Malay Ethnicity Research Articles

Enhancing Inter-Ethnic Harmony in a Multicultural Society: Lessons from a Case Study of the Harmonization of Malay and Chinese Ethnicities in Belitung Island

This article explores how inter-ethnic harmony in a multicultural society is formed, with a focus on the harmonization of ethnic Malays and Chinese on Belitung Island. This case study explores how interaction and integration occur between ethnic Malays and Chinese on Belitung Island so that harmonization is formed. This study uses a qualitative approach with data collection in the form of literature studies, observations and interviews with informants who come from ethnic Malays and Chinese. Social interaction between ethnic Malays and Chinese in Belitung has been running very harmoniously until now. Social interaction between the two ethnic groups is formed from an associative social process that arises from the principles of openness and equality. Social integration between ethnic Malays and Chinese in Belitung was formed from a relatively long process of social interaction with the principle of equality with the motto "Tong Ngin Fan, Ngin Jit Jong", which means that Chinese and Malays are the same or equal. In addition, social integration is also influenced by the high sense of tolerance between the two ethnic groups, so that social integration can be closely intertwined until now.

Knowledge and awareness on consumption of bubble tea towards obesity and caries risks: A cross-sectional study

Objective: Bubble tea has become a top-notch favourite among millennials worldwide. Bubble tea is a significant source of sugar in the diet, and its consumption is increasing in most countries. This study aims to determine the knowledge and awareness of the consumption of bubble tea towards obesity and caries risks among young adults. Material and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using an online self-administered questionnaire. A convenience sampling method was used in this study. The questionnaire assessed the respondents' bubble tea consumption, their knowledge and awareness of the implication of obesity, and caries risk from consuming bubble tea. Results: A total of 387 young adults aged between 20-29 years old (98.7%) were included in the study. The majority were female (56.8%), of Malay ethnicity (91.7%), and had high education levels (87.3%). Most respondents (n=283, 73.1%) rarely consumed bubble tea in this study. The respondents' most consumed bubble tea brand was Tealive (61.8%). A statistically significant association was found among the respondents between awareness of sugar content in bubble tea and its adverse effects on health (ϰ2 = 9.448, p=0.002). Conclusion: Most young adults rarely drink bubble tea however; they have limited knowledge and self-awareness of the implications for obesity from calorie intake and caries risk from sugar in bubble tea.

Exploring the Unique Morphological and Syntactic Features of Singlish (Singapore English)

Singapore is home to a number of significant ethnic groups, including Chinese, Malay, and Tamil, whose contributions have shaped the distinctive characteristics of Singlish in comparison to standard English. This study aims to examine the morphological and syntactic characteristics of Singlish, an English-based creole spoken in Singapore, emphasizing its impact on interethnic communication. Using comparative analysis, Singlish's morphological and syntactic characteristics were compared to those of standard English and the languages of the three largest ethnic groups in Singapore (Chinese, Malay, and Tamil). Examining grammatical patterns, word order, sentence structure, and the use of particular linguistic features would be required. The findings demonstrate that Singlish utilizes distinctive syntactic patterns that frequently incorporate Malay, Chinese, and Tamil grammatical formulas. Singlish, in contrast to standard English, lacks subject and object pronouns and frequently employs "sentence-ending particles" such as what, leh, lor, hah, and meh, in addition to lah. In addition, the copula be is frequently omitted before adjectives, nouns, and locatives in Singlish. In addition, the presence of word repetition and word drop in Singlish can be traced back to the Chinese dialect Hokkien. The Singaporean government has attempted to discourage the use of Singlish; however, this has sparked controversy due to the significance of the language in interethnic communication and its reflection of interethnic identity. As a result, Singlish is a fascinating subject for linguistic and sociological study, with significant implications for language education and policy.

