Does work-life balance have a relationship with work performance?

Attaining work-life balance is challenging. Juggling work and personal affairs can be a highly demanding effort and the inability to attend to everything can leave one frustrated and exhausted. Increased level of stress, turnover and absenteeism rate are some of the negative repercussions of this. This study therefore, aims to further examine the relationship between work-life balance and work performance among non-executive level staff at Sarawak State Civil service. There were 44 acceptable self-administered questionnaires collected and analysed out of 64 questionnaires that were distributed for this exploratory stage of study. The result disclosed a significant but weak relationship between work-life balance and job performance. As the result, the study proposes to outline a work-life balance practices or programs such as job design that helps in employee productivity, employee assistance programs, health programs, aerobic sessions, family day and encouragement for employees to participate in seminars on stress and time management. Genuine concern and extensive involvement of the company in achieving the work-life balance will yield positive outcome from the employees

Prevalence of dementia in elderly population in Sarawak using the Early Dementia Questionnaire (EDQ)

Introduction: The number of elderlies in Malaysia is increasing similar with the rise in ageing population worldwide. This leads to increase in the prevalence of dementia. This study was done to screen the elderly population in health clinics in Sarawak for dementia using the validated Early Dementia Questionnaire (EDQ). EDQ is a screening tool based on symptoms of dementia. Methods: A cross sectional study was done on the elderly patients aged 60 years and above attending health clinics in Kuching, Sibu and Miri, Sarawak using systematic sampling. Patients with depression were excluded from the study using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Eligible patients were then assessed for dementia using the validated Early Dementia Questionnaire (EDQ) with the cut-off score of 10. Their informants were also interviewed to complete the questionnaire. Results: The prevalence of dementia among 455 elderly patients was 42.4% (CI 1.180, 2.534). After controlling for confounding factors, dementia was independently associated with advanced age (adjusted OR: 7.3; 95% CI: 1.561, 34.202; P=0.012) and no formal education (adjusted OR: 3.3; 95% CI: 0.198, 0.453; P<0.001). Concentration (75.6%) was the most common symptom presented. Other symptoms were memory symptoms (48.2%), physical and emotional symptoms (57.2%) and symptoms on sleep and environment (50.7%). Conclusion: The prevalence of dementia in Sarawak based on EDQ was 42.2%. Apart from memory problems which are often associated with dementia, patients with concentration problems should also alert the health professionals on the possibility of dementia

Sociodemographic Risk Factors Of Dementia Among Elderly Of Bumiputeras In Sarawak

The population in Malaysia is ageing similar to other parts of the world. Thus, the prevalence of dementia will gradually increase. Bumiputera population consists of 74.8% of the total population in Sarawak, the largest state in the whole of Malaysia. However, data regarding mental health among this group of population is limited. Objective: This study was done to determine the prevalence of dementia and its associated risk factors among the elderly Bumiputera patients in primary care clinics in Sarawak

A survey on COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and concern among Malaysians

Background Vaccination is an effective way to curtail the burden of COVID-19 in which success depends on a high acceptance of the vaccine. However, addressing concerns among vaccine-hesitant individuals is essential to avoid failure of the immunisation programme. This study sought to assess the concerns and acceptance rates regarding the COVID-19 vaccine among Malaysians. Methods An online questionnaire was distributed to 1411 respondents via a snowball sampling method among Malaysians aged 18 years and above. Results The majority of the respondents were young adults (40.7%), female (62.8%), Malay (63.8%), Muslim (72.3%), married (52.9%), with tertiary education (86.8%) and without medical illness (85%). Social media (97.4%) was the primary source of information regarding COVID-19. The overall acceptance rate was high (83.3%), with the lowest rates among the elderly aged 60 years and above (63.4%) and pensioners (64.6%). Hesitance was caused by concerns regarding side effects (95.8%), safety (84.7%), lack of information (80.9%), effectiveness (63.6%) and religious (20.8%) and cultural factors related to the COVID-19 vaccine (6.8%). Respondents with diabetes mellitus (24.7%) and hypercholesterolemia (23%) were more hesitant to accept the COVID-19 vaccine, at 16.1 and 15.8%, respectively. Predictors of COVID-19 vaccine hesitance were age, religion, and current residence. Conclusions The results indicate a high rate of acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine among Malaysians. Thus, the Malaysian government and other related agencies should increase their campaign and prepare to implement the COVID-19 mass immunisation programme among Malaysians. However, despite the high acceptance rate, it remains important to address concerns among hesitant individuals by building trust in vaccine safety and effectiveness through adequate information regarding the vaccine

