Malay Ethnicity Research Articles

Drug-related problems among transfusion-dependent thalassemia patients: A real-world evidence study.

Introduction: Thalassemia is among the most common genetic disorders globally and many patients suffer from iron overload (IOL) complications that mainly affect the heart, liver and endocrine system. These events may be further complicated by drug-related problems (DRP), an inherent issue among patients with chronic diseases. Objective: The study aimed to evaluate the burden, associated factors and impacts of DRP in transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT) patients. Method: Eligible TDT patients under follow-up in a tertiary hospital between 01 March 2020 to 30 April 2021 were interviewed and their medical records were reviewed retrospectively to identify any DRP. DRPs were classified using the Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe (PCNE) classification version 9.1. The incidence and preventability of DRP were assessed and the associated risk factors were estimated by univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Results: A total of 200 patients were enrolled with a median (interquartile range: IQR) age of 28years at enrolment. Approximately 1 in 2 patients were observed to suffer from thalassemia-related complications. Throughout the study period, 308 DRPs were identified among 150 (75%) participants, with a median DRP per participant of 2.0 (IQR 1.0-3.0). Of the three DRP dimensions, treatment effectiveness was the most common DRP (55.8%) followed by treatment safety (39.6%) and other DRP (4.6%). The median serum ferritin level was statistically higher in patients with DRP compared with patients without DRP (3833.02 vs. 1104.98μg/L, p < 0.001). Three risk factors were found to be significantly associated with the presence of DRP. Patients with frequent blood transfusion, moderate to high Medication Complexity Index (MRCI) and of Malay ethnicity were associated with higher odds of having a DRP (AOR 4.09, 95% CI: 1.83, 9.15; AOR 4.50, 95% CI: 1.89, 10.75; and AOR 3.26, 95% CI: 1.43, 7.43, respectively). Conclusion: The prevalence of DRP was relatively high amongst TDT patients. Increased medication complexity, more severe form of the disease and Malay patients were more likely to experience DRP. Hence, more viable interventions targeted to these groups of patients should be undertaken to mitigate the risk of DRP and achieve better treatment outcomes.

Smile Attractiveness and Treatment Needs of Maxillary Midline Diastema with Various Widths: Perception among Laypersons, Dental Students, and Dentists in Malaysia.

Smile attractiveness and the need for treatment of maxillary midline diastema with various widths are perceived differently between dentally trained and nondentally trained individuals of different sociodemographic backgrounds. This study aims to evaluate how laypersons, dental students, and dentists in Malaysia differ in their perceptions on smile attractiveness and treatment needs of maxillary midline diastema. A smiling photograph with well-aligned maxillary central incisors with proportionate width-to-height ratio and healthy gingival tissues was selected and digitally manipulated to create maxillary midline diastema with 0.5, 2.0, and 4.0 mm widths. The smile attractiveness and the perceived need for treatment of varying widths of maxillary midline diastemas were rated by laypersons, dental students, and dentists using the Likert scale via a single set of self-administered questionnaires. The impact of sociodemographic variables on aesthetic perception of different gap widths was tested using univariate analysis followed by a multiple linear regression model. A total of 158 laypersons, 118 dental students, and 138 dentists participated in this study. Both laypersons and dentists showed significantly higher mean aesthetic scores for 0.5 mm maxillary midline diastema, lower mean aesthetic scores, and hence higher mean treatment needs scores for 4.0 mm maxillary midline diastema as compared with dental students (p < 0.05). In general, female respondents perceived a gap width of up to 2.0 mm as aesthetically pleasing. Higher educational group and the Malay ethnicity had tolerance threshold of 0.5 mm gap width. The older group considered 4.0 mm gap width as aesthetically unpleasing. In conclusion, both laypersons and dentists accepted a 0.5 mm maxillary midline diastema as an attractive smile but considered 4.0 mm maxillary midline diastema as unpleasing smile which required treatment. Perceptions of laypersons and dentists were significantly different from dental students. Educational level, gender, ethnicity, and age were significantly associated with smile attractiveness of maxillary midline diastema at different investigated widths.

Drivers of HIV self-testing among female sex workers: Findings from a multi-state study in Malaysia.