Kajian Bentuk serta Fungsi Bangunan Tradisional Rumah Adat (UMA) Masyarakat Mentawai

West Sumatra is one of the provinces in Indonesia which has a population not only from the Minangkabau (Malay) ethnicity. But also from ethnic groups such as the Mentawai tribe who live in the Mentawai Islands. Minangkabau is synonymous with Islam, while the Mentawai people are predominantly Christian. Likewise, the Minangkabau traditional house is called Rumah Gadang, while the Mentawai traditional house is called Uma. The division of forms in the traditional Mentawai house is generally divided into three parts. Namely the large Uma that extends, the front, middle and back. The front is called talaibo which serves to welcome guests. The central part of Uma is an area which is divided into three equal parts and functions as a party or traditional ritual. Then the last part, behind Uma there is a kitchen and it is called batsapo. Uma functions as a place for association or deliberation within one tribe to carry out all activities, be it traditional rituals or parties that are carried out within one tribe. Uma also has a goal as a medium to strengthen ties within one tribe in building good cooperation. Uma also has ornaments or decorations in the form of nature such as leaves, plants and animals, each decoration has a placement and has a special meaning, such as monkey skulls, pig skulls, turtle shells and other decorations. Qualitative Descriptive Research Methods because in my opinion this method is very suitable for my research plan because it is one of the methods that are field in nature such as interviews, questionnaires and questionnaires.

Breast cancer and breast cancer screening use—beliefs and behaviours in a nationwide study in Malaysia

BackgroundMany upper-middle-income countries (UMICs), including Malaysia, continue to face low breast cancer (BC) screening rates and patients with delayed presentation of BC. This study investigated the role of beliefs about BC and use of screening (e.g. beliefs about whether or not screening reduced the possibility of dying from BC).MethodsA nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted in which a total of 813 women (aged ≥ 40 years old) were randomly selected and surveyed using the validated Awareness and Beliefs about Cancer (ABC) measure. The association between BC screening use, sociodemographic characteristics, and negative beliefs about BC screening were analysed using stepwise Poisson regressions.ResultsSeven out of ten Malaysian women believed that BC screening was necessary only when experiencing cancer symptoms. Women > 50 years and from households with more than one car or motorcycle were 1.6 times more likely to attend a mammogram or a clinical breast examination (mammogram: Prevalence Ratio (PR) = 1.60, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 1.19–2.14, Clinical Breast Examination (CBE): PR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.29–1.99). About 23% of women expected to feel anxious about attending BC screening, leading them to avoid the procedure. Women who held negative beliefs about BC screening were 37% less likely to attend a mammogram (PR = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.42–0.94) and 24% less likely to seek a CBE (PR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.60–0.95).ConclusionsPublic health strategies or behaviour interventions targeting negative beliefs about BC screening among Malaysian women may increase uptake and reduce late presentation and advanced-stage cancer. Insights from the study suggest that women under 50 years, in the lower income group without a car or motorcycle ownership, and of Malay or Indian ethnicity (compared to Chinese-Malay) are more likely to hold beliefs inhibiting BC screening.

Differences in type 2 diabetes risk between East, South, and Southeast Asians living in Singapore: the multi-ethnic cohort

IntroductionProspective data on differences in type two diabetes (T2D) risk between Asian ethnic groups are sparse. We, therefore, compared T2D risk for East (Chinese), South (Indian), and Southeast (Malay) Asians...

Comparisons of Clients' and Caregivers' Satisfaction Across Conventional, Virtual, and Hybrid Speech-Language Therapy Services in Malaysia.

This study compared the satisfaction of recipients of conventional speech-language therapy (C-SLT), speech-language teletherapy (SLTT), and hybrid speech-language therapy (H-SLT), and determined sociodemographic factors that affect their satisfaction. Participants were clients and caregivers of a speech-language clinic at a public university. Services were primarily provided by student clinicians, who were undergoing supervised clinical training. An online survey was distributed, which consisted of three sections: Background Information, Overall Satisfaction in SLT, and Satisfaction in SLTT. All participants completed the first two sections, while the third section was completed only by those who experienced SLTT or H-SLT. Most of the respondents were caregivers (89.7%), female (79.4%), of Malay ethnicity (80.9%), have received tertiary education (77.9%), within the low-income category (66.2%), held a job (76.5%), and resided in central West Malaysia (83.8%). Many participants experienced C-SLT (51%), followed by H-SLT (34%), and SLTT (15%). There were no significant differences in the overall satisfaction of the participants across three modes of services delivery (F[2,67] = 0.02, p = 0.95), and in the satisfaction with teletherapy between the H-SLT and SLTT groups (t = 0.90, p = 0.38). Income was the only sociodemographic factor that was correlated with the satisfaction level in teletherapy (r = 0.37, p = 0.04).

