1.The effectiveness of theory-based intervention to improve haemoglobin levels among women with anaemia in pregnancy
Hasneezah Hassan ; Rosliza Abdul Manaf ; Salmiah Md Said ; Geeta Appannah
The Medical Journal of Malaysia 2020;75(6):626-634
health problem throughout the world. The effects of theexisting intervention in ensuring compliance to thesubscribed regimen and the impact of nutrition education inenhancing dietary modification during pregnancy inMalaysia have been minimal. This study aims to develop,implement and evaluate the effects of the Health BeliefModel educational intervention on haemoglobin level amonganaemic pregnant women.Methods: This is a quasi-experimental research with pre-post test design with control group involving 81 participantsper group from two health clinics in Sepang. The primaryoutcome was a change in the haemoglobin levels followingeducational intervention. Secondary outcomes includeknowledge on anaemia, Health Belief Model (HBM)constructs, dietary iron intake and compliance towards ironsupplementation. The intervention group received a HBM-based education intervention programme. Results: The response rate in the intervention and controlgroup were 83.9% and 82.7% respectively. Generalisedestimating equations analysis showed that the interventionwas effective in improving the mean haemoglobin level(β=0.75, 95%CI=0.52, 0.99, p<0.001), the knowledge score(β=1.42, 95%CI=0.36, 2.49, p=0.009), perceived severityscore (β=2.2, 95%CI= 1.02, 3.39, p<0.001) and increasedproportion of high compliance level (AOR=4.59, 95%CI=1.58,13.35, p=0.005).Conclusion: HBM-based health education programme hasproven to be effective in improving the haemoglobin levels,knowledge scores, perceived severity scores andcompliance level of participants. The study resultsemphasized on the effectiveness of such an approach,therefore it is recommended that future educationalinterventions which aim at increasing preventive healthybehaviours in pregnant women may benefit from theapplication of this model in primary health care settings.
2.Incidence and mortality rates of colorectal cancer in Malaysia.
Muhammad Radzi ABU HASSAN ; Ibtisam ISMAIL ; Mohd Azri MOHD SUAN ; Faizah AHMAD ; Wan Khamizar WAN KHAZIM ; Zabedah OTHMAN ; Rosaida MAT SAID ; Wei Leong TAN ; Siti RAHMAH ; Noor Syahireen MOHAMMED ; Shahrul Aiman SOELAR ; Nik Raihan NIK MUSTAPHA
Epidemiology and Health 2016;38(1):e2016007-
OBJECTIVES: This is the first study that estimates the incidence and mortality rate for colorectal cancer (CRC) patients in Malaysia by sex and ethnicity. METHODS: The 4,501 patients were selected from National Cancer Patient Registry-Colorectal Cancer data. Patient survival status was cross-checked with the National Registration Department. The age-standardised rate (ASR) was calculated as the proportion of CRC cases (incidence) and deaths (mortality) from 2008 to 2013, weighted by the age structure of the population, as determined by the Department of Statistics Malaysia and the World Health Organization world standard population distribution. RESULTS: The overall incidence rate for CRC was 21.32 cases per 100,000. Those of Chinese ethnicity had the highest CRC incidence (27.35), followed by the Malay (18.95), and Indian (17.55) ethnicities. The ASR incidence rate of CRC was 1.33 times higher among males than females (24.16 and 18.14 per 100,000, respectively). The 2011 (44.7%) CRC deaths were recorded. The overall ASR of mortality was 9.79 cases, with 11.85 among the Chinese, followed by 9.56 among the Malays and 7.08 among the Indians. The ASR of mortality was 1.42 times higher among males (11.46) than females (8.05). CONCLUSIONS: CRC incidence and mortality is higher in males than females. Individuals of Chinese ethnicity have the highest incidence of CRC, followed by the Malay and Indian ethnicities. The same trends were observed for the age-standardised mortality rate.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group
;
Colorectal Neoplasms*
;
Demography
;
Ethnic Groups
;
Female
;
Humans
;
Incidence*
;
Malaysia*
;
Male
;
Mortality*
;
World Health Organization
3.Health Education on The Knowledge of First Aid in Traffic Accidents in Students at Tunas Husada High School Kendari, Indonesia