Although research on HIV self-testing (HIVST) has rapidly increased, few studies have explored HIVST uptake in female sex workers (FSW), and none in Malaysia. Therefore, we endeavored to assess the willingness to use HIVST in this at-risk, vulnerable population. A cross-sectional survey study was conducted among 113 HIV-negative Malaysian FSW in 2017. Participants were recruited using advertisements on social media, flyers, and direct referrals from community-based organizations. Data were collected using self-administered surveys. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify correlates of willingness to use HIVST. Nearly a third of participants (30.1%) reported they would be willing to use HIVST. Multivariable analyses adjusting for Malay ethnicity, stable housing, living in Kuala Lumpur (KL), years in sex work, age of first sex work, childhood sexual assault, history of HIV testing, and previously in prison indicated that living in KL [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 5.214, p = 0.0137] was associated with a greater willingness to use HIVST. In contrast, having stable housing (aOR = 0.100, p = 0.0064) was negatively associated with willingness to use HIVST. Our results indicate that HIVST may potentially enhance the uptake of HIV testing among FSWs living in an urban environment and experiencing unstable housing, but an overall willingness to use HIVST is low. These findings highlight the need for efforts to increase awareness of HIVST among FSWs and additional research on the effective implementation of HIVST for FSW.

Prediction of Lung Function Status Using Handgrip Strength and Anthropometry among the Healthy Malay Population in Malaysia

Lung function depends primarily on the strength of the intercostal muscles and the diaphragm, which is indirectly related to handgrip strength (HGS). This study aims to determine the predictability of lung functions using HGS among healthy adults of Malay ethnicity in Malaysia. This study also aims to compare the equation using HGS with equations without HGS, such as the Global Lung Initiative (GLI). This study was carried out among adults between 35 to 70 years of age residing in urban and rural Malaysia. A series of standardized questionnaires were used to collect socio-demographic information. Lung functions were measured using a portable spirometer and HGS was measured using a Jamar dynamometer. The predictability of lung function indices (FEV1 and FVC) using HGS, age, and height was determined using multiple linear regression (MLR). Prediction of lung function indices was also generated using models without HGS for comparison with the equation that used HGS from this study. Pearson correlation analysis showed that both dominant (r = 0.49; p < 0.001) and non-dominant (r = 0.58; p < 0.001) HGS had a moderate significant correlation with lung function. In the MLR model, HGS was a significant (p < 0.001) predictor of lung function indices (FEV1 and FVC). The correlation of the predicted and measured lung indices using the equation generated in this study, which includes HGS, was higher compared with other lung function test equations that do not include HGS. The equations from MLR could be used to predict lung function indices among healthy Malay adults. The measurement of HGS may be used as a screening tool for lung function status when spirometry is unavailable.

Epidemiology and Prevalence of Patients with Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation in Malaysia

Congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG) are rarely, inherited metabolic diseases in which the glycosylation process is severely impaired. The prevalence has not been well determined and the aims of this study were to describe the epidemiology and calculate the birth prevalence of CDG in the Malaysian population. From 2018 to 2022, 548 patients were suspected with CDG. Sample were collected and analysed using isoelectric focusing (IEF) and capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) methods. Qualitative measurement of sialo pattern was determined to categorised CDG Type I, II and abnormal transferrin pattern. Transferrin level was quantitated using automated BN ProSpec® System as well as demographic and clinical features were documented. The distribution of CDG was 0.4% and 2.9% was diagnosed as abnormal transferrin types. The prevalence of CDG among Malaysian was 0.22 per 100,000 live births and the combined prevalence of abnormal pattern was 0.85 per 100,000 live births. Positive cases were found in infants of Malay ethnicity. Overall, the prevalence of CDG in Malaysia was low and may be underestimated yet consistent with other reported in other countries.

