Abstract
ProblemThe novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic adversely affected the preparation of Malaysia’s National Health and Morbidity Survey for 2020 because conducting it would expose data collectors and participants to an increased risk of infection.ContextThe survey is nationally representative and community based and is conducted by the Institute for Public Health, part of the National Institutes of Health, to generate health-related evidence and to support the Malaysian Ministry of Health in policy-making. Its planned scope for 2020 was the seroprevalence of communicable diseases such as hepatitis B and C.ActionAdditional components were added to the survey to increase its usefulness, including COVID-19 seroprevalence and facial anthropometric studies to ensure respirator fit. The survey’s scale was reduced, and data collection was changed from including only face-to-face interviews to mainly self-administered and telephone interviews. The transmission risk to participants was reduced by screening data collectors before the survey and fortnightly thereafter, using standard droplet and contact precautions, ensuring proper training and monitoring of data collectors, and implementing other administrative infection prevention measures.OutcomeData were collected from 7 August to 11 October 2020, with 5957 participants recruited. Only 4 out of 12 components of the survey were conducted via face-to-face interview. No COVID-19 cases were reported among data collectors and participants. All participants were given their hepatitis and COVID-19 laboratory test results; 73 participants with hepatitis B and 14 with hepatitis C who had been previously undiagnosed were referred for further case management.DiscussionPreparing and conducting the National Health and Morbidity Survey during the COVID-19 pandemic required careful consideration of the risks and benefits, multiple infection prevention measures, strong leadership and strong stakeholder support to ensure there were no adverse events.
Highlights
Novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first reported in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, and a pandemic was declared by mid-March 2020.1 The pathogen that causes COVID-19, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was first detected in Malaysia in three imported cases on 24 January 2020.2–4 In early 2020, Malaysia experienced two waves of COVID-19 that flattened by the beginning of June
The focus of the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2020 was on communicable diseases, primarily hepatitis B and C, to be assessed through seroprevalence studies that would quantify the proportions of the population with immunity and with active and chronic disease
Measures proposed for the preparation and conduct of the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2020 in Malaysia to increase its benefits and reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission
Summary
Novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first reported in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, and a pandemic was declared by mid-March 2020.1 The pathogen that causes COVID-19, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was first detected in Malaysia in three imported cases on 24 January 2020.2–4 In early 2020, Malaysia experienced two waves of COVID-19 that flattened by the beginning of June. We describe how health researchers in Malaysia adopted changes while preparing for and conducting a national survey amid the pandemic to balance the risks and benefits to the participants and society. The survey would increase the risk of COVID-19 among participants and data collectors.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
