Pre-independence medical journals in British Malaya: A content analysis
https://doi.org/10.56026/imu.13.2.23
- Author:
Cheong Lieng Teng
1
;
Kean Ghee Lim
1
;
Chun Yiing Ang
2
;
Soo Yin Chan
3
;
Edwin Keat Song Sam
2
;
Jason Chee Siang Wee
4
;
Yee Chiing Ong
5
Author Information
1. International Medical University, Jalan Rasah, 70300, Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, MALAYSIA
2. University Malaya Medical Centre, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA
3. Queen Elizabeth Hospital, 13A, Jalan Penampang, 88200 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, MALAYSIA
4. Hospital Melaka, Jalan Mufti Haji Khalil, 75400 Melaka, MALAYSIA
5. Hospital Umum Sarawak, Jalan Hospital, 93586 Kuching, Sarawak, MALAYSIA
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
British Malaya;
Health care;
History of medicine;
Journals.
- MeSH:
History of Medicine
- From:International e-Journal of Science, Medicine and Education
2019;13(2):23-26
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Introduction:This study aims to describe the content of several pre-independence medical journals published in
British Malaya.
Methods:The content of five journals were retrieved from National Library of Singapore e-resources and print collection of the Reference Library, Institute for Medical Research, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The content of these journals was classified and descriptive analysis performed.
Results:The five journals identified were Journal of the Straits Medical Association, Journal of the Malaya Branch of the British Medical Association, Malaya Medical Journal, Malayan Medical Journal and Journal of the Malaya Branch of the British Medical Association (new series). A total of 81 issues with 873 articles were retrieved. Almost one-third of articles were concerned with these topics: malaria, mosquito control, beri-beri, tuberculosis, sexually transmitted diseases, helminthiasis, leprosy and cholera. One-fifth of the articles were case reports and 95% of the articles were written by single authors.
Discussion:The content of these journals is a good resource for those who are interested in the history of medicine – it provided substantial details on the state of public health and chronicled the medical writings of medical workers in British Malaya. It illustrates well the introduction of Western medicine to tackle health problems that arose from the interplay of immigration, poor environmental sanitation and economic exploitation.
- Full text:20250811141016401156.-OA1-Teng-et-al.pdf