PERANAN NILAI BUDAYA KEINSANAN KE ARAH PENGUKUHAN KESEPADUAN SOSIAL DALAM KOMUNITI PELAJAR INSTITUSI PENGAJIAN TINGGI

Social Cohesion is an important measurement for the achievement of unity among society in Malaysia, especially unity between ethnic groups. The National Cohesion Index (IPNas) 2018 shows that Social Cohesion has increased to a good level due to the influence of National Ethos and Cross-Ethnic Social Relations. This study aims to explore the direct influence of the Humanity Cultural Value variable on the National Ethos and Cross-Ethnic Social Relations towards strengthening Social Cohesion among Malay and Non-Malay students in public and private higher education institutions. The Humanity Cultural Value variable was developed from Al-Quran sources and operationalized into a universal value that is suitable as a value measurement for all ethnicities. A total of 445 respondents consisting of ethnic Malay, Chinese and Indian students were involved in this study. A snowball sampling technique was used to obtain voluntary student commitment through the student's social media community network. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to describe the demographics of the respondents while PLS-SEM analysis was employed to test the study's hypothesised model. The results of the overall analysis found that the appreciation of the Humanity Cultural Value significantly directly affects the National Ethos and Cross-Ethnic Social Relations as well as strengthening Social Cohesion. The Humanity Cultural Value is found to tend to increase the value of the National Ethos and Cross-Ethnic Social Relations for the Malay Ethnicity while the Humanity Cultural Value is more likely to increase the National Ethos for the Non-Malay Ethnicity. In conclusion, the Humanity Cultural Value is an important initiating factor to be moulded into the student’s community so that efforts to strengthen unity in the multi-ethnic society in the country will be empowered in a more focused manner.

Social determinants of stunting in Malay children aged

ObjectiveThis study aims to assess social determinants of stunting among children aged <5 y within the Malay ethnicity in Malaysia. MethodsThis study used data from the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2016: Maternal and Child Health. It includes a sample of 10 686 children, ages 0 to 59 mo, of Malay ethnicity. Height-for-age z score was determined based on the World Health Organization Anthro software. A binary logistic regression model was used to examine the association between the selected social determinants and the occurrence of stunting. ResultsAbout 22.5% of children aged <5 y of Malay ethnicity were stunted. For those ages 0 to 23 mo, stunting is more prevalent in boys, in rural areas, and in those who have screen exposure, whereas a reduction of stunting was observed for those children whose mothers work in the private sector and in those who consume formula milk and meat. As for those ages 24 to 59 mo, there was a higher prevalence of stunting for those with self-employed mothers and reduced prevalence in children with hygienic waste disposal practices as well as those who play with toys. ConclusionsThe prevalence of stunting among children of Malay ethnicity aged <5 in Malaysia necessitates immediate intervention. It is pertinent to facilitate early identification of those children at risk of stunting for additional care to promote healthy growth.

Split Tummy Exercise Program for Reducing Diastasis Recti in Postpartum Primigravidae: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Diastasis rectus abdominis (DRA) involves the separation of the midline abdominal muscles and linea alba and affects more than half of postpartum women. This study aimed to assess the effect of a split tummy exercise program (STEP) on DRA closure in postpartum mothers. A randomized controlled trial was conducted from 2008 to 2020 at the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Clinic of the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre. Primigravida mothers diagnosed with DRA were selected and randomly assigned to the intervention (n=21) or control (n=20) group. The intervention group underwent a home-based STEP consisting of three phases of nine abdominal exercises. DRA size was assessed at baseline and at 8 weeks postpartum using two-dimensional ultrasound. The mean age of the participants was 28 years (standard deviation, 3.6), with the majority of Malay ethnicity (87.8%) and working mothers (78%). After 8 weeks, the intervention group showed a significant reduction in DRA size of up to 27% (mean difference, 6.17 mm; 95% confidence interval, 3.7-8.7; P<0.001). No significant intergroup DRA changes were observed after 8 weeks of follow-up. Early postpartum screening for DRA should be advocated to allow early STEP intervention to ensure favorable outcomes. STEP intervention is an effective postnatal training program for managing DRA.

Medication adherence, its associated factors and implication on glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A cross-sectional study in a Malaysian primary care clinic.

