ABSTRACT
@#This manuscript aims to examine depression and the relationship between depression and other comorbidity diseases among women involved in prostitution in Kuala Lumpur. A total of 126 women were interviewed face to face using a structured questionnaire. The M.I.N.I Neuro-Psychiatric Interview Diagnostic Test Tool 6.0 Bahasa Malaysia Version was used to measure depression among women involved in prostitution in Kuala Lumpur. Meanwhile other comorbidity diseases were measured based on the women’s infectious disease status such as Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Hepatitis, HIV and AIDS. The results of study were analysed using SPSS software version 21. Descriptive tests were used to determine the status of depression among women involved in prostitution. The Chi-square test was used to identify the relationship between the status of other comorbidity diseases and depression among women involved in prostitution. The results of the descriptive analysis revealed that 92 out of the 126 women who were interviewed reported suffering from depression. In fact, the results of Chi Square test (p≤0.05) analysis showed that there was a significant relationship between the status of other comorbidity diseases especially Hepatitis C and depression among women involved in prostitution in Kuala Lumpur. The findings of the study indicated that women s who were positive with Hepatitis C were more prone to report depressive disorders. Therefore, mental health education program and treatment specially for women involved in prostitution need to be integrated into the prevention programs of the infectious diseases.
ABSTRACT
@#Introduction: Adequate daily intake of fruits and vegetables is crucial for the prevention of chronic diseases. This study aimed to determine the effects of My Body is Fit and Fabulous at School (MyBFF@school) with nutrition education intervention (NEI) on the stages of change for fruit and vegetable intake among overweight and obese secondary school children based on the trans-theoretical model (TTM). Methods: This was a cluster randomised controlled trial involving 15 out of 415 eligible government secondary schools in central Peninsular Malaysia, which were randomly assigned into intervention (six schools; 579 school children) and control (nine schools; 462 school children). The intervention group was given NEI for 24 weeks, while the control group followed the existing school programme by the Ministry of Education. Results: There was no significant difference between the intervention and control groups for the stages of change, with majority at the maintenance stage after six months (intervention: 34.9%; control: 39.0%). The within group analysis showed a significant reduction after six months for those at the action stage (action and maintenance stage) from 68.0% to 60.4% in the intervention group and from 71.4% to 65.6% in the control group. However, there was a significant increase among those with adequate fruit and vegetable intake in the intervention group and no significant increase in the control group. Conclusion: MyBFF@school with NEI based on TTM provided acceptable changes in fruit and vegetable intake among overweight and obese secondary school children.