE) system, the details study of municipal solid waste (MSW) generated is crucial. This paper presents a proposal for energy recovery to produce RDF by studying the characterization of MSW generated in Malaysia; the physical and chemical properties (proximate and ultimate analysis, calorific value or energy content, and thermal analysis) of the waste components to produce a high-quality RDF. The raw MSW sample consisted of 45% organics and food waste, 13% plastics, 9% papers, and 12% diapers. For raw MSW sample, total moisture content, ash content, volatile matter, and fixed carbon were 14.60%, 7.05%, 69.35% and 9% respectively. Gross calorific value is 4538 kcal/kg and carbon content are 45%. The optimum produced RDF sample was found at operating temperature 400°C with total moisture content, ash content, volatile matter, and fixed carbon were 0.75%, 21.65%, 48.35% and 29.22% respectively. Gross calorific value is 6600.15 kcal/kg and carbon content are 64%