Medication adherence and metabolic control remain suboptimal among patients with diabetes mellitus in Malaysia despite the clear benefits of reduced vascular complications and mortality risk. This study examined the factors associated with medication adherence and glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in a primary care clinic. This cross-sectional study was conducted in a public health clinic in Pagoh, Johor, among 386 patients recruited via systematic random sampling. Data were obtained using a validated 7-item structured questionnaire, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) test and medical record review. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the factors associated with medication adherence. The mean patient age was 60.04± 10.75 years, and the mean HbA1c level was 8.3±2.0%. Approximately 60.3% of the participants were adherent to their medication, and an increasing age was significantly associated with medication nonadherence (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 0.959; confidence interval [CI]: 0.934-0.985). Medication adherence (adjusted OR: 2.688; CI: 1.534- 4.708) and use of combined oral medications (adjusted OR: 5.604; CI: 3.078-10.203), combined oral medications with insulin (adjusted OR: 23.466; CI: 8.208-67.085) and insulin only (adjusted OR: 6.528; CI: 1.876-22.717) were associated with good glycaemic control. Older age (adjusted OR: 0.954; CI: 0.923-0.986) and Malay ethnicity (adjusted OR: 0.284; CI: 0.101-0.794) were associated with poor glycaemic control. Suboptimal medication adherence and glycaemic control are prevalent in primary care settings, especially among elderly patients. Counselling should be targeted to patients and their caretakers to improve medication adherence and optimise metabolic control.

Hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19: A Single Center, Retrospective Cohort Study

Introduction: The outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in December 2019 called for a rapid solution, leading to repurposing of existing drugs. Due to its immunomodulatory effect and antiviral properties, hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) has been used in early 2020 for treatment of COVID-19 patients. This study was conducted to evaluate the treatment outcome of HCQ monotherapy in Malaysia. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in COVID-19 ward in Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL), from March to April 2020. A total of 446 COVID-19 patients were recruited, only 325 patients were finally included for analysis. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS, with a significant value set at p&lt;0.05. Results: The mean age of the patients were 38.5 ±15.5. They were majority male, (n=210, 64.6%) Malaysian (n=239, 73.5%) and Malay ethnicity (n=204, 62.8%). Ninety-one (28%) patients received HCQ monotherapy. HCQ monotherapy was associated with worse outcome (OR: 10.29, 95% CI 1.17-90.80). There was a significant difference in mean length of stay between those with and without HCQ treatment (t323=5.868, p&lt;0.001, 95% CI, 2.56-5.31). The average length of stay for HCQ treated group was 3.84 days longer than those without treatment. 6.6% of the patient receiving HCQ monotherapy encountered adverse drug effects. Conclusion: Similar to study reported worldwide, our study demonstrated that HCQ did not improve length of stay and the outcome of COVID-19 patients.

Prevalence and risk factors of antibodies towards HLA Class I and Class II in Malaysian renal transplant candidates

Antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) still persists as the major hurdle towards successful renal allograft survival. This paper aims to report on the HLA antibody landscape of renal transplant candidates in Malaysia. A total of 2,219 adult samples from 2016 to 2019 were analysed for anti-HLA antibodies using solid-phase assay. Our findings highlight the prevalence and risk factors for antibodies against HLA antigens in renal transplant settings, which could be beneficial for selecting compatible recipients from deceased organ donors. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to demonstrate that ethnic Malay and Chinese showed significantly higher prevalence of anti-HLA antibodies. Based on our multivariate analysis: (i) female gender was associated with higher risk for panel reactive antibodies (PRAs) against Class I, Class II, and Class I and II (p < 0.001); (ii) older patients (≥ 38 years old) were associated with higher risk of positivity against Class I, Class II and Class I and II (p < 0.001); (iii) Malays showed significant association with Class II antibodies (p = 0.035); Chinese patients presented with higher risk of PRA positivity against Class II (p < 0.001) and Class I and II (p = 0.01); Indians were significantly associated with higher risk of HLA antibody sensitization against Class I (p = 0.022), Class II (p = 0.026) and Class I and II (p = 0.05). Thus, our findings suggested that female gender, older age (≥ 38 years old) and ethnicity may serve as independent risk factors for HLA antibody sensitization in adult renal transplant candidates.

