The association of parent education and family monthly income on Intelligence Quotient (IQ) among students with special needs in Kelantan, Malaysia

This paper investigate the effect of parents’ education background and family monthly income on the Intelligence Quotient (IQ) of students with special needs in Kelantan, Malaysia. This cross-sectional method study was employed multistage random sampling to obtain information drawn from 130 participants from 10 selected school in Kelantan, Malaysia. Questionnaire was used to obtain parents’ education background, family monthly income and demographic variables. Students IQ were assessed using Comprehensive Test for Non-Verbal Intelligence (CTONI 2nd Edition). Data analysis involve independent sample t-test, one-way between group ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation and multiple linear regression. From analysis of IQ score, 63.8% of the special needs students scored very poor IQ, 12.3% scored below average and only 1.5% score average IQ. Significant mean difference were revealed between age group (p = 0.002), parents’ education (p = 0.018) and family monthly income (p < 0.05) on special needs students IQ. Post-hoc tukey shows significance between parents who never went to school, went to secondary school (p = 0.037) and university/college (p = 0.021). In term of family monthly income, significance difference were found between family with low and high monthly income (p < 0.05). Family monthly income (r = 0.393, p < 0.01) showed positive moderate correlation on special needs students IQ. After being forwarded by multiple linear regression, it was found that family monthly income (B = 3.605, p < 0.05) and age group of special needs students (B = 0.879, p = 0.002) were significant predictor for IQ score and explained 22.5% of the variance (R2 = 0.225, F (5,124) = 83.94, p < 0.05. Overally, majority of special needs students in current study have very poor IQ score. Further explanation are discussed on the paper

A Psychometric Evaluation of The Malay Version of PedsQLTM Family Impact Module among Caregivers of Children with Learning Disabilities

Parenting a child with learning disability can be a source of significant stress and affects the quality of life of the parents and families. The aim of this study was to evaluate thepsychometric properties of the Malay version of PedsQLTM Family Impact Module that measure the impact of children with learning disabilities on theircaregivers’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and family functioning. A crosssectional study was conducted involving 383 caregivers of children with learning disabilities in Kelantan, a state of Peninsular Malaysia. Internal consistency reliability, construct validity and construct reliability were evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The Malay version of PedsQLTM&nbsp; Family Impact Moduleshowed good internal consistency reliability (Cronbach’s alpha &gt; 0.7). Second order CFA showed that the instrument had acceptable construct validity after modification with Goodness-of-fit indices reached the standard indicating acceptable model fit (2(426) = 878.842, p&lt;0.001; RMSEA = 0.053; CFI = 0.918; 2/df= 2.063).Average variance extracted and composite reliability achieved minimum acceptable value for main construct and all subconstructs except Physical Functioning subconstruct. The Malay version of PedsQLTM Family Impact Module with eight subscales and 31 items had adequate construct validity and reliability and could be used to assess the impact of pediatric disability on parent HRQoL and family functioning in Malay-speaking Malaysian familieS

Study of Heavy Metal Levels among Farmers of Muda Agricultural Development Authority, Malaysia

Heavy metals, particularly cadmium, lead, and arsenic, constitute a significant potential threat to human health. This study was conducted to determine the levels of cadmium, lead, and arsenic in nail samples from farmers at Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA), Kedah, Malaysia, and evaluate factors that can contribute to their accumulations. A total of 116 farmers participated in this study. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to analyze concentration of heavy metals in the nail samples and questionnaires were given to participants to get demographic, health status, and their agricultural activities data. In this paper, the level of heavy metals was within the normal range and varies according to demographic factors. We found that there were significant correlations between working period with level of lead and arsenic (r = 0.315 and r = 0.242, resp., P < 0.01) and age with lead level (r = 0.175, P < 0.05). Our findings suggested that agricultural activities could contribute to the accumulation of heavy metals in farmers. Hence, the control of environmental levels of and human exposure to these metals to prevent adverse health effects is still an important public health issue

