1.Factors Affecting Nutritional Status of Children below 24 Months in Pekan District, Pahang, Malaysia
Nargis Masroor ; Jamaluddin Ab Rahman ; Tin Myo Han ; Muzzaffar Ali Khan Khattak ; Aye Aye
Malaysian Journal of Nutrition 2014;20(2):197-207
Introduction: This study aimed to assess the nutritional status of children below 24 months in the district of Pekan, Pahang, and identify the contributing factors.
Methods: Using a cross-sectional methodology, a total of 910 children was selected by random sampling from four public health clinics. Anthropometric measurements were taken and weight-for-age, height-for-age, and weight-forheight were calculated in Z scores. Immediate caregivers of children were interviewed by using a pretested validated questionnaire to assess their socioeconomic, demographic, educational and occupational status. Results: Of the 910 children who participated in the study, the majority were Malay (70.1%), while the remaining comprised indigenous or Orang-Asli (OA) children.
Prevalence of wasting, stunting and underweight were 28.7 %, 15.6 % and 19.0% respectively. There were more underweight males than females. Wasting was most common among children aged below 6 months. Stunting was more prevalent in children between 12 to 24 months. Obesity was seen in 7.3% of the sample. Maternal education, employment and socio-economic status had a significant influence on wasting and underweight. Children were vulnerable to stunting as age advanced, whereas prevalence of wasting tended to decrease. Conclusion: Malnutrition exists in significant proportions among children below 24 months
in the Pekan district. This study identified low birth weight along with age, race, gender, large family size and socio-economic status as important risk factors
of malnutrition.
Nutritional Status
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Child Nutrition Disorders
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Educational Status
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Social Conditions
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Pahang
2.Cessation of E-Cigarette Use Among Adults in Malaysia: Findings from a Nationwide Survey
Muhammad Fadhli Mohd Yusoff ; Jane Ling Miaw Yn ; Thamil Arasu Saminathan ; Jamaluddin Ab Rahman ; Wan Shakira Rodzlan Hasani ; Tania Gayle Robert Lourdes ; Lim Kuang Hock ; Sumarni Mohd Ghazali ; Mohamad Haniki Nik Mohamed
International Journal of Public Health Research 2022;12(no.1):1564-1570
Introduction:
The use of e-cigarettes has increased rapidly around the world including in Malaysia. However, a significant proportion of people who started using e-cigarettes later discontinued using them. The aim of this study is to identify prevalence of former e-cigarette use and factors associated with quitting, among Malaysian adults.
Methods:
This study is a part of a national household survey examining the use of e-cigarettes among Malaysian adults aged 18 years and above in 2016. A multistage stratified cluster sampling method was used in the survey. A bilingual (Malay and English) structured questionnaire was used and data was collected via face-to-face interview. Prevalence of current e-cigarette use and former e-cigarette use were determined. A multiple logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with quitting e-cigarettes.
Results:
A total of 4,288 adults participated in the survey, where 110 (3.2%) and 289 (8.6%) were identified as current and former e-cigarette users respectively. The following factors were significantly associated with quitting e-cigarette use: e-cigarette users who had no exposure to e-cigarettes at the workplace (aOR = 2.70; 95% CI: 1.39, 5.24); the perception that e-cigarette is more harmful to others compared to tobacco smoke (aOR = 2.46; 95% CI: 1.22, 4.97); and the perception that e-cigarettes do not help people to maintain cigarette abstinence (aOR = 2.19; 95% CI: 1.23, 3.92).
Conclusions
This study contributes to a better understanding of the factors associated with cessation of e-cigarettes. Findings from this study can assist any e-cigarette cessation intervention measures.