Internalization of The Value of Islamic Education Through The System of Kindness and Religious Harmony in Village Communities of 10 ULU Palembang

This study aims to analyze the internalization of the value of Islamic education through the kinship system and religious harmony in the people of Kampung 10 Ulu Palembang. This study uses a qualitative approach with naturalistic inquiry methods, while the data collection technique uses observation, interviews and document studies. Data analysis uses reduction techniques, data presentation, and conclusions. The results of this study conclude that (1) the internalization of the value of Islamic education to the community is carried out through an assimilation process that can unite the diversity that exists in the community of Kampung 10 Ulu Palembang; (2) the intensity of inter-ethnic renewal, namely people with Arab, Malay, and Chinese ethnicities without any discrimination; (3) a tolerant, assimilative and interactive kinship system creates inter-religious and inter-ethnic harmony or harmonization in the people of Kampung 10 Ulu Palembang. The implications of this research show that the process of assimilation in an area will create harmony and harmony between communities, especially through the internalization of the values of Islamic education.

MAPPING OF LATENT CONFLICT IN SAMBAS TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL TOLERANCE LEVEL

West Kalimantan is a multicultural society because it consists of various ethnic groups, religions, and beliefs. Dominated by the Dayak ethnicity, West Kalimantan also consists of ethnic Malays, Chinese, Madurese, Javanese, and others. Sambas Regency, which was previously part of Singkawang City and Bengkayang Regency, is also a multicultural and multiethnic city. Nevertheless, the ethnic and cultural diversity in Sambas can be a strength for the region but also a threat because of the various conflicts that have arisen in the history of this region. It is not uncommon for competition and social conflict to occur because of this diversity. Examining this phenomenon, there are two problem formulations in this study, namely: (1) What are the latent conflicts that can threaten the harmony of the Sambas community? (2) What is the potential for tolerance that can maintain the harmony of the Sambas community? By using qualitative research methods through case studies, the subjects of this research are community leaders, human rights activists, academics, and local governments who have a role in managing conflict in Sambas. The data in this study were obtained through several techniques, namely: in-depth interviews, Focus Group Discussion (FGD), and observation. The findings of this study indicate that the latent conflicts in Sambas Regency are ethnocentrism, decreased hatred, politics, and social media. In addition, there is also the potential for tolerance, including education, social and cultural activities, government regulations and community actions, as well as support from opinion leaders

The Prevalence of Bimaxillary Protrusion in Ethnic Malay, Medan, Indonesia

Background: Malocclusion is a deviation from the normal position of the teeth when the jaw is closed. The bimaxillary protrusion is the most prominent or most common of Angle's class I malocclusions. This study aimed to determine and present the prevalence of bimaxillary protrusion disorder in ethnic Malays adolescents in Medan, Indonesia.&#x0D; Methods: Descriptive observational study. A total of 35 research subjects were included in this study. An exploration of bimaxillary protrusion disorders was also carried out, and an exploration of demographic data was also carried out. Univariate analysis was carried out to determine the frequency distribution of each test variable with the help of SPSS version 25 software.&#x0D; Results: The majority of study subjects had bimaxillary protrusion angle class I malocclusion, namely 22 people (62.9%), while only 13 respondents (37.1%) had no bimaxillary protrusion malocclusion. The results of this study indicate that the prevalence of bimaxillary protrusion abnormalities in the Malay ethnicity is quite high, namely 62.9%.&#x0D; Conclusion: The prevalence of bimaxillary protrusion disorders in ethnic Malay is 62.9%.

The Cultural Dynamism of Wong Ayeb and Wong Palembang in Kuto Batu

This study aims to describe and analyze the Palembang population, which consists of ethnic Chinese, Arabs, Javanese, and Malays. Cultural civilization occurs in Kuto Batu Village, also known as Pasar Kuto, inhabited by ethnic Palembang, Ayyeb, and Chinese ethnic. Conditions, nature, culture, religion, and social changes surrounding them are all mentioned in constructing reality. This study uses a descriptive qualitative research methodology, with data collected through observation, documentation, and interviews. Wong Ayyeb and Wong Palembang are community leaders who participated in this research. Data analysis in research includes data reduction, data display (presentation of data), and verification (concluding) which involves continuous verification activities during the study, namely since arriving at the research location, during data collection, and during the preparation of research results. The researchers used triangulation as an evaluation approach to determine the correctness of the data. Research findings regarding the process of interaction and communication, the residents of Kuto Batu Village cannot be limited by an identity that clearly distinguishes one culture from another. The urge to communicate is not limited to people who share the same cultural identity; however, the nature and extent of communication changed. Coexistence for decades resulted in many cultures assimilating and adapting into the two ethnicities' everyday lives. Recommendations in research the need for religious understanding of customs and culture in social rituals.

