Predictors For Inadequate Knowledge And Negative Attitude Towards Childhood Immunization Among Parents In Hulu Langat, Selangor, Malaysia

Vaccine hesitancy among parents has led to re-emergence of vaccine preventable diseases. In Malaysia, measles cases had increased by three times in 2015 compared to previous year. Immunization coverage has always been above 95% since 2009. However, in 2014, Mumps-Measles-Rubella (MMR) coverage has a significant drop to 93.4%. The aim of the study was to identify predictors for inadequate knowledge and negative attitude towards childhood immunization among parents in Hulu Langat, Selangor. A cross sectional study design was conducted from January to July 2016 with760 respondents. Respondents were selected by cluster random sampling and a validatedself-administered questionnaire was used. The majority of respondents were female (70%), Malay (87%), employed (92%) and parents with tertiary education (99.7%). In this study, 12.8% parents have an inadequate knowledge on childhood immunization and 47.6% parents have a negative attitude towards childhood immunization. The predictors for inadequate knowledge on childhood immunizations were last child’s age of 2 years old or more (AOR=1.413 95% CI 0.28-0.69); parents without tertiary education (AOR=2.02 95% CI 1.15-3.54); parents withouteducational exposure on childhood immunization (AOR=2.87 95% CI 1.59-5.18) and parents who obtained information on childhood immunization from non-healthcare provider (AOR=2.66 95% CI 1.50-4.70). Predictors for negative attitude on childhood immunizations were being male (AOR=1.44 95% CI 1.04-2.01); parents without tertiary education (AOR=1.67 95% CI 1.04-2.68); household income of less than RM5000 (AOR=1.85 95% CI 1.28-2.67) and unsatisfactory religious belief (AOR=2.76 95% CI 2.03-3.75). Therefore, these predictors should be considered in any health intervention on childhood immunizations for parents in Malaysia.

Psychological Determinants Of Pre-Hypertension Among First Year Undergraduate Students In A Public University In Malaysia

Pre-hypertension increased the risk of morbidity and mortality from non-communicable diseases. Whereas, psychological factors such as depression, anxiety and stress have been associated with increased in blood pressure. However, previous studies more focuses on psychological determinants of hypertension than prehypertension. Thus, this study aims to determine the association between these psychological factors with pre-hypertension. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2012 among first year students of a public Malaysian university. A random cluster sampling was used to select 5 out of 15 faculties and a total of 495 students participated in this study. The Malay version of DASS-21 was used to elicit their levels of depression, anxiety and stress. Blood pressures were measured twice using sphygmomanometer and the averages were taken. Data analyses used chi-square test and binary multiple logistic regression. The prevalence of pre-hypertension was 30.1%. The percentage of severe and extremely severe depression was 3.8% and 1.2%; both severe and extremely severe anxiety was 16.4%; and severe and extremely severe stress was 4.2% and 0.2% respectively. Severe/extremely severe depression had more than 3 times higher in getting pre-hypertension than no depression. In conclusions, almost one third of respondents had pre-hypertension and only severe/extremely depression was associated with pre-hypertension.

Religious Personality and Smoking among Form Two Students in Rural Schools in Malacca, Malaysia

There is an increasing trend in smoking among rural adolescents compared to urban adolescents in Malaysia. This study was to determine the relationship between religious personality and smoking among form two students from the rural schools in Malacca. Methods: This was an unmatched case-control study conducted from May 2010 to August 2010 among form two school children from rural area in Malacca. There were 484 cases, and 444 controls selected using randomized cluster sampling. The dependent variable was smoking, and the independent factors were religious personality. Validated and reliability-tested questionnaires were used for data collection. Results: The mean age (year) at which smoking was first tried among the cases was 11.39 + 2.107. There were eleven out of twenty three significant differences between religious personality statements in the cases and control group. Those were: reciting the Quran/Holy book/Scriptures even when busy, making efforts to deepen the understanding of the religion, trying to understand the teachings of the religion in the Holy book/Quran, inviting others to perform solat/prayer/religious service, making sure all the family members are following the teachings according to the religion, referring to the learned people when feeling uncertain about the rulings/teachings of the religion, performing work duties enthusiastically because of the religion/God, making efforts to remember death and afterlife often, making efforts to internalize the ethical conduct of the religion in daily life, setting aside money every year for religious purposes and looking for opportunities to give charity. Conclusion: Religious personality is an important factor which may influence adolescents volved in smoking.

Breast cancer screening: How knowledgeable are female staff of a public university?

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide and in Malaysia. It has better cure rate if detected early. However, the practice of breast cancer screening in Malaysia is still low. The objective of this study is to determine the knowledge and its associated factors as well as sources of information on breast cancer and breast cancer screening among female staff in a public university in Malaysia. Materials and Methods: This was a cross sectional study conducted in 2005 involving 394 female staff including academic and non-academic staff, which was selected by cluster sampling. A self-administered questionnaire on socioeconomic characteristics and family history of breast cancer was used for data collection. Chi-square Test and Fisher’s Exact Test was used for testing an association using SPSS 12.0. Results: The response rate was 84.3%. Only 50.9% had high knowledge on breast cancer and breast cancer screening and this was significantly associated with occupational status, monthly family income and educational level (p<0.05). The usual source of information was mass media (92.2%) while the most preferred source is the health team (71.4%). Conclusion: As mass media was a major source of information, all types of mass media could efficiently be utilized to disseminate knowledge by presenting specific programmes associated with breast cancer and breast cancer screening.