1.Prediction and Explanation on Adolescent Aggression: A Study Protocol
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2020;16(No.1):106-114
Adolescent aggression is an important public health concern with escalating prevalence of juvenile
cases and violence among these age groups including robbery, homicide, and gang fights. The objectives of this
study protocol are to determine the biopsychosocial predictors and explore the contextual factors of adolescent aggression among secondary school students in Hulu Langat. Methods: Explanatory mixed method study design will
be used, consist of quantitative cross-sectional study followed by basic qualitative study. Proportionate population
sampling among Form 4 secondary school students from selected public secondary schools in Hulu Langat will be
executed. Questionnaires will be distributed to 481 students on aggression as the dependent variable, and several
independent variables: demographic (ethnicity, family income), biological (sex, head injury, nutritional deficiency,
breakfast skipping), psychological (attitude and normative beliefs, personality trait, emotional intelligence), and social factors (family environment, single parent status, domestic violence, peer deviant affiliation, alcohol, smoking,
substance abuse). Subsequently, participants with moderate to high aggression scores will be further explored on the
contextual factors of adolescent aggression by in-depth interview. Multiple linear regression will be executed using
SPSS to determine significant predictors whereas thematic analysis will be applied for qualitative data analysis on
the context of adolescent aggression. Both findings will be further integrated and discussed to give comprehensive
description on the phenomena. Conclusion: Better knowledge and understanding on adolescent aggression may
generate new framework to drive more effective preventive strategies and unravel adolescent aggressive related Public Health problems.
2.Biosocial Background in the Development of Child Overweight and Obesity among Preschoolers in Putrajaya: An Observational Study
Fatimah Ahmad FAUZI ; Nor Afiah Mohd Zulkefli
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2017;13(3):11-20
Introduction: Childhood obesity becomes a global epidemic with the majority are living in developing countries. Obese children are at risk of becoming obese adults with non-communicable diseases, which may further lead to huge economic burden for the affected countries. The study objectives were to determine the biosocial background contributing overweight and obesity among preschoolers in Putrajaya (2017) - sociodemographic, pre-and perinatal factors, feeding and weaning practices. Methods: Cross-sectional study was performed using cluster random sampling among 897 preschoolers, whose anthropometric body weights and heights were measured. The calculated BMI was used to determine their obese status based on WHO Growth Standards 2006 and Reference 2007. Their mothers were distributed with self-administered, validated, and pre-tested questionnaires regarding their children’s first two-years-of-life experience. Chi Square test was used for bivariate categorical analysis, Independent T-test and Mann Whitney U test for continuous data analysis. Multivariate binary logistic regression was executed to determine predictors of child obesity. Results: The prevalence of obese children was 7.4%, which can be predicted by the increase in child’s age (Adjusted Odd Ratio: 2.619; 95%CI: 1.435 – 4.780), mothers with higher level of education (AOR: 3.896; 95%CI: 1.127 – 13.470), and higher maternal BMI (AOR: 1.132; 95%CI: 1.057 – 1.213). Conclusion: Three predictors of child obesity can be derived from sociodemographic and pre-and perinatal factors. Further application on these predictors in more targeted interventions and policies need to be considered to reduce the prevalence of obesity and related non-communicable diseases in the country.