Motivasi Terselebung Gerakan Politik dan Fundamentalis terhadap Muslim

Fundamentalism, in the dictionary Theories and Schools in Philosophy and Theology is a view that emerged in 1909 and is used generally to designate a particular style of conservative Protestantism. Fundamentalism's aim is to preserve the foundations of faith and to combat attempts to reinterpret the Bible and theology in the light of modern knowledge. There are two approaches to understanding the symptoms of fundamentalism, namely objectivism and subjectivism. From an objectivist perspective, it is understood that fundamentalism arises because religious texts provide such legitimacy. From a subjectivist perspective, which places individuals as subjects who actively define their lives with the outside world, all fundamentalism is not only understood because religious texts teach it that way. As stated above, that the outside world is also an entity that also influences a person in internalizing his religious teachings. The attitude of the Batu Bara people towards political and fundamentalist movements is still very strong and rooted among the elders and native sons of the Batu Bara area who adhere to Malay cultural customs. Batu Bara, which is located in Pesisir Pantai, is one of the regencies in the province of North Sumatra where the majority of the people are ethnic Malays.&#x0D; Keywords: Fundamentalism, School, Politics

E-Cigarette Users' Profiles and Their Association with Identified Impacts of COVID-19 on Vaping among Young Adults in Malaysia.

Electronic cigarettes (ECs) users' profiles and behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic remain unclear. This cross-sectional study aimed to explore Malaysian EC users' profiles and their associations with related behaviors during the pandemic. The EC users (N = 351) were recruited from an official national vape entity. Respondents were predominantly of Malay ethnicity (90.6%), aged 31 to 35 years (27.6%), males (97.7%), married (68.7%), from Malaysia's west region states (63.5%) and tertiary educated (69.2%). The majority (80.3%) were non-dual users, and most purchased their vaping products online (77.2%), liked that they can vape while working at home (83.8%) and vaped more because of boredom (55.3%), had low and moderate nicotine addiction levels (94.9%), had low motivation level to quit EC use (92.6%) and were more likely to perceive that vaping did not increase the chances of complications from COVID-19. Respondents with moderate to high addiction levels had twice the odds of checking on their current EC supplies, whilst respondents with low motivation to quit had higher odds of using their tank/pod until the last drop and distancing from others when vaping. EC users should be encouraged to quit EC use, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Implementation of Partnership Principles in Cross-Cultural Communications Amongst Malay, Akit, and Chinese Ethnics

A Cross-cultural communication occurs in multicultural and multilingual societies. Selatpanjang is a multicultural and multilingual city with "native" ethnic Malays, Chinese, and Akit people. This research aims to describe the implementation of partnership principles in cross-cultural communication amongst Malay, Akit, and Chinese ethnics in Selatpanjang. This study uses a descriptive method. Data were collected through observations and interviews. The steps taken in analyzing the data are data reduction, data categorization, data synthesis, and formulation of research findings. The research findings revealed that the implementation of partnership principles in cross-cultural communication amongst Malay, Akit, and Chinese ethnics is as follows: 14.2% of respondents from the Malays implementing the partnership principles belong to the "very good" category. In addition, 43.2% of them belong to the "good" category. 42.5% of them belong to the "fairly good" category. None of them fall into the "poor" category; 58.7% of respondents thought the Akit ethnic group fell into the "very good" category, 31.2% fell into the "good" category, 10% fell into the "fairly good" category, and none fell into the "poor" category. Regarding Chinese ethnics, 38% of them belong to the "very good" category, 22.7% belong to the "good" category, 18.25% belong to the "fairly good" category, and none belong to the "poor" category. In addition, the findings revealed that the implementation of partnership principles cannot be separated from the language characteristics of each ethnic group. Akit people tend to convey the right amount of message and the right information, focus on the topic of conversation, and speak concisely "according to" their rigid, closed, and flat character. Ethnic Malays commit several violations of the maxim of the partnership principle, influenced by their humorous, adaptable, and self-limiting character. Chinese tend to be serious and focused, but they speak longer to convince interlocutors.

