Kemurungan dan Lain-lain Komorbiditi Penyakit dalam Kalangan Wanita yang Terlibat dalam Aktiviti Pelacuran di Kuala Lumpur (Depression and Other Comorbidity Diseases among Women Involved Prostuition in Kuala Lumpur) / Jurnal Sains Kesihatan Malaysia

@#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.

Knowledge And Perception Towards Supplementary Immunization Activities (Sia) Among Mothers In Cheras, Kuala Lumpur

@#Among the main reasons for re-emergence of vaccine preventable diseases were missed or incomplete immunization schedule. The supplementary immunization activity (SIA) is an important intervention done to provide complete immunization coverage among those children. Better outcome came along with good knowledge and perception on the program. Thus, this study aims to assess the level of knowledge and perception of the mothers towards SIA program. A cross-sectional study was conducted among mothers with children ≤ 15 years old in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur. Data was collected by interview using the guided questionnaire consists of four sections to assess the socio demographic, socio economic, knowledge and perception regarding SIA. The questionnaire was validated for internal consistency with Cronbach’s alpha 0.461 for knowledge and 0.729 for perception. A total of 105 respondents with the median age of 33 years (IQR: 28-38) with majority of them are Malays (82.9%), Muslim (83.8%), married (97.1%) and (57.1%) with 1- 2 child in the family. Half of them were from low income family (46.7%) and had secondary education level (54.3%) and were housewives (47.6%). One third of the respondents (33%) never heard about SIA before. Overall had poor knowledge (82.9%) and perception (95.2%) towards SIA. There is a significant association between the level of knowledge on SIA with household income (χ

Outcome and Predictors for Smoking Cessation in a Quit Smoking Clinic

Smoking is one of the addiction problems that needs an effective intervention. Smoking cessation studies have shown the promising result, but the central issue was to prevent relapse. A retrospective cohort study was conducted at Quit Smoking Clinic in Klinik Kesihatan Tanglin, Kuala Lumpur to determine the outcome and predictors of smoking cessation. A cohort of 770 smokers attended the clinic between the year 2008 and 2015 was selected through simple random sampling. Smokers were defined as current smokers while smoking abstinence is defined as cessation for more than 6 months and relapse as any smoking episode even a puff since the quit date. The majority were Malays, Muslims and had at least secondary education. The mean age of smoking initiation was 17.6 years old. The majority of the respondent smokes between 11 to 20 sticks per day and had a higher nicotine dependence score (43.0%). The smoking cessation outcome was good with 52.5% of the respondent abstained from smoking at 6 months. The predictors for smoking cessation were numbered of the quit attempt (1 to 10 times) (AOR = 1.582, 95% CI = 1.012-2.472) and pharmacotherapy (aOR = 0.711, 95% CI=0.511-0.989). More frequent follow-up was essential during the first 6 month period to enhance not only medication compliance but also a motivational aspect to smokers to maintain cessation. Emphasis should also be made for smokers who make first quit attempt.

Knowledge, Attitude And Practice Of Dengue Fever And Heath Education Programme Among Students Of Alam Shah Science School, Cheras, Malaysia

Dengue Fever is a major public health issue in Malaysia. This study aimed to assess knowledge, attitude and practice regarding dengue fever and effectiveness of health education programme among 204 students of Alam Shah Science School, Cheras/Kuala Lumpur. Study design was a cross sectional study followed by an interventional (pre-post) Study. The self-administered questionnaire included questions on sociodemographic factors, knowledge, attitude and practice regarding dengue fever. Majority of respondents were Malays (96.6%), monthly family income more than RM 3000 (64.6%) and lives in urban area (64.6%). There was no significant association between knowledge status and socio-demographic factors (p-value>0.05). Most of the respondents had good knowledge (63.2%) good attitudes (79.9%) regarding dengue fever. However, practices to prevent dengue was poor (74.0%). Only about one-fifth of the respondents (18.2%) believed that dengue fever is a flu-like illness. Knowledge score was significantly increased after health education programme (p value <0.001). There is a need to increase health education activities through campaigns and mass media to increase knowledge regarding dengue fever. This would help to inculcate positive attitudes and cultivate better preventive practices among the public to eliminate dengue fever in the country.

Public and Private Hospitals in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, Malaysia: How Do They Fare in Terms of Accessibility for the Physically Disabled?

