Sociodemographic Factors of Mental Health Literacy Among Housewives Living in Low Cost Apartments in Puchong, Selangor, Malaysia

@# Evaluation of mental health literacy is important in assisting the development of intervention and policies toward preventing mental health problems. This study aims to explore mental health literacy and its sociodemographic predictors in a group of housewives living in low-cost apartments in Selangor, Malaysia. Methods: A Malay version of the self-administered Mental Health Literacy Scale (MHLS) was used in this cross-sectional study. Age, ethnicity, religion, educational level and family income were tested using one-way ANOVA and independent t-test. Result: A total of 103 eligible respondents participated in the study. Most respondents were from the age group of 30 and above, from the Malay ethnic group, Muslims, had formal education up to secondary level with a monthly family income below RM4000 (USD980). The overall mean (sd) mental health literacy score was low 106.65 (11.21) and was significantly associated with ethnicity, religion, educational level and family income (p>0.05). Conclusion: Mental health literacy scores were low and showed variations within sociodemographic groups. Keywords: Socio demographic factors; Mental Health Literacy; Housewife; Low cost apartment

Donas de casa: classes diferentes, experiências desiguais / Housewives: different classes, unequal experiences

Este artigo apresenta resultados de uma pesquisa de mestrado. Esta buscou mostrar a condição de mulheres de diferentes classes sociais que, nos dias atuais, se mantêm como donas de casa, indo na contramão do "novo" modelo feminino. Foram entrevistadas três mulheres donas de casa de diferentes classes sociais: baixa, média e alta. A análise do discurso das entrevistas gerou três categorias: (a) significado do trabalho doméstico, (b) condição feminina e vida privada e (c) satisfação e (des)valorização do trabalho doméstico. Concluiu-se que as desigualdades socioeconômicas entre as participantes contribuíram para as diferentes significações dadas ao trabalho doméstico e às experiências decorrentes. As falas das mulheres revelaram o peso da realidade socioeconômica na significação e no valor atribuído às suas funções e à condição feminina.

This article presents results of a master degree research regarding the condition of women of different social classes who stay home as housewives, going apparently against the "new" female model. We interviewed three housewives from the following social classes: low, medium and high. Discourse analysis of the interviews appointed three categories: (a) the meaning of domestic labor; (b) feminine condition and private life; and (c) satisfaction and (or versus) (de)value (devaluation) of housework. The discourse of the women revealed the weight of the economic reality in the meaning and value they attributed to their functions and status as women.

A Comparison of Growth Development and Nutrient Intakes between Double Income Families' and Full-Time Housewives' Preschool Children

The purpose of this study was to examine the comparison of growth development, bone mineral density and nutrient intakes between double income families' preschool children(DIFPC) and full-time housewives' preschool children(FHPC). Subjects were 111 preschool children. Anthropometric characteristics and bone mineral density in right forearm were measured. The questionnaire was composed of health status, life style, dietary behaviors, and dietary intakes and was completed by the children's mothers. The average age of the DIFPC(n=60) was 53.02 months and that of the FHPC(n=51) was 54.80 months. The birth height and weight of the subjects were 50.47cm and 3.27Kg for DIFPC and 50.85cm and 3.36Kg for FHPC, respectively. The average height, weight, % body fat, and obesity index were 108.50cm, 18.35Kg, 15.35%, 96.71% in DIFPC and 111.46cm, 19.64Kg, 16.80%, 97.31% in FHPC, respectively. The bone mineral density in forearm of two groups were 0.24g/cm2 in all. The infant feeding method was significantly different between DIFPC and FHPC; 58.9% of DIFPC was fed formula, while 44.4% of FHPC was fed breast milk(p<0.05). Proportions of children for their regular meal were 59.4%, 89.6%, and 61.0% for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, respectively. The major reasons for irregular meal were lack of time and poor appetite for breakfast and snacks for lunch and dinner. Most of the children answered they have snack over once a day, and 60.0% have unbalanced diet. The intakes of energy, calcium, iron, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin B1, niacin, and vitamin C did not meet the Korean RDAs. The intakes of K and vitamin A for DIFPC were significantly higher than those of FHPC(p<0.05, p<0.05). In conclusion, double income families' preschool children more have a low frequency of breast feeding and low intakes of micro nutrients, such as K and vitamin A than full-time housewives' ones.