Experience of mothers learning and doing infant massage

Experience of mothers learning and doing infant massage The practice of infant massage has been reported to give relaxation and enjoyment to mothers and babies. Objective: this study aimed to explore mothers’ experience with learning and doing infant massage. Methodology: Mothers of babies four to six weeks old were taught the adapted baby massage program over four sessions by a certified infant massage instructor in selected health centres. They were asked to do infant massage for 15 minutes twice a day. As part of a main study, nine of the mothers were recruited as study participants at the end of the teaching sessions using a purposive sampling procedure. In-depth interviews were conducted to explore their experience with learning and doing baby massage. Findings: Mothers’ experience with baby’s relaxation and sleep, baby-mother bonding, new learning in term of a helpful baby-care skill, responding to baby cues, establishing new care routine, gaining spousal and other mothers’ supports apparently contributed to their positive experience related to learning and doing massage with their babies. Findings supplement the evidence base which could influence practice change related to service provision to include infant massage as part of the maternal an

Influence of Infant Massage Practice on Breastfeeding Among Mothers In Sarawak

Introduction: Practice of infant massage by mothers has been reported previously to provide benefits such as nurturing touch, warmth and relaxation to infants and a more positive breastfeeding practice due to its stimulant for oxytocin release. This study aimed to determine the influence of infant massage by mothers on their breastfeeding practice in the local context. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted among 310 mother-infant pairs who were recruited from five selected health centres within First Division of Sarawak. Intervention group participants (n=155) were taught to do infant-massage during the clinic session and instructed to practice 15 minutes twice daily throughout the two-months intervention period, while the control group (n=155) were not. Breastfeeding practice data were obtained using questionnaire from both groups pre-intervention at infants’ age one-month and post-intervention at age three-months. Results: Multinomial regression analysis showed that those in the intervention group were two times more likely than the control group for exclusive breastfeeding when compared to mothers who stopped breastfeeding (RR=2.022, 95% CI=1.007, 4.071; p-value=0.048). Similarly, mothers from the intervention group were two and half times more likely than control group for mixed feeding (RR=2.560, 95% CI=1.280, 5.121; p-value=0.008). Those who were housewives were nearly three times more likely than the private workers for exclusive breastfeeding (RR=2.734, 95% CI=1.246, 5.997; p-value=0.012). Conclusion: Infant massage influenced breastfeeding practice positively at infants’ age three-months, in particular, among mothers who were housewives. Healthcare providers should encourage infant massage practice by mothers as part of the maternal and child healthcare service