Warung Kopi sebagai Ruang Publik untuk Membangun Harmoni Masyarakat Multikultural

Inter-ethnic conflicts often occur in West Kalimantan, especially in Pontianak City, especially between Dayak, Chinese, and Malay ethnicities. Therefore, to build harmony in life between ethnicities, public spaces are needed that are accessed by various groups. Coffee shops are one of the potential public spaces to build harmony between ethnic groups. This article aims to determine the existence of coffee shops as public spaces in Kota Pontianak and the role of coffee shops as a space to build harmony in Pontianak City. This article publishes the results of research that uses qualitative approaches with phenomenological methods, data collection using interviews, observation, observation techniques, and documentation. Data analysis uses an interactive analysis model. The research found that coffee rafting in Pontianak City becomes a public space that contains democratic, responsive, and meaningful values so that people from various ethnic and cultural backgrounds visit coffee shops to rest, discuss business affairs, do tasks, have meetings, and so on. People who visit coffee shops come from various ethnicities (Malay, Dayak, Chinese, Bugis, Javanese, and Madurese). Through the coffee shop, they meet to talk about various things, so that familiarity is well- built and strengthens social integration. Besides being able to build a harmonious inter-ethnic life, the existence of coffee shops can also increase the regional original income (PAD) of Pontianak City and absorb labor.

Academic Performance of Preclinical Medical Students in Association with Gender, Ethnicity and Entry Qualification

Various qualifications are accepted as the entry requirement into the Medical School of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) including Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM), matriculation and Asasi Sains Pertanian (ASPER). We aim to determine the relationship between academic performance of preclinical medical students with sociodemographic factors of gender, ethnicity and entry qualification. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using secondary data from the Deputy Dean’s Office (Academic of Medicine) of the Medical School of UPM. Information was obtained on three cohorts of preclinical medical students (n = 308), which includes gender, ethnicity, entry qualification and examination results of Packages 1 to 9 and the Professional Examination I. Their identities and year of enrolment were kept anonymous. Data were analysed using IBM Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) v26.0 using chi-square or Fisher’s exact test (significant if p < 0.05). No significant association was seen between gender and the academic performances of the preclinical medical students. The Chinese ethnic group had a significant association with good academic performance, whereas the Malay ethnic group had an association with poor academic performance. There were significant associations between STPM intake and good academic performance for Cohort 1 in Package 1 (p = 0.007); 2 (p < 0.001); 5 (p = 0.007); 6 (p = 0.012); 7 (p = 0.006); 8 (p = 0.002) and for Cohort 2 in Package 1 (p = 0.049), 6 (p = 0.031) and 9 (p = 0.049) but no significant association for Cohort 3. In conclusion, academic performance is significantly associated with Chinese and Malay ethnicity. Furthermore, STPM graduates outperformed students from other entry qualifications in the Medical School of UPM.

Factors Affecting The Tendency of Drug Addiction among Malay Ethnic Compared to Chinese Ethnic

Factors Affecting The Tendency of Drug Addiction among Malay Ethnic Compared to Chinese Ethnic

Ethnobotany of food plants utilized by Malay Ethnic in Belitung District, Indonesia