A Study on the Indoor-Outdoor NO2 Levels and Personal Exposures to NO2 with Analysis of Factors Affecting the NO2 Concentrations: Centering on Urban Homes and Housewives / 예방의학회지

This study was conducted to establish the control program for preventing unfavorable health effects of nitrogen dioxide(NO2) exposure in homes by preparing the fundamental data for evaluation of relationships between NO2 levels and influencing factors through measurements of indoor-outdoor NO2 levels and personal NO2 exposures for housewives with questionnaire survey on 172 homes in Pusan area from April to June, 1987. NO2 measurements were made by using diffusion tube samplers(Palmes tube NO2 sampler) for one week at 4 sites in homes ; kitchen(KIT), bedroom(BED), living room(LIV), outdoor(OUT) and near the collar housewives(personal exposure livel, PNO). The details of questionnaire were number of household members(FAM), number of regular smokers(SMOKER), daily number of meals eaten(MEAL), type of housing units(HOUSE), location of house with distance from the heavy traffic roads as walking time(DIST), and of kitchen(KAREA), kind of cooking fuels(FUEL), cooking time of each meal(CTIME), usage of kitchen fan for cooking(FAN), type of heating facilities(HEAT) and so on of subject homes. The obtained results were as follows : 1) The mean NO2 level was significantly higher at indoors than outdoors(p<0.01) and the kitchen NO2 level was the highest with 33.7+/-13.6ppb(9.5-81.5ppb). The mean personal exposure level of NO2 for housewives was 20.6+/-8.8ppb(3.1-46.9ppb). 2) The mean indoor NO2 level was significantly higher in the group of household members above 5 than below 4(p<0.05), in detached dwellings than apartments(p<0.001), within 5 minutes of distance than over 5 minutes(p<0.001), in the group of unusing fan(p<0.001), in the group of longer cooking time(p<0.001), and it was in order of coal briquette, gas, electricity and oil by kind of cooking fuels(p<0.05). 3) Variables showing significant correlation(p<0.001) with indoor NO2 level were kitchen NO2 level(r=0.8677), cooking time(r=0.5921), outdoor NO2 exposure level(r=0.4615), usage of kitchen fan(r=0.3573) and location of house(r=-0.2988). 4) As a result of multiple regression analysis, the most significant influencing variable to the kitchen NO2 level was cooking time [KIT=-0.378+/-11.772(CRIME)+0.298(OUT)+3.102(FAN)], it was kitchen NO2 level to the indoor NO2 level [IND = 6.996+0.458 (KIT) + 0.230 (OUT) - 1.127 (KAREA)], and it was indoor NO2 level to the personal NO2 exposure level [PNO=15.562+0.729(IND)-4.542(DIST)-0.200(KIT)]. 5) It was recognized that artificial ventilation in the kitchen, suppression of unnecessary combustion and replacement of cooking fuel, as much as possible, were effective means for decreasing indoor NO2 levels in homes.

Study on the Attitude to Home Attendants System and Home Nursing Education of the Housewives in the City / 예방의학회지

This study was conducted in order to find out the attitude of housewives toward the home attendants system, the type of institute managing home attendants, the education for home attendants, the basic requisites for home attendants, and home nursing education, and identify the factors influencing on the housewives's attitude. The data were collected through questionnaires obtained from 401 housewives from March 1 to March 31, 1988. The results summarized were as follows; 1) 90.2 percent of total housewives favored the home attendants system, and housewives who had have their family member with health problem especially showed favorable response. 2) The favored types of institution managing home attendants appeared to be private social work agency(33.0%), half-private and half-public agency(32.2%), government agency(19.9%) and profit agency(2.2%). In particular, housewives who had experienced nursing favored half-private and half-public agency(37.6%). 3) As the basic requisites for home attendants, housewives wanted service attitude(37.2%), nursing education(34.4%) and nursing experience(28.4%). But, housewives with nursing experience favored nursing education rather than service attitude. 4) 91.1% of total housewives favored the home nursing education. In particular, housewives of high education level and nursing experience showed more favorable response to the home nursing education.