A case control study on Infant Massage And Breastfeeding Outcome Among Mothers

Aims / Background: The practice of infant massage has been reported to provide benefits of improved mother-infant interaction and breastfeeding outcome. This study aims to examine the influence of infant massage on breastfeeding outcome. Methodology: using a case control study design, 310 mothers whose babies were 4 weeks old and still breastfeeding were recruited from the selected MCH clinics within Kuching District for the intervention and control groups, after prior ethnics approval. Study group mothers (mean age 29.2 years) were taught the adapted infant massage program by a certified infant massage instructor in a small group of 4-5 mothers each. A bottle of (60 mls) cold-pressed olive oil and a hand-out of the massage strokes were given to mothers who were asked to have baby massage session twice a day for 10-15 minutes each. Questionnaire on breastfeeding-related outcome (frequency, duration, supplementary food; exclusiveness) were administered to both groups of mothers on recruitment and on baby’s age 12 weeks. A dropout of 10 study group participants was noted due to loss to contact. Results: 84.8% (n=123) of the study group (N=145) reported still breastfeeding versus 77.4% (n=120) in the control group (N=155). However, almost half of the both groups had started on complementary feeding with formula milk of at least 1-2 times per day. Higher percentage of the study group then control group breastfed their babies at least 3-4 times per day. Apparently more of the study group reported at least 6-10 minutes for each breastfeeding session. Among the reasons indicated from mothers of both groups for not breastfeeding include milk insufficiency and the needs to resume work. Conclusion: Infant massage could be one of the factors which influence positively on breastfeeding outcome in the local context

Influence of Infant Massage Practice on Breastfeeding Among Mothers In Sarawak

Introduction: Practice of infant massage by mothers has been reported previously to provide benefits such as nurturing touch, warmth and relaxation to infants and a more positive breastfeeding practice due to its stimulant for oxytocin release. This study aimed to determine the influence of infant massage by mothers on their breastfeeding practice in the local context. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted among 310 mother-infant pairs who were recruited from five selected health centres within First Division of Sarawak. Intervention group participants (n=155) were taught to do infant-massage during the clinic session and instructed to practice 15 minutes twice daily throughout the two-months intervention period, while the control group (n=155) were not. Breastfeeding practice data were obtained using questionnaire from both groups pre-intervention at infants’ age one-month and post-intervention at age three-months. Results: Multinomial regression analysis showed that those in the intervention group were two times more likely than the control group for exclusive breastfeeding when compared to mothers who stopped breastfeeding (RR=2.022, 95% CI=1.007, 4.071; p-value=0.048). Similarly, mothers from the intervention group were two and half times more likely than control group for mixed feeding (RR=2.560, 95% CI=1.280, 5.121; p-value=0.008). Those who were housewives were nearly three times more likely than the private workers for exclusive breastfeeding (RR=2.734, 95% CI=1.246, 5.997; p-value=0.012). Conclusion: Infant massage influenced breastfeeding practice positively at infants’ age three-months, in particular, among mothers who were housewives. Healthcare providers should encourage infant massage practice by mothers as part of the maternal and child healthcare service

Perceived Financial Threat and Psychological Effects on Working Adults in Sarawak During Lockdown for COVID-19 Pandemic

Introduction: The emergence of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) led to the implementation of special mea-sures such as the Movement Control Order (MCO), which in return had caused economic disturbances and psycho-logical effects across many countries over the globe. Objective: Our study aims to determine the perceived financial threat and its predictors, the relationship with psychological outcomes on working adults’ populations in Sarawak during lockdown for the COVID-19 pandemic. Methodsology: We recruited 336 respondents from all divisions in Sarawak through an online survey with sociodemographic data, questionnaires were adapted from the Financial Threat Scale (FTS) to assess the perceived financial threat, and the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scales 21 (DASS-21) to evaluate the psychological impact of lockdown implementation. IBM SPSS version 23.0 was used for data analysis. A p-value of ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The analysis revealed that the employment sector, number of children, and change in income during lockdown were important predictors associated with the per-ceived financial threat. 47.9% of the respondents perceived a moderate-to-severe financial threat. Of these, 72.6% were self-employed, 54.6% were without children and 60.0% had experienced decreased in income during the lockdown. Several factors were identified to be significantly associated with the negative psychological outcomes, namely employment sector, marital status, number of children, and number of liabilities. Generally, a severe per-ceived financial threat was significantly associated with severe levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. Conclusion: There is an urgency to develop strategic plans and policies to provide economic and psychological support for the communities affected by the lockdown and COVID-19 disease