Abstract. Chikmawati T, Sulistijorini, Djuita NR, Prasaja D, Yamini THA, Miftahudin, Fakhrurrozi Y. 2023. Ethnobotany of food plants utilized by Malay Ethnic in Belitung District, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 24: 2977-2987. Many food commodities in Belitung District, Indonesia are imported from the other islands. However, the local government's experience with the COVID-19 pandemic has encouraged the community to increase the diversification of local food products. Comprehensive data on the species used and the utilization is needed to support the effort. The research aimed to study the potential of plant biodiversity as a food source through ethnobotanical studies of the Malay ethnic group in the Belitung District. The study began by determining key and ordinary respondents using purposive and snowball sampling methods. Furthermore, data were collected through open, semi-structured, and structured interviews. The index of cultural significance (ICS) was determined based on quantitative data. The Malay community in the Belitung District utilizes 181 plant species as food, and most species are wild plants (59%). The number of plants used as food varies among sub-districts and is significantly correlated with forest area in each sub-district. The edible plants are divided into seven utilization categories: fruits, cooking spices, vegetables, sources of carbohydrates, beverage ingredients, grains, and staple food. The most used plant organ is the fruit. The plant with the highest ICS value in four sub-districts, i.e., Membalong, Tanjung Pandan, Sijuk, Badau, was coconut (Cocos nucifera); whereas the highest ICS value in the Selat Nasik sub-district was orange konci (Citrus microcarpa). Rice (Oryza sativa) and white pepper (Piper nigrum) also have high ICS values. Rice is an irreplaceable staple food source, while pepper is a commodity with high economic value for the community. The large number of wild plants the community uses indicates that there are many alternative plant species to meet food needs.

Predictors of Post-traumatic Stress Symptoms (PTSS), Depression, and Anxiety among Caregivers of Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL).

The caregivers of children diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) are believed to experience post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), depression and anxiety. This present study endeavoured to explore the prevalence and predictors of PTSS, depression, and anxiety among the caregivers of children with ALL. Purposive sampling was used to select the 73 caregivers of children with ALL who participated in this cross-sectional study. The Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were used to measure psychological distress. There was a low prevalence (11%) of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among the participants. Although all the criteria for PTSD were not met, a few post-traumatic symptoms remained, suggesting that PTSS was likely present. Most of the participants reported minimal symptoms of depression (79.5%) and anxiety (65.8%). Anxiety, depression, and ethnicity predicted the PTSS scores (R2 = .77, p =.000). Subsequently, depression predicted the PTSS scores (R2 = 0.42, p =0.000). Participants of 'Other' or 'Indigenous' ethnicity had lower PTSS scores and higher anxiety scores (R2 = 0.75, p =0.000) than participants of Malay ethnicity. The caregivers of children with ALL experience post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), depression, and anxiety. These variables co-exist and may have different trajectories in different ethnic groups. Therefore, healthcare providers should take ethnicity and psychological distress into consideration when providing paediatric oncology treatment and care.

Akulturasi Budaya dalam Pernikahan Suku Karo dan Melayu

This study examines cultural acculturation in Karo and Malay marriages. This research has several objectives for the researchers themselves and other students. The first to conduct this research is to find out about the process of acculturation between Karo and Malay ethnicities in Bela Rakyat Village, Kuala District, Langkat Regency, North Sumatra Province. The second objective is how the process of acculturation occurs in the culture of marriage that occurs between Karo and Malay ethnicities in Bela Rakyat Village, Kuala District, Langkat Regency, North Sumatra Province. Descriptive Qualitative research method. Qualitative Descriptive is an analysis that seeks to provide a detailed picture based on facts obtained from field facts and is also supported by primary and secondary data to support existing data. This qualitative research is presented in the form of a narrative and is assisted by the calculation of numbers, percentages, and entered in tables, then the data is entered in tables and the data will be analyzed descriptively so that in analyzing research problems it can be meaningful and can be explained and can answer what is be the problem. This research was conducted in Bela Rakyat Village. This field research showed that there were changes in social, cultural, and language forms. This is caused by several factors that influence the occurrence of cultural acculturation.

Early continuous renal replacement therapy for postoperative patient with acute kidney injury following total pancreato-splenectomy: a case report

BackgroundAcute kidney injury is a devastating postoperative complication. Renal replacement therapy is a treatment modality for acute kidney injury. Continuous renal replacement therapy is the treatment of choice for patients with hemodynamic instability. The main question in the management of acute kidney injury is when to initiate the renal replacement therapy. Several studies have demonstrated improvement in patients with septic acute kidney injury, following early continuous renal replacement therapy. To date, no guidelines have been established on the perfect timing to initiate continuous renal replacement therapy. In this case report, we did an early continuous renal replacement therapy as an extracorporeal therapy for blood purification and renal support.Case presentationOur patient was a 46-year-old male of Malay ethnicity, undergoing total pancreatectomy due to a duodenal tumor. The preoperative assessment showed that the patient was high risk. Intraoperatively, massive surgical bleeding was sustained due to extensive tumor resection; thus, massive blood product transfusion was necessary. After the surgery, the patient suffered from postoperative acute kidney injury. We performed early continuous renal replacement therapy, within 24 hours after the diagnosis of acute kidney injury. Upon completion of continuous renal replacement therapy, the patient’s condition improved, and he was discharged from the intensive care unit on the sixth postoperative day.ConclusionThe timing for the initiation of renal replacement therapy remains controversial. It is clear that the “conventional criteria” for initiating renal replacement therapy need correction. We found that early continuous renal replacement therapy initiated in less than 24 hour after the postoperative acute kidney injury diagnosis gave our patient survival benefit.

