Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health This is an RSS file. You can use it to subscribe to this data in your favourite RSS reader or to display this data on your own website or blog.

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome in Korea
(Source: Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health)
Source: Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health - October 15, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Kim, S. Y. Tags: Letter to the Editor Source Type: research

Noncommunicable Diseases of Major Public Health Interest and Prevention
Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs; mainly cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases) are now responsible for more than 35 million deaths per annum in the world; more than 80% of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. Dramatic worldwide changes in lifestyle and in the prevalence and incidence of major chronic diseases lends credence to the causative role of modifiable risk factors. For the elucidation of modifiable risk factors, large-scale prospective cohort studies with biobanks often combined in consortia are of paramount importance. Associations between selected risk facto...
Source: Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health - October 15, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Bueno-de-Mesquita, H. B. Tags: Conference Lecture Source Type: research

How Can We Identify the Elimination of Infectious Diseases? Experience From an Active Measles Laboratory Surveillance System in the Republic of Korea
Global efforts have markedly decreased the disease burden of vaccine-preventable diseases. Many countries have made considerable progress toward the elimination of measles. As elimination is approached, the very low incidence achieved by high vaccination coverage has underscored the need for a sensitive and timely surveillance system. In the Republic of Korea, an active laboratory surveillance system (ALSS) was implemented to supplement the existing passive surveillance system in 2006. The ALSS connects 5 major commercial laboratories and the national measles reference laboratory, where referred samples with positive or eq...
Source: Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health - October 15, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Yang, T. U., Kang, H. J., Eom, H. E., Park, Y.-J., Park, O., Kim, S. J., Nam, J.-G., Kim, S. S., Jeong, E. K. Tags: 46th APACPH Conference Supplement Source Type: research

Assessing Quality of Working Life Among Malaysian Workers
In this study, the scale was translated and normalized into Malay. The scale was translated using the back-translation method, pretesting, and pilot testing. It was conducted among health care and office workers. It was tested in 3 stages; confirmatory factor analysis at stages 1 and 3 and exploratory factor analysis at stage 2. The Malaysian WRQLS-2 had 5 factors: "General Well-Being," "Job and Career Satisfaction," "Employee Engagement," "Home-Work Interface," and "Stress at Work." The scale showed good convergent and construct validity and also reliability. Perception of good QOWL may differ because of cultural influenc...
Source: Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health - October 15, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Sulaiman, N. S., Choo, W. Y., Mat Yassim, A. R., Van Laar, D., Chinna, K., Majid, H. A. Tags: 46th APACPH Conference Supplement Source Type: research

Integrating Information and Communication Technology for Health Information System Strengthening: A Policy Analysis
Despite the high costs involved and the lack of definitive evidence of sustained effectiveness, many low- and middle-income countries had begun to strengthen their health information system using information and communication technology in the past few decades. Following this international trend, the Malaysian Ministry of Health had been incorporating Telehealth (National Telehealth initiatives) into national health policies since the 1990s. Employing qualitative approaches, including key informant interviews and document review, this study examines the agenda-setting processes of the Telehealth policy using Kingdon’...
Source: Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health - October 15, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Marzuki, N., Ismail, S., Al-Sadat, N., Ehsan, F. Z., Chan, C.-K., Ng, C.-W. Tags: 46th APACPH Conference Supplement Source Type: research

Equitable Distribution of Public Hospitals According to Health Needs in Malaysia: Does It Exist or Not?
This study aims to examine whether acute Ministry of Health hospital beds are distributed according to population health needs in various states within Peninsular Malaysia. The health needs of each state are indicated by the crude death rate. Comparisons of the share of hospital beds to that of population with differential health needs were assessed using concentration curve and index. In most years between 1995 and 2010, the distribution of hospital beds in Peninsular Malaysia were concentrated among states with higher health needs. This is in line with the principle of vertical equity and could be one advantage of a cent...
Source: Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health - October 15, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Saw Chien, G., Chee-Khoon, C., Wai, V. H. C., Ng, C. W. Tags: 46th APACPH Conference Supplement Source Type: research

The Cost of Dengue Vector Control Activities in Malaysia by Different Service Providers
We examined variations in dengue vector control costs and resource consumption between the District Health Departments (DHDs) and Local Authorities (LAs) to assist informed decision making as to the future roles of these agencies in the delivery of dengue vector control services in Malaysia. Data were collected from the vector control units of DHDs and LAs in 8 selected districts. We captured costs and resource consumption in 2010 for premise inspection for mosquito breeding sites, fogging to destroy adult mosquitoes and larviciding of potential breeding sites. Overall, DHDs spent US$5.62 million or US$679 per case and LAs...
Source: Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health - October 15, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Packierisamy, P. R., Ng, C.-W., Dahlui, M., Venugopalan, B., Halasa, Y. A., Shepard, D. S. Tags: 46th APACPH Conference Supplement Source Type: research

The Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE): Validity and Reliability Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Malaysia
This study aims to assess the validity and reliability of a Malay version of this scale (PASE-M). A total of 408 community-dwelling older adults were enrolled. Concurrent validity was evaluated by Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients between PASE with physical and psychosocial measures. Test-retest reliability was determined by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The mean PASE-M scores at baseline and follow-up were 94.96 (SD 62.82) and 92.19 (SD 64.02). Fair to moderate correlation were found between PASE-M and physical function scale, IADL (rs = 0.429, P < .001), walking speed (rs = 0.270, P < ....
Source: Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health - October 15, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Ismail, N., Hairi, F., Choo, W. Y., Hairi, N. N., Peramalah, D., Bulgiba, A. Tags: 46th APACPH Conference Supplement Source Type: research

Frail Elders in an Urban District Setting in Malaysia: Multidimensional Frailty and Its Correlates
This study offers support that physical disability, falls, and cognition are important determinants for frailty. This initial work on frailty among urban elders in Malaysia provides important correlations and identifies potential risk factors that can form the basis of information for targeted preventive measures for this vulnerable group in their prefrail state. (Source: Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health)
Source: Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health - October 15, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Sathasivam, J., Kamaruzzaman, S. B., Hairi, F., Ng, C. W., Chinna, K. Tags: 46th APACPH Conference Supplement Source Type: research

Unmet Health Care Service Needs of Children With Disabilities in Penang, Malaysia
Information on unmet health care needs reveal problems that are related to unavailability and inaccessibility of services. The study objectives were to determine the prevalence, and the reasons for unmet service needs among children with disabilities in the state of Penang, Malaysia. Caregivers of children with disabilities aged 0 to 12 years registered with the Penang Social Welfare Department in 2012 answered a self-administered mailed questionnaire. A total of 305 questionnaires were available for analysis (response rate 37.9%). Services that were very much needed and yet highly unmet were dental services (49.6% needed,...
Source: Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health - October 15, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Tan, S. H. Tags: 46th APACPH Conference Supplement Source Type: research

Physical Activity Among Adolescents in an East Malaysian Rural Indigenous Community: Exploring the Influence of Neighborhood Environmental Factors
This study explores the rural environmental factors that influence adolescents’ participation in physical activities (PA). Thirty-six indigenous adolescents, aged 13 to 17 years from rural communities of East Malaysia were involved in the photovoice procedures: photo-taking, selecting, contextualizing, and codifying themes. Despite being endowed with natural resources such as river, forest, hills, and so on, the adolescents and the community did not capitalize on these rich resources to promote and engage in PA. Poor maintenance of natural resources, the lack of pedestrian infrastructures and road safety, the lack of...
Source: Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health - October 15, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Saimon, R., Choo, W. Y., Chang, K. H., Ng, C. J., Bulgiba, A. Tags: 46th APACPH Conference Supplement Source Type: research

Adverse Childhood Experiences and the Health of University Students in Eight Provinces of Vietnam
Recent systematic reviews have emphasized the need for more research into the health and social impacts of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in the Asia-Pacific region. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 2099 young adult students in 8 medical universities throughout Vietnam. An anonymous, self-report questionnaire included the World Health Organization ACE-International Questionnaire and standardized measures of mental and physical health. Three quarters (76%) of the students reported at least one exposure to ACEs; 21% had 4 or more ACEs. The most commonly reported adversities were emotional abuse, physical a...
Source: Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health - October 15, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Tran, Q. A., Dunne, M. P., Vo, T. V., Luu, N. H. Tags: 46th APACPH Conference Supplement Source Type: research

Use of Alternative Medications for Menopause-Related Symptoms in Three Major Ethnic Groups of Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
This cross-sectional study investigated the use of alternative medications to alleviate menopause-related symptoms among Malay, Chinese, and Indian women of Ipoh city. The prevalence, types, effectiveness, and associated factors were determined. The prevalence of alternative medication use was 41.4%. Evening primrose oil (EPO) was the most popular medication used (18.1%), followed by soy-based products (12.3%), green tea (6.8%), and gingko (5.8%). The medication was reported to be highly effective by 58.3% of soya bean diet users and 41.1% of EPO users. Significant variables associated with the use were Chinese or Indian e...
Source: Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health - October 15, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Ohn Mar, S., Malhi, F., Syed Rahim, S. H., Chua, C. T., Sidhu, S. S., Sandheep, S. Tags: 46th APACPH Conference Supplement Source Type: research

Contributory Factors for Severe Maternal Morbidity: A 10-Year Review of the Literature
Maternal morbidity is a concept of increasing interest in maternal health. This review aims to assess the contributory factors for severe maternal morbidity over the past one decade worldwide. A comprehensive electronic search was conducted. The search was restricted to articles written in the English language published from 2004 to 2013. Qualitative studies were excluded. A total of 24 full articles were retrieved of which 9 cohort, 7 case–control, 3 cross-sectional studies, and 5 unmentioned designs were included. The contributory factors were divided into 3 components: (a) sociodemographic characteristics, (b) med...
Source: Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health - October 15, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Noor, N. M., Nik Hussain, N. H., Sulaiman, Z., Abdul Razak, A. Tags: 46th APACPH Conference Supplement Source Type: research

Violence Against Children in the Asia Pacific Region: The Situation Is Becoming Clearer
(Source: Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health)
Source: Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health - October 15, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Dunne, M. P., Choo, W. Y., Madrid, B., Subrahmanian, R., Rumble, L., Blight, S., Maternowska, M. C. Tags: Guest Editorial Source Type: research