1.Undiagnosed Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Its Risk Factors among Malaysians: Findings of a Nationwide Study
Lim Kuang Kuay ; Hasimah Ismail ; Mohd Azahadi Omar ; Anis Aqilah Noor Hisham ; Tahir Aris ; Rashidah Ambak ; Mohammad Fadhli Mohd Yusoff
International Journal of Public Health Research 2016;6(1):677-684
The prevalence of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is increasing worldwide and many of these affected individuals remain unidentified. Undiagnosed T2DM may impose substantial public health implications because these individuals remain untreated and at risk for complications. The objective of this study was to determine the national prevalence of undiagnosed T2DM and to identify the associated risk factors. A nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted involving 17,783 respondents. Two-stage stratified sampling design was used to select a representative sample of the Malaysian adult population. Structured validated questionnaires with face to face interviews were used to obtain data. Respondents, who claimed that they were not having diabetes, were then asked to perform a fasting blood glucose finger-prick test by Accutrend GC machine. The prevalence of undiagnosed T2DM was 8.9% (n=1587). The highest percentage of undiagnosed T2DM was found among males (10.2%), 55-59 years old (13.4%), highest education attainers of primary school (11.1%), Indians (10.3%), married (10.3%), working (8.9%) and living in the urban areas (9.2%). Multivariate analyses showed that factors associated with undiagnosed T2DM were gender, age group, ethnicity, marital status, obesity and hypertension. This study found an increasing trend of undiagnosed T2DM in Malaysia compared to 2006. This finding is alarming as risk factors associated with undiagnosed diabetes were related to most of the socio-demographic factors studied. Therefore, early diabetic screening is crucial especially among adults aged 30 and above to prevent more serious complications of this disease.
2.Determinants of Knowledge, Attitude and Practices towards Family Planning Among Women in Raub, Pahang, Malaysia
Rashidah Mohd Yusoff ; Sofee Mohammad Akhlak ; Masoud Mohammadnezhad ; Nik Hussin Nik Mat ; Hassila Mohamed Salehan
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2022;18(No.2):123-128
Introduction: Family planning (FP) is a method to prevent unwanted pregnancies among couples. More than 200
million women in the developing nation do not want pregnancy but do not practically use modern methods of FP.
Women’s knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) play a crucial role in using FP’s is a form of practice. This study
explored the determinants of KAP towards FP among women in Raub, Pahang, Malaysia. Methods: A cross-sectional
study was conducted among 249 women with a convenience sampling method. Data was collected using a pilot-tested self-administered questionnaire. Results: Age, ethnicity, religion, marital status, employment status, annual
income, education level, and the number of children were significantly correlated (p = 0.001 – 0.019) with the KAP
of FP. Conclusion: The study demonstrated a need for health education campaigns and utilise every interaction of
women with healthcare providers to disseminate information on FP and dispel misconceptions. Interventional studies are recommended for further exploration.