Development and Evaluation of a Diet Quality Index for Preschool-Aged Children in an Asian population: The Growing Up in Singapore Towards Healthy Outcomes cohort.

Diet quality indexes are useful tools to measure diet quality because they compare dietary intakes against recommendations. A dietary quality index for Asian preschool-aged children is lacking. The aims of this study were to develop and evaluate a dietary quality index for preschool-aged children (ie, the DQI-5) based on Singapore dietary recommendations and to examine diet quality in a cohort of 5-year-old children. An additional aim was to assess associations between sociodemographic characteristics and DQI-5 scores. A secondary analysis was conducted using dietary intake of children from the Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes mother-offspring cohort assessed in 2015-2016 using a validated food frequency questionnaire. The sociodemographic data were assessed at recruitment between June 2009 and September 2010. The DQI-5 was evaluated using a construct validity approach, whereby nutrition parameters associated with diet quality were studied. Participants were 767 Singaporean children aged 5 years of Chinese, Malay, or Indian ethnicity. The main outcome measures were the DQI-5 scores and the sociodemographic characteristics associated with diet quality. Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to evaluate differences in adherence to dietary recommendations across DQI-5 tertiles. Linear multiple regression analysis was performed to identify sociodemographic characteristics that were associated with diet quality in the children. The DQI-5 consists of 12 food and nutrient components, with a minimum score of zero and a maximum score of 110 points. The higher scores indicate a healthier diet, the mean ± SD DQI-5 score for the children was 61.6 ± 13.2. DQI-5 components with low scores included whole grains, vegetables, and fatty acid ratio, whereas total rice and alternatives and milk and dairy products components were overconsumed by 18% and 24.4% of children, respectively. Children with higher scores were more likely to meet dietary recommendations and had higher intake of nutrients such as dietary fiber, iron, vitamin A, and beta carotene. Children whose mothers were of Malay ethnicity and whose mothers had low income, an education below university, and shared primary caregiver responsibilities were more likely to have lower DQI-5 scores. The DQI-5 scores revealed diets to be low for several components and excessive for a few. The DQI-5 developed for preschool-aged children in Singapore had adequate construct validity.

Normative reference values and predicting factors of handgrip strength for dominant and non-dominant hands among healthy Malay adults in Malaysia

IntroductionHandgrip strength (HGS) measures the maximum voluntary force of the hand, which has been used to assess individual health status indirectly. Although several factors related to HGS have been identified, studies among adults in Malaysia are lacking. This study aimed to provide the normative reference HGS values and determine its predictor factors among healthy adults of Malay ethnic in Malaysia.MethodologyThis study was a part of the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study carried out among adults aged between 35 to 70 years old residing in urban and rural Malaysian communities. A standardised questionnaire was used to assess the socio-demographic information and physical activity level of respondents who provided written informed consent to participate in this study. HGS was measured using Jamar’s dynamometer. A total of 3,446 healthy adults of Malay ethnic were included in this study. Descriptive data were used to derive the normative reference values for HGS using means and standard deviations stratified by age and gender. The predictors of HGS were determined using a general linear model (GLM).ResultsMean HGS ranged from 38.48 (± 9.40) kg for the dominant hand of men aged 35–40 years to 16.53 (± 5.69) kg for the non-dominant hand of women aged 61–70 years. The ANOVA indicated that there was a significant descending trend of HGS as age increased for both genders (p < 0.05). The ANOVA also revealed that participants working in blue- or white-collar jobs had higher HGS than their counterparts who are homemakers (p < 0.05). The GLM shows that, age, occupation type, socio-economic status (SES), physical activity level and BMI significantly predicted dominant HGS among male and meanwhile, only age, SES and BMI significantly predicted dominant HGS among female.ConclusionHGS normative values provided herein can serve as a guide for interpreting HGS measurements obtained from healthy Asian adults especially Malay ethnic. The clinicians and researcher can use the established HGS reference values as comparison in their patients or participants. Furthermore, during a rehabilitation process, the clinicians and researchers could use the normal score ranges to document the progress of HGS and provide feedback to the patients. Further study with prospective study design is needed to determine the causal effect association of the predictors and HGS.