1.Psychosocial Problem and its Associated Factors Among Adolescents in the Secondary Schools in Pasir Gudang, Johor
Latiffah Abdul Latiff ; Esra Tajik ; Normala Ibrahim ; Azrin Shah Abu Bakar ; Shirin Shameema Albar Ali Shirin
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2017;13(1):35-44
Introduction: Adolescence is a crucial period with impressive emotional changes. Emotional disorders such as
depression, anxiety and stress are high among adolescents worldwide; however the psychosocial changes are often
neglected. The aim of the current study was to determine the depression, anxiety and stress symptoms and their
associated factors among adolescents. Methods: A cross-sectional study using cluster sampling was carried out
among school-going adolescents in 10 secondary schools in Pasir Gudang, Johor, Malaysia. Respondents answered
a self-administered questionnaire including socio-demographic, Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment (IPPA),
Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) and Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Using SPSS-21,
chi-square test and binomial logistic regression were conducted to examine the associations between dependent and
independent variables. Results: Respondents (52.6% female and 53.9% Malay) had 46.0% prevalence of depression
symptoms, 59.1% anxiety, 38.1% stress and 45.6% psychosocial status (internalizing and externalizing problems).
Age, father occupation and parental bonding were significantly predicted having moderate to extremely severe
depression symptom (p<0.05). Younger adolescents (13-14 years old) were 1.42 times more likely to have anxiety
symptom. In addition, respondents with insecure father attachment were 1.5 times more likely to have stress symptom
(p<0.05). Respondents with insecure parental attachment were more likely to have psychosocial problem
(p<0.05). Conclusions: Depression, anxiety and stress of adolescents were influenced by the sociodemographic of
adoleascents and their parents. Age, gender and parental attachment were the significant predictors in the
current study which should be the center of attention for the future studies to reduce the psychological disorders
among adolescents.
Adolescent
;
Depression
;
Anxiety
2.Expectant Management of Missed Miscarriage
Andi Anggeriana Andi Asri ; Noor Azmi Mat Adenan ; Ali Jafarzadeh Esfehani ; Norhafizah Mohtaruddin ; Ma Saung Oo ; Latiffah A. Latiff
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2015;11(1):69-76
Early pregnancy losses occur in 10-20% of all pregnancies. Surgical evacuation has always been the
mainstay of management of miscarriages. The main aim of this study was to understand the success rate
of expectant management of miscarriage with regards to gestational sac size and period of gestation.
The secondary outcome was to measure the satisfaction level and the rate of pregnancy after 6 month of
expectant management. Patients diagnosed with missed miscarriages were requested to choose between
expectant or surgical management. Those decided for expectant management on “wait and watch”
approach were assessed weekly up to 5 completed weeks until complete miscarriage was achieved
spontaneously. Surgical evacuation was performed if medically indicated or requested by the patients
at any time or at the end of fifth week if complete miscarriage was not achieved. Out of 212 cases, 75
(35.4%) opted for expectant management. Complete miscarriage was achieved in 85.3% of subjects by
the end of fifth weeks respectively. Mean of Gestational sac size and period of gestation was not found
to influence the success rate of complete spontaneous miscarriage in the expectant management. No
morbidity was recorded during the five weeks of the study period. Mean satisfaction score was 9.7±8.3.
Pregnancy occurred in 47% of patients within 6 months follow up. The Receiver operation characteristic
(ROC) curve analysis suggested the end of second week as the cut off for surgical intervention. This
study revealed that expectant management of missed miscarriage is a reliable management of missed
miscarriage within the first two weeks.
Pregnancy Complications
;
Abortion, Spontaneous
4.A Cross-sectional Study of Ovarian Cancer Knowledge and Its Determinants among Female Employees in a Public University, Malaysia
Najat Milad ELMAHDI ; Latiffah A LATIFF ; Mehrnoosh AKHTARI-ZAVARE ; Maimunah ISMAIL ; Rosliza Abdul MANAF ; Azrin Shah Bin Abu Bakar
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2017;13(3):71-79
Introduction: Ovarian cancer is recognizable as the fourth leading cancer in Malaysia. Knowledge on ovarian cancer is low among Malaysian women, which may affect their interpretation of early symptoms and delay presentation of ovarian cancer cases. The aim of this study was to determine the level of ovarian cancer knowledge and its determinants among female nonacademic staff in Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia. Methods: Across- sectional study was designed to collect the data from 366 participants via a validated self-administered questionnaire, from April to July 2015. Results: The mean age of participants was 34 ± 7.89. Most of the sample was Malay (96.4%), married (61.5%). A total of 51.4% of respondents reported low knowledge level. Knowledge of ovarian cancer was significantly associated with marital status (p<0.001), age (p=0.03), interest to know about ovarian cancer (p<0.001) and level of education (p= 0.02) . Participant’ age and having heard or read about ovarian cancer were predictors to low knowledge, with the odds ratios of (OR=1.031, 95% CI= 1.002-1.061, P=0.03) and (OR=0.549, 95% CI= 0.356-0.846, P < 0.00) respectively. Conclusion: Our findings showed that more than half of female nonacademic staff in UPM was not well knowledgeable about ovarian cancer, which needs an educational intervention to improve knowledge among this group.
5.A Cross Sectional Study to Explore Factors Affecting Adolescent-Parents Attachment in a Rapidly Developing Society in Malaysia
Latiffah Abdul LATIFF ; Mehrnoosh AKHTARI-ZAVARE ; Ali Jafarzadeh ESFEHANI ; Azrin Shah Abu Bakar ; Chin Yit SIEW ; Hamidin AWANG ; Siti Nur&rsquo ; Asyura ADZNAMM
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2018;14(1):35-43
Introduction: Secure attachment to parents prevents adolescents from externalizingbehaviours especially in developing countries. The aim of this study was to identify thecontributors to parental attachment in a developing society. Methodology: This crosssectional study was performed on urban secondary students (aged between 13 and 17 years)based on multistage sampling in Pasir Gudang District, Johor, Malaysia. The depression,anxiety and stress (DASS-21) and Inventory of parent and peer attachment (IPPA)questionnaires were used along with a questionnaire for demographic information. Analysisof covariance (ANCOVA) was used to identify the main effect of study parameters on IPPAscores for father and mother. Results: A total of 2980 students (46.9% male and 53.1%female) participated in this study. Mean and SD for age was 14.39±1.28. Depression scoreand school form had a significant main effect on both paternal and maternal attachment(p<0.05). Age (p=0.003), ethnicity (p=0.01), history of intimate relationship (p=0.03),paternal education level (p=0.006) and maternal education level (p=0.04) had a main effecton paternal attachment, while gender (p=0.02) and stress (p=0.001) were shown to havesignificant main effect on maternal attachment. Discussion: The findings of this studyrevealed different contributors for adolescent attachment with father and mother. Local,cultural and economic structure of the community should be taken into account in order toplan for an intervention strategy to secure adolescent’s relationship with parents.