The Relationship between Time Spent on Facebook and Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) Among Third Year Biomedical Science Students in Faculty Health Sciences, UKM

AbstractSocial networking site Facebook is the latest online avenue for social interactions. Facebook commands a lot of popularity among the students. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between time spent on Facebook and the Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of third year Biomedical Science students in the Faculty Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. A cross sectional study was carried out and the tools to collect information were close ended questionnaire. The study found that there was no significant correlation between time spent on Facebook and students CGPA; r= 0.152, p= 0.185.There is no significant difference CGPA between gender p>0.05 and there is significant difference between race p<0.05. It can be concluded that the FSK student's CGPA achievement was not significantly associated with the time spent on Facebook

Analisa sitogenetik sel bukal petani di Tanjung Karang dan Kelantan yang terdedah kepada pestisid

Pestisid dan baja kimia digunakan secara meluas dalam sektor pertanian bagi meningkatkan hasil pertanian dalam kalangan petani. Namun, pendedahan kepada pestisid akan memberi potensi risiko kepada kesihatan manusia. Kajian ini bertujuan menganalisa kekerapan pembentukan mikronukleus (MN) dan binukleus (BNu) pada mukosa sel bukal petani yang terdedah kepada pestisid dengan menggunakan asai MN. Perbandingan kekerapan MN dan Bnu dilakukan di dua kawasan iaitu Tanjung Karang, Selangor dan Kelantan kerana aktiviti pertanian dan jenis pestisid yang digunakan adalah berbeza. Pengambilan sel bukal dilakukan pada petani di Tanjung Karang (n = 32) dan petani di Kelantan (n = 43) dengan mnggunakan kayu penyendal lidah. Borang soal selidik juga digunakan untuk mendapatkan data demografik para petani. Analisa sitogenetik dilakukan dengan menggunakan pewarnaan Akridin Jingga (AO) 0.0025% (w/v). Kekerapan MN dan BNu yang terbentuk melalui analisa dibawah mikroskop fluoresen dijadikan sebagai petunjuk kerosakan sitogenetik. Keputusan kajian menunjukkan kekerapan MN dan BNu petani di Tanjung Karang adalah lebih tinggi secara signifikan (p 0.05) dan amalan pemakaian PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) (p > 0.05). Selain itu, ujian korelasi yang dijalankan menunjukkan terdapat korelasi positif antara kekerapan MN dengan tempoh pendedahan pestisid petani di Tanjung Karang (p > 0.05, r = 0.015) dan Kelantan (p > 0.05, r = 0.0158). Manakala, kekerapan BNu juga mempunyai korelasi positif dengan pendedahan pestisid petani di Tanjung Karang (p > 0.05, r = 0.036) dan petani di Kelantan (p > 0.05, r = 0.013). Justeru, kajian ini membuktikan bahawa pendedahan pestisid boleh meningkatkan pembentukan MN dan BNu dalam kalangan petani dan ini menjelaskan bahawa penggunaan pestisid dalam jangka masa panjang boleh mengaruh genotoksisiti dan kerosakan DNA kepada manusia

Micronucleus analysis in buccal swabs of paddy farmers from the East Coast of Malaysia