Self-regulation and academic achievement among Singaporean young children: A cross-cultural comparison in a multicultural Asian society

Cultural contexts influence the development of self-regulation. However, cross-cultural variations and consistencies in different aspects of self-regulation and their academic outcomes within the Asian context are less clear. This study investigated (1) the extent to which the development of hot and cool Executive Function (EF) might differ among children from different cultural backgrounds in a multicultural Asian society, and (2) whether and how the predictive power of hot and cool EF on academic skills might vary across subcultures within the nation. Longitudinal data were collected over two waves from a national probability sample of 2,527 young children in Singapore, consisting of ethnic Chinese, Malays, and Indians. Working memory (WM), Delay of Gratification (DoG), and parent-reported self-control were measured during their preschool years (3–6 years of age) in Wave 1. Reading and mathematical skills were assessed approximately 2 years later in Wave 2. Results demonstrated that ethnic Chinese children typically delayed gratification at age 4, whereas Malay and Indian children only started to delay gratification at age 6. Chinese children also outperformed their Malay and Indian counterparts in WM tasks and standardized achievement tests in reading and mathematics. Parent-reported child self-control did not differ by ethnicity. Across subcultures in Singapore, WM was a robust predictor of reading and mathematical skills and explained the longitudinal relations of DoG to academic skills. Our findings suggest that the developmental gaps in EF during early childhood can contribute to later gaps in academic achievement among ethnic groups. Nurturing self-regulation during the preschool years is essential for promoting children’s school readiness.

Unilateral Idiopathic Optic Perineuritis in a Normal Fundus

A 22-year-old woman of Malay ethnicity presented with severe blurred vision in the right eye and experienced periocular pain with eye movement. She had a visual field defect over the affected eye, while an examination showed clinically normal optic discs. Relative afferent pupillary defect was also present in the right eye, with reduced optic nerve function. Optic nerve imaging revealed the ‘doughnut sign’ and ‘tram track’ signs, which are characteristics of optic perineuritis. The patient was initiated on a steroid regime that was tapered off over four months. Her visual function recovered gradually during the treatment until reaching a satisfactory final visual outcome. This is a unique case where optic perineuritis occurred in a normal fundus and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) served as an important diagnostic tool for the condition.
 Optic perineuritis (OPN) is an orbital inflammatory disease that involves the meningeal sheath surrounding the optic nerve.[1] It can be idiopathic or secondary to an underlying systemic autoimmune disorder.[1,2] Visual loss in OPN results from inflammation of the tissue surrounding the optic nerve, resulting in mechanical compression of the nerve and subsequent ischaemia.[1]
 OPN can be diagnosed using an optic nerve sheath biopsy, while magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) diagnoses OPN through perineural enhancement, making it a useful diagnostic tool.[2] Upon diagnosis, OPN should be treated with corticosteroids for a prolonged period to ensure visual recovery.[3]
 We report a unique case of unilateral OPN with severe visual loss in a young Malay woman with a normal fundoscopy who was successfully treated with prolonged corticosteroids.

Factors affecting the distribution of serum anti-müllerian hormone levels among infertile Asian women: a multi-nation, multi-centre, and multi-ethnicity prospective cohort study.