Islaeli Islaeli ; Anisa Purnamasari ; Ari Nofitasari ; Faridah Mohd Said ; Hafizah Che Hassan
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2020;16(Supp 10, November):38-42
Introduction: Accidents including traffic accidents can occur anywhere, anytime. Around the world, 1.2 million die each year from accidents, and 50 million are injured. Indonesia has the fifth highest rate of accidents. The consequences of unexpected accidents can be life threatening, on an average one traffic accident occurs every 0.5 minutes. Cardiac Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is an individual's skill to save a person's life. This is very important in the first five minutes in a victim's life in many emergency situations. In an emergency, bystander including children in the high school is expected to perform a core role in carrying out CPR. The aim of this study is to determine CPR knowledge in High School. Methods: The type of research is a pre-experimental research by approaching the One Group Pre and Post Test Design. Intervention study using pre and post-test validated questionnaire was conducted among 40 students of Tunas Husada high school that were randomly selected. Data analysis was performed with the Macnemar test. Results: The results of the study obtained p= 0.000 which is less than 0.05, so result of the study reveal significant difference in knowledge before and after health education. Thus, there is an effect of health education in increasing knowledge of first aid in traffic accidents among students at Tunas Husada high school, Kendari. Conclusion: This study identify that majority students has poor knowledge on CPR. Therefore, implementation of basic life-support training for all school children is recommenced.
4. PAIgG and PAIgM levels in secondary dengue virus infections lead to thrombocytopenia in patients from KP, Pakistan
Ibrar ALAM ; Farhad ALI ; Said HASSAN ; Iftikhar ALAM ; Rahmat GUL ; Ibrar ALAM ; Ijaz ALI ; Aasif AWAN ; Sana ULLAH ; Imtiaz Ali KHAN
Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine 2015;5(10):801-805
Objective: To understand the impact of platelet associated immunoglobulin G (PAIgG)/platelet associated immunoglobulin M (PAIgM) on severity of dengue virus infection leading to thrombocytopenia. Methods: In this study we examined a total of 52 patients who were having secondary infection of dengue in acute phase by using competitive ELISA. Results: A decrease in the platelet count was observed at the acute phase of infection while all along the recovery stage the count of platelet was significantly increased. A significant decrease was observed in PAIgG and PAIgM in these subjects. Inverse correlation was found between platelets count and PAIgG/PAIgM among the subjects studied. In the platelets elution from ten subjects, anti-dengue virus immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M were observed. PAIgG and PAIgM with inclined levels were higher in dengue hemorrhagic fever than the classical dengue fever. In the development of dengue hemorrhagic fever PAIgM inclined level was independently associated with high specificity, showing a possible indication of dengue hemorrhagic fever. Conclusions: This study suggests that in secondary dengue virus infection, the PAIgG and PAIgM levels, and the activity of anti-dengue virus play key roles, both in the development and severity of the disease.
5.Aetiologies of Liver Cirrhosis among Adult Patients Attending A Hepatology Clinic at Selangor, Malaysia
Chieng Jin Yu ; Pan Yan ; Liew Chiat Fong ; Mazawawi Muhammad ; Syed Anas Tamamulqomar Said Abu Hassan
International Journal of Public Health Research 2022;12(no.1):1493-1501
Introduction :
Liver cirrhosis is an important cause of morbidity and mortality.
Methods:
Our study aimed to describe the clinical pattern of cirrhosis and its associated factors among adult patients attending Hepatology Clinic, Serdang Hospital, Malaysia from 1st January 2010 to 30th June 2017. Aetiology was further determined by history, biochemistry and/or histology. The severity of the cirrhosis, together with the presence of complications and incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma were documented.