Pesticide exposure may cause genotoxic effects by inducing the formation of micronucleus (Mn). Mn are fragments of chromosomes that remains after cells division. The increase in Mn may increase the risk of cancer formation. Our study aimed to determine the effects of lifestyle and pesticide exposure on the formation of Mn in epithelial cells from buccal swabs among paddy farmers in Malaysia. About 40 farmers who were exposed to pesticides were chosen as subjects and 30 personnels whose not directly exposed to pesticides, were chosen as the control group. Demographic and anthropometric data were obtained from questionnaires developed. Analysis of Mn formation was done using Giemsa staining (10% v/v) and the frequency of Mn formation was scored from 1000 cells per sample. Kruskal-Wallis test done between Mn frequency with age group showed a significant increase (p < 0.05) in Mn frequency in farmers as compared to the control in the age group of 30-39 , 40-49 years, and 50-59 years. Significant increased (p < 0.05) were observed between Mn frequency groups of normal BMI, pre-obese, and grade 1 obese as compared to control. Significant increase of Mn frequency (p < 0.01) was also seen among smokers and farmer’s group (15.39 ± 3.34) as compared to controls (4.76 ± 1.26). The maximum numbers of Mn found in farmers are 7 Mn per cell whereas for control group is only 3 Mn. However, most farmers had only 1 Mn (81.75 ± 6.42%) and 2 Mn (15.28 ± 5.14%). Mn frequency with the duration of exposure to pesticides in a month and the use of PPE revealed no significant difference (p = 0.27). In conclusion, the increased frequency of Mn was influenced by age, gender, BMI and smoking status of farmers besides commonly repeated duration of exposures and the use of PPE. Further studies are needed to analyze the causes of an increased in Mn among farmers

Perbandingan pengaruh persekitaran kediaman terhadap serangan asma di antara kanak-kanak Kuala Lumpur dengan Terengganu, Malaysia

Satu kajian perbandingan yang melibatkan kanak-kanak asma di Kuala Lumpur dan Terengganu telah dijalankan. Objektif kajian ini adalah untuk mengenalpl!Sti hubungan di antara ciri kediaman dalaman dan luaran yang mewakili keadaan persekitaran kediaman dengan kekerapan serangan asma di kalangan kanak-kanak dari 2 kawasan kajian. Melalui kaedah pensampelan bertujuan seramai 163 orang kanak-kanak berumur dalam lingkungan 8-12 tahun telah terpilih di Kuala Lumpur, manakala 38 orang kanak-kanak pula telah terpilih di Terengganu. Kajian yang berbentuk epidemiologi urutan masa (time series) ini telah dijalankan dari 26 Jun sehingga 23 November 1996. Borang soal-selidik telah digunakan untuk mengumpul maklumat-maklumat seperti latar belakang sosioekonomi, sejarah serta ciri kediaman dalaman dan luaran rumah kanak-kanak asma kajian. Manakala kad diari pula telah digunakan untuk mendapatkan maklumat mengenai kekerapan serangan asma harian. Perkembangan kanak-kanak ini telah diikuti sepanjang kajian ini dijalankan bagi mendapatkan maklumat mengenai kekerapan serangan asma yang dialami. Hasil daripada ujian korelasi yang dijalankan menunjukkan bahawa gabungan skor ciri kediaman mempunyai hubungan yang signifikan dengan kekerapan serangan asma individu di kalangan kanak-kanak di Kuala Lumpur (r=O.221, p=O.O50). Manakala di Terengganu ujian korelasi yang dijalankan tidak menunjukkan hubungan yang signifikan di antara gabungan skor ciri kediaman dengan kekerapan serangan asma individu (r=O.274 p=O.O96). Sungguhpun begitu hasil darl Ujian Khi-kuasadua dan Ujian Tepat Fisher yang dijalankan menunjukkan tiada hubungan yang signifikan di antara serangan asma individu dengan setiap ciri kediaman di kalangan kanak-kanak asma di Kuala Lumpur dan Terengganu. Hasil daripada ujian regresi berganda juga mendapati tiada hubungan yang signifikan di antara serangan asma individu dengan setiap ciri kediaman kanak-kanak di kedua kawasan kajian

The effectiveness of a motivation camp programme among second and third year students of biomedical science

