1.A Mini-review on the Determinants and Risk Factors of Adolescent Pregnancy in Developing Countries
Shameer Khan Sulaiman ; Idayu Badilla Idris ; Rozita Hod ; Nik Nairan Abdullah ; Rafidah Hod ; Nadia Aqilla Shamsusah
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2023;19(No.3):341-348
Pregnant adolescents have been shown to have a higher incidence of health and non-health-related complications
that affect both mothers and infants. These include increased risk of pregnancy-related diseases such as anemia and
pre-eclampsia, preterm and low-birth-weight babies, as well as other social consequences such as educational and
financial difficulties. This mini review evaluates selected articles which explain the attitudes, knowledge, behavior
and other risk factors associated with pregnancy among adolescents in developing countries. It also revealed that
inadequate knowledge among adolescents about reproductive and sexual health, other social, cultural and peer
influences, parenting values, and poor financial and educational status were factors that contribute to adolescent
pregnancy. Likewise, a lack of support from parents, educators and healthcare workers had negative impacts on
healthy sexual behavior among adolescents, which may ultimately lead to adolescent pregnancy. We conclude that
the factors discussed in this review need to be evaluated and taken into consideration by policymakers and healthcare workers when formulating strategies to prevent pregnancies among adolescents.
3.Knowledge and Attitude of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Medical Students on Forest Bathing
Aaron Ignatius ; Sze Lynn Teo ; Wan Muhammad Aiman Hazimin ; Fahninazirah Ahmad ; Aeinaa Shida ; Rafidah Hod ; Hanizah Mohd Yusoff ; Ahmad Fariz Mohamed ; Rozita Hod
International Journal of Public Health Research 2022;12(no.1):1571-1578
Background and aims:
Forest bathing or Shinrin-Yoku is a practice of being mindful of nature and it offers multiple health benefits in both physiological and psychological factors. This study aimed to determine the knowledge and attitude of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) medical students towards forest bathing and its relationship with the sociodemographic factors.
Materials and methods:
A total of 165 UKM medical students were recruited using proportionate random sampling. The subjects were then categorized based on the academic year (Year 1 - Year 5). Exclusion criteria includes those who deferred their academic year and/or who were hospitalized. A questionnaire was given via a google form consisting of sociodemographic data details and 15 questions for each knowledge and attitude on forest bathing.
Results:
The prevalence of good knowledge and good attitude of UKM medical students towards forest bathing were 64.2% (n=106) and 50.9% (n=84) respectively. Female medical students had a good knowledge (n=63, 73.3%) and good attitude (n=52, 60.5%) compared to male medical students' knowledge (n=43, 54.4%) and attitude (n=32, 10.5%) leading to a p-value of 0.012 and p-value of 0.010. Otherwise, other sociodemographic factors including race, level of medical year and level of lifestyle did not affect participants' knowledge and attitude on forest bathing.
Conclusion
Majority of UKM medical students have a higher prevalence of good knowledge compared to good attitude on forest bathing. Therefore, intervention is recommended especially towards male medical students as forest bathing has enough evidence as preventive medicine.