Results:
A total of 357 adult patients were diagnosed with cirrhosis including 199 male patients (55.7%) and 158 female patients (44.3%), with a mean age of 54-year-old (range: 28-84 year-old). The causes of cirrhosis were chronic hepatitis B (N=145, 40.6%), chronic hepatitis C (N= 67, 18.8%), cryptogenic liver disorder (N= 63, 17.6%), alcohol (N=42, 11.8%), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (N=25, 7.0%), and others (N=15, 4.2%). Chronic hepatitis B was the predominant aetiology among Chinese whereas alcohol was the main aetiology among Indians, and Hepatitis C cirrhosis was highest among Malays. Majority of the patients had compensated cirrhosis with Child-Pugh A (N=221, 61.9%) at the time of diagnosis. 80.4% (N=287) of the cirrhotic patients had performed at least one endoscopy surveillance, with 28.6% (82/287) of them had endoscopic evidence of portal hypertension. 32.2% of patients had at least one hospitalization due to complication of cirrhosis. 41 patients (11.5%) had concurrent hepatocellular carcinoma during the follow up.
Conclusions
Despite universal hepatitis B vaccination, Hepatitis B viral infection remains the most common cause of cirrhosis among patients attending Hepatology Clinic, Serdang Hospital.
6.Recycling Potential of Natural Waste Products in the Development of Fingerprint Powders for Forensic Application
Nur Fatin Nabihah Said ; Siti Nabilah Anuar ; Yusmazura Zakaria ; Revathi Rajan ; Nurasmat Mohd Shukri ; Nik Fakhuruddin Nik Hassan
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2021;17(No.4):196-204
Introduction: The most common method to emerge latent fingermarks on non-porous surfaces is powdering by
applying commercial fingerprint powders. However, the chemical composition of the powder is often toxic and
poses health hazards to humans. This study was endeavoured to explore the effectiveness and potential use of natural resources for the enhancement of latent fingermarks. Methods: Eggshells and clamshells were prepared in fine
powder form, and latent fingermarks were developed using each powder. Five non-porous substrates were selected
for fingermarks deposition; glass, aluminium can, plastic book cover, painted wood, and compact disc. Results: Both
natural powders have successfully developed high-quality finger marks with high clarity of ridge characteristics in
comparison to commercial fingerprint powder (positive control) and untreated fingermark (negative control) on most
of the tested surfaces tested. The sebaceous fingermarks have shown the best quality fingermarks when developed
with both powders. In the ageing study, it was found that most non-porous substrates bearing latent fingermarks
exposed to the destructive conditions can be successfully visualised in the early period of exposure. Conclusion:
Eggshell and clamshell powders are as effective as commercial white powder but preferrable to be applied because
of the low cost, abundant and non-hazardous.
7.Prevalence and associated factors of Dog Bites: A cross-sectional study among Primary School Children in Madawaki District Gusau, Nigeria
Ibrahim Hassan ; Salmiah Md. Said ; Ahmad Azuhairi Ariffin ; Ahmad Zaid Fattah Azman
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2022;18(No.2):81-88
Introduction: Dog bite is a global public health concern because it is the main risk factor for human rabies and it
particularly affects children. In Nigeria, most dog bites are from stray dogs and their vaccination status remains unknown. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of dog bite among public primary
school children in Madawaki district Gusau, Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using an unequal stratified sampling technique among 999 children aged 11 to 13-year-old at seven public primary schools from
September 2017 to January 2020. A self-reported history of dog bites, socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge
on interaction with dogs, knowledge on the implication of dog bites, risk behaviours of children and dog ownership
were collected using a validated questionnaire. Results: The prevalence of dog bites was 54.5%. The predictors of
dog bite among the children were being a male (Adjusted Odds Ratio; AOR = 2.252; Confidence Interval; CI = 1.719,
2.949), dog ownership by respondent’s family (AOR = 1.456; Cl = 1.089, 1.946), dog ownership by neighbours of
the respondents (AOR = 1.752; Cl =1.334, 2.303), total score for knowledge on interaction with dogs (AOR = 0.884;
Cl = 0.858, 0.911), and total score for risk behaviours of children (AOR = 1.020; Cl =1.004, 1.035). Conclusion: Poor
knowledge on interaction with dogs, children’s risk behaviours around dogs, dog ownership and being male were
the factors associated with a high prevalence of dog bite among primary school children from this study. These factors should be considered in order to develop an effective awareness campaign in schools to reduce the prevalence
of dog bites among children.