Motivation camp is one of the learning interventions to assist underperform students in improving their academic performances in term of GPA (Grade Point Average). An intervention study was carried out to know the effectiveness of a motivation camp in improving the academic performances among the biomedical science students at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. Total of 44 respondents were involved in this study from year 2 and year 3 and had been categorized into control and intervention groups (n = 22 per group). The intervention group was given motivational talks followed by a group discussion and self-reflection. The students in the intervention group were also assigned with academicians to facilitate and guide them throughout the motivational camp. The students were interested in motivational talks activity the most. The average GPA showed a significant improvement after the motivation camp with 3.01 ± 0.30 (p < 0.05) for the intervention group. Yet, control group also displayed a significant increment in the average GPA, 3.24 ± 0.06 (p < 0.05). In conclusion, motivation camp is one of the many learning intervention tools that strategize to help students in improving their academic performances but it should be complemented with other intervention methods

Perceived stress among Malay caregivers of children with learning disabilities in Kelantan

Parents or caregivers of children with learning disabilities have been shown to experience increases in stress and greater negative caregiving consequences than those with typically developing children. The current study sought to assess the perceived stress among Malay caregivers of children with learning disabilities in Kelantan. The Malay version of Perceived Stress Scale 10 items was administered to a sample of 40 caregivers of children with learning disabilities who were registered to five Pusat Pemulihan Dalam Komuniti (PDK) in Kelantan. Higher scores indicate higher levels of stress. The caregivers had mean age of 47.68 (SD = 9.18) years old, of whom 90% were fathers or mothers. Ninety percent of them were married, majority were unemployed or housewives and had secondary school education. The majority of children with learning disabilities were males and half of them were Down Syndrome children. The mean total Perceived Stress Scale score of the caregivers was 16.77 (SD = 5.74). There were no significant associations between total perceived stress score and any of the independent variables. The mean total perceived stress score showed that the perceived stress level was in the category of slightly higher than average and health concern level was high, while the average stress level was between score of 12 to 15. In conclusion, this result indicated that the caregivers had slightly higher levels of stress than the average score, and might increase susceptibility to stress-induced illness

Adoption of the Mobile Health Screening Programme for Farming Communities: A Study Among Pesticide-Exposed Farmers from North East of Peninsular Malaysia

Health awareness promotion among farming communities are important for a sustainable agriculture activities. A crosssectional study was conducted to assess health status among farming communities in Cameron Highlands, Pahang (n = 61) and Bachok and Pasir Puteh, Kelantan (n = 143). Mobile Health Screening Programme composed of assessment of blood glucose, blood cholesterol, haemoglobin, blood pressure, pterygium, lung function and nerve conductive velocity was utilized. Our results indicate that the percentage of Cameron Highland’s farmers with hyperglycaemia, systolic hypertension, diastolic hypertension and anaemia were 8.2%, 14.8%, 11.5% and 8.2%, respectively. However, higher percentage of farmers in Bachok and Pasir Puteh, Kelantan with hyperglycaemia (32.8%), hypercholesterolaemia (83%), anaemia (24.2%) and systolic hypertension (41.9%) were observed. Pterygium was positive for 88.6% of farmers in Cameron Highlands and 94.4% in Bachok and Pasir Puteh. Lung function test shows that 61.7% and 11.4% of farmers in Cameron Highlands had restrictive and obstructive lung, respectively. In Bachok and Pasir Puteh, a total of 19.8%, 55.5% and 23.9% of farmers were found to have obstructive, restrictive and combined obstructive and restrictive lung, respectively. Current Perception Threshold (CPT) value which indicate nerve conductive velocity were signifi cantly increased (p < 0.05) among Cameron Highland’s farmers for both median and peroneal nerve at all frequencies (5 Hz, 250 Hz and 2000 Hz). In Bachok and Pasir Puteh, the values of the CPT for median nerve was signifi cantly increased (p < 0.05) for all frequencies (5, 250 and 2000 Hz). Meanwhile, a signifi cant increased (p < 0.05) was observed for the CPT values for peroneal nerve at the frequencies of 250 and 2000 Hz as compared to control groups. In conclusion, analysis revealed different health problem among the studied farming communities which could be infl uenced by the differences in farming practices. Thus, employed Mobile Health Screening Programme offers a monitoring approach that could highlight the need for suitable health services and awareness programmes for different farming communities