How do age, ethnicity, and other characteristics affect serum anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) levels in Asian women undergoing fertility treatment? Age, ethnicity, obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2), and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) significantly impacted serum AMH levels, with the rate of decrease accelerating as age increased; a concentration of 4.0 ng/ml was the optimal cut-off for diagnosis of PCOS. There are significant differences in ovarian reserve among women from different races and ethnicities, and Asian women often have poorer reproductive outcomes during assisted reproductive treatment cycles. A population-based multi-nation, multi-centre, multi-ethnicity prospective cohort study of 4613 women was conducted from January 2020 to May 2021. Infertile women of 20-43 years of age were enrolled. The exclusion criteria included: age <20 or >43, non-Asian ethnicity, and missing critical data. Participants were Asian women of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Malay, Indian, and Indonesian ethnicities from 12 IVF centres across Asia. These women were all naïve to ovarian stimulation cycles and attended IVF centres for fertility assessment. The AMH measurement was performed using an AMH automated assay on a clinically validated platform. A total of 4556 infertile Asian women were included in the final analyses. The mean ± SD for serum AMH concentrations (ng/ml) across specific age groups were: overall, 3.44 ± 2.93; age <30, 4.58 ± 3.16; 30-31, 4.23 ± 3.23; 32-33, 3.90 ± 3.06; 34-35, 3.21 ± 2.65; 36-37, 2.74 ± 2.44; 38-39, 2.30 ± 1.91; 40 and above, 1.67 ± 2.00. The rate of AMH decrease was ∼0.13 ng/ml/year in patients aged 25-33 and 0.31 ng/ml/year in women aged 33-43. The highest rates of PCOS were found in Indians (18.6%), Malays (18.9%), and Vietnamese (17.7%). Age (P < 0.001), ethnicity (P < 0.001), obesity (P = 0.007), PCOS (P < 0.001), and a history of endometrioma cystectomy (P = 0.01) were significantly associated with serum AMH values. Smoking status, pretreatment with GnRH agonist (GnRHa) or the oral contraceptive pill (OCP), freezing-thawing of blood samples, and sampling on Day 2 to Day 5 of the menstrual cycle or randomly did not appear to affect serum AMH levels. An AMH concentration of 4.0 ng/ml was the optimal cut-off for PCOS diagnosis with a sensitivity of 71.7% and specificity of 75.8% (AUC = 0.81, CI 95%: 0.79-0.83; P < 0.001). The incidence of PCOS was supposedly high in this cohort as some IVF clinics were tertiary referral centres for managing specific fertility issues encountered by women with PCOS. Treatment with GnRHa or OCP before AMH testing was regionally and ethnically confined, mostly in Hong Kong SAR and Japan. Moreover, this reference for serum AMH value is limited to Asian women of the ethnicities examined and may not apply to other ethnicities not included in the study. This is the first study to collate and construct age-specific reference ranges for serum AMH levels using the same bioassay on Asian women of different ethnicities. The findings of this investigation can assist clinicians to counsel and prognosticate about Asian women's ovarian reserve and reproductive potential, thus providing better strategies for personalized fertility interventions. This study was technically supported by Ferring Pharmaceuticals and received no specific grant from any funding agency. All authors have no competing interests to disclose. NCT04203355.

Parents' and healthcare professionals' perception toward the introduction of a new fully liquid hexavalent vaccine in the Malaysian national immunization program: a cross-sectional study instrument development and its application.

A newly developed fully liquid hexavalent vaccine that comprises six antigens for Diphtheria, Tetanus, acellular Pertussis, Inactivated Poliomyelitis, Haemophilus Influenza type b., and Hepatitis B, is proposed to be introduced in the Malaysian national immunization program, instead of the non-fully liquid pentavalent vaccine and monovalent Hepatitis B vaccine that is currently employed in the immunization schedule. Although the introduction of new vaccines is a necessary intervention, it still needs to be accepted by parents and healthcare professionals. Hence, this study aimed to develop three structured questionnaires and to investigate the participants' perception and acceptability toward the incorporation of the new fully liquid hexavalent vaccine. A cross-sectional study was conducted among a sample of 346 parents, 100 nurses, and 50 physicians attending twenty-two primary health care centers in the states of Selangor and the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya during 2019-2020. The study found that Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the study instruments ranged from 0.825 to 0.918. Principal components analysis produced a good fit with KMO>0.6. For the parents' perception questionnaire, the only extracted factor explained 73.9 % of the total variance; for the nurses' perception toward a non-fully and fully liquid combined vaccine, there was a sole extracted factor that explained 65.2 % and 79.2% of the total variance, respectively. Whereas for the physicians' perception, there was one factor extracted that explains 71.8 % of the total variance. The median score for all the questionnaire items ranged from 4 to 5 (Q1 and Q3 vary between 3-5). Parents' ethnicity was significantly associated (P-value ≤ 0.05) with the perception that the new hexavalent vaccine would reduce their transportation expenses. Moreover, a significant association (P-value ≤ 0.05) was found between physicians' age and the perception of the hexavalent vaccine's ability to decrease patient overcrowding in primary healthcare centers. The instruments used in this study were valid and reliable. Parents of Malay ethnicity were the most concerned about transportation expenses since they have the lowest income and are more concentrated in rural areas compared to other races. Younger physicians were concerned about reducing patient crowding and hence reducing their workload and burnout.