Public and private hospitals in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor were evaluated in terms of their accessibility for the physically disabled. The research hypotheses for this study included the following: (1) Both types of hospitals are accessible for the physically disabled as measured by specifi c criteria but (2) the degree of accessibility is higher in the case of private hospitals as compared to public hospitals. A total of 23 private hospitals and 11 public hospitals in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor were invited to participate in the study. The 5 private hospitals and 5 public hospitals that agreed were evaluated for adequacy of facilities for the physically-disabled. For this purpose, 13 specifi c criteria were assessed and scored for each hospital. These criteria were also grouped into 5 categories, namely, parking, toilet, door and lift, corridor and ramp. Scores were compared between each hospital and then aggregated and compared for private hospitals versus public hospitals. It was found that none of the 5 private hospitals and 5 public hospitals studied satisfi ed 100% of the criteria evaluated. Looking at each hospital individually, the overall scores range from 32% to 92% for the criteria set. Only 4 of the 10 hospitals in our sample achieved overall scores of 80% or higher in terms of the evaluation criteria we used. With the exception of availability of ramps where public hospitals scored slightly higher ,for most of the individual criterion, private hospitals scored higher than public hospitals. Looking at each criterion across all hospitals, the scores range from 59.2% (adequacy of parking) to 85% (adequacy of corridors). The median score obtained by private hospitals and by public hospitals for all 13 criteria were analysed for any difference. The difference between private hospitals and public hospitals is not statistically signifi cant (Mann-Whitney U = 6.5, p-value = 0.099). There is no signifi cant difference between Kuala Lumpur/Selangor private and public hospitals in terms of accessibility for physically disabled people. However, some hospitals are more accessible for the physically disabled than other hospitals. These fi ndings indicate that there is room for improvement.

Review of idiopathic photodermatitis at dermatology tertiary centre, Hospital Kuala Lumpur

Introduction: Photodermatitis had become more common reason for referral to dermatology clinics. In Southeast Asia, research regarding idiopathic photodermatitis is not well established. Photo and photo-patch tests are commonly used diagnostic investigations to support this diagnosis. Objective: To describe the epidemiological and clinical features of idiopathic photodermatitis referred for photo and photo-patch tests. Methods: This retrospective study reviewed the clinical data of patients with idiopathic photodermatitis who were referred for photo and photo-patch tests from January 2009 to July 2011. Patients’ demographics, spectrum of clinical presentations, results of photo and photo-patch tests and clinical outcome were reviewed. Results: 38 patients were included in the analysis. Majority of patients were males. The mean age was 47.2 years. 55.3% were Malays, 26.3% Chinese and 18.4% Indians. Most patients have Fitzpatrick’s skin type IV. The commonest clinical presentations were polymorphic eruptions consisted of erythematous patches, papules and eczema at the sun-exposed areas. On average, the patients have had the cutaneous eruption for more than 1 year prior to the initial clinic visit. 32 patients had photo test and 6 had photo and photo-patch tests. 56.3% had positive photo test and the lowest MED is 50mJ/cm2 in skin type IV. 20% had positive photo and photo-patch tests. Patients were treated with potent topical corticosteroid, physical sunblock and oral antihistamines which managed to control the disease severity. Conclusion: Most patients with idiopathic photodermatitis referred for photo test were middle-aged Malay males with skin type IV. The commonest cutaneous presentations were polymorphic eruptions at the sun exposed sites.

Calcium Intake, Vitamin D and Bone Health Status of Post-menopausal Chinese Women in Kuala Lumpur

Bone health status was investigated in 178 free-living Chinese post-menopausal women in Kuala Lumpur. Body mass index (BMI), body composition (using whole body DXA), calcium intake and serum 25-OH vitamin D status were measured along with biochemical markers of bone turnover, that is, pro-collagen Type 1 N-terminal peptide (P1NP), osteocalcin (OC) and C-telopeptide ß cross link of Type 1 collagen (CTX- β). Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured using DXA (Hologic, USA) at the lumbar spine, femoral neck and total hip. Results showed that osteopenia was present in 50% of the subjects at the spine and 57.9% at the femoral neck. Osteoporosis was diagnosed in 10% of the subjects at both the femoral neck and spine. A total of 29.3% of the subjects had high levels of CTX- ß. Mean serum level of 25-OH vitamin D was 60.4+15.6 nmol/L and 50.6% of the subjects had hypovitaminosis D (defined as <50 nmol/l). Mean total calcium intake of the subjects was 497 + 233 mg, of which only 14% met the RNI for calcium with the additional intake of calcium supplements. Body fat was also significantly correlated (r=0.181, p<0.05) with BMD at the spine but not BMD at the femoral neck. Lean body mass was positively correlated with BMD at the spine (r=0.289, p<0.001) and femoral neck (r=0.295, p<0.001). CTX-β was negatively correlated with BMD at the spine (r= -0.235, p<0.001), whereas P1NP (r=-0.215, p<0.001) and osteocalcin (r=-0.265, p<0.001) were both negatively correlated with BMD at the femoral neck. Generally, the study found that women with osteopenia had higher levels of bone turnover markers, less lean body mass and lower calcium intake than women with normal BMD. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the majority of free living Chinese post-menopausal women in Kuala Lumpur have low calcium intake, low 25-OH vitamin D status and low bone mass and elevated biochemical markers of bone turnover.