1.A Review on Determinants of Depression among Adult Prisoner
Gunenthira RAO ; Rosliza Abdul MANAF ; Halimatus Sakdiah MINHAT
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2018;14(2):75-87
Prisoner tend to be marginalized and deprived that it burdens them with psychological trauma, predominantly depression. This review will identify the determinants of depression among adult inmates. Literatures published from 2012 to March 2017 were searched from various databases. Inclusion criteria were English full text, adults with a diagnosis of depression while exclusion criteria were diagnostic instruments, clinical or drug trials. The review adhered to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses: The PRISMA Statement reporting. A total of 168 studies were identified although only 14 studies were eligible for final review. Factors associated with inmates’ depression range from the potentially modifiable to non-modifiable. Recognized modifiable factors were psychological, family support, and environment while non-modifiable were biological, demographic, individual, and social. Determinants identified should be addressed in formulation of better targeting therapy, in terms of both prevention and treatment of depression among inmates.
2.Methanol outbreak in the district of Hulu Langat, 2018
Muhammad Adil Zainal Abidin ; Nur Zawani Jalaluddin ; Hazariah Abd Halim ; Gunenthira Rao ; Mohd Nasir Habib ; Zailiza Suli
The Medical Journal of Malaysia 2019;74(5):413-417
Introduction: A methanol outbreak occurred in the district of
Hulu Langat on 16 September 2018. The Hulu Langat District
Health Office received 25 notifications of a suspected
methanol poisoning from Kajang and Ampang Hospital. An
outbreak investigation was done to determine the source
followed by a preventive and control measure.
Method: Active case detection was done on cases living
quarters and workplaces. Patients were interviewed, and
their blood and urine samples were sent for methanol
analysis. Samples of suspected alcoholic beverages were
also sent for analysis. A suspected case was defined as any
person presented with clinical symptoms with a history of
consuming alcoholic beverages within five days before
symptoms and high anion gap metabolic acidosis. A
confirmed case was defined as a suspected case with
positive blood and urine methanol.
Results: In total, there were 25 suspected cases, of which 12
cases were confirmed. The calculated attack rate was 48%.
There were six mortalities (50%) secondary to severe
metabolic acidosis. The most common presenting symptom
was vomiting (75%) and abdominal pain (41.7%). These
cases were linked to consumption of illicitly produced
alcohol. Samples of the alcoholic drinks were positive
containing high level of methanol.
Conclusion: The methanol outbreak in the Hulu Langat was
successfully managed. Appropriate control and prevention
measures were taken, including health promotion and joint
enforcement activities. Steps were taken successfully
through collaborations with multiple agencies and
cooperation with Selangor Health Departments and the
Ministry of Health. Continuous surveillance on the product
of liquor, and health promotion are essential to prevent a
similar outbreak from happening again in future.
3.Relationship of self-regulation and lifestyle behaviour with overweight among male and female adolescents in Selangor
Anu Suria Ganason ; Noor Azimah Muhammad ; Gunenthira Rao ; Hizlinda Tohid ; Majmin Sheikh Hamzah ; Khairani Omar
Malaysian Journal of Nutrition 2022;28(No.3):395-408
Introduction: The ability of a person to self-regulate and practise healthy lifestyle
behaviours determine one’s weight status. The objective of this study was to
determine the relationship of self-regulation, dietary practices, and physical activity
with overweight status among male and female adolescents. Methods: This crosssectional study used multistage cluster sampling involving government secondary
school students aged between 13 and 14 years old in Hulu Langat, Selangor.
Students answered a validated self-administered questionnaire comprising
socio-demography, dietary practices, physical activity, and self-regulation items.
Their body mass index (BMI) was calculated, and weight status was determined
using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) BMI chart. Results:
Among 636 students, 27.0% were “overweight”, affecting more male than female
students (p=0.032). Majority of them (96.7%) were motivated to maintain healthy
body weight, but only a third of the students took vegetables, fruits and grains
(32.4%), and performed vigorous physical activity (31.1%) regularly. Regardless of
the “overweight” status, there were no significant differences in dietary practices,
physical activity, and autonomous regulation for both genders. Female students
showed a higher level of controlled regulation than male students in non-overweight
(p=0.005) and overweight (p<0.001) groups. Higher controlled regulation increased
the odds of being overweight among female students (AOR=1.04, 95% CI=1.04-1.08,
p=0.010). Conclusion: Thus, health authorities need to develop programmes to
assist, particularly female students, in practising higher autonomous regulation
to combat overweight and obesity, as this group exhibits a high level of controlled
regulation, which increases the likelihood of being overweight.