Association between body mass index, body image and self-esteem with sexual function: A survey of young women in Singapore.

Obesity is thought to be a negative predictor of sexual function, but the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and sexual function has been inconsistent. Other factors such as body image and self-esteem may mediate this relationship. This study examined the association of BMI, body image and self-esteem with sexual function in young women. A total of 514 sexually active women aged 21 to 35 years completed an anonymised online questionnaire that used 3 scales to assess body image, self-esteem and female sexual function: Body Image States Scale (BISS), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Higher scores for BISS, RSES and FSFI indicate more positive body image, higher self-esteem and better sexual function, respectively. Spearman correlation assessed the association among BMI, BISS and RSES scores, and with FSFI scores. Linear and multivariable logistic regression identified risk factors associated with sexual dysfunction (FSFI <26.55). BISS and RSES scores significantly correlated with FSFI scores (r=0.27 and r=0.32, respectively; both P<0.001), indicating that better body image and self-esteem were associated with better sexual function. Risk factors for sexual dysfunction were lower BISS and RSES scores, being married (odds ratio [OR] 1.52; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07-2.15), having 1 child (OR 2.45; 95% CI 1.26-4.77) and having a perceived mental condition (OR 3.02; 95% CI 1.44-6.33). Factors in lack of sexual dysfunction include being of Malay ethnicity (OR 0.38; 95% CI 0.21-0.71) and being overweight (OR 0.46; 95% CI 0.27-0.78). Women with poorer body image and lower self-esteem were more likely to have sexual dysfunction. These perceptions and states did not correlate with being overweight, and were better predictors over BMI to identify the population at-risk.

Stigma and posttraumatic growth among COVID-19 survivors during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia: a multicenter cross-sectional study.

Contracting COVID-19 can cause negative and distressing psychological sequelae, but traumatic stressors may also facilitate the development of positive psychological change beyond an individual's previous level of adaptation, known as posttraumatic growth (PTG). As a result, studies have investigated the negative effects of COVID-19 on mental health, but data on PTG among patients who have recovered from COVID-19 remains limited. This study aims to evaluate the level of PTG and its associations with stigma, psychological complications, and sociodemographic factors among COVID-19 patients 6 months post-hospitalization. A cross-sectional online survey of 152 COVID-19 patients was conducted after 6 months of being discharged from Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz, MAEPS Quarantine Center, or Hospital Sungai Buloh, Malaysia. Patients completed a set of questionnaires on sociodemographic and clinical data. The Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI-SF) was used to assess the level of PTG, the Kessler Psychological Distress (K6) was used to measure the degree of psychological distress, the General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) was used to evaluate the severity of anxiety symptoms, the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was used to assess the severity of depression symptoms, and the Explanatory Model Interview Catalog Stigma Scale (EMIC-SS) was used to record the degree of perceived stigma toward COVID-19. The median PTGI SF score of the respondents was 40.0 (Interquartile range 16.0). Multivariable general linear model with bootstrapping (2,000 replications) revealed factors that significantly predicted PTG, which were at the higher level of the perceived stigma score, at 37 (B = 0.367, 95% CI = 0.041 to 0.691, p = 0.026), among the Malay ethnicity (B = 12.767, 95% CI 38 = 7.541 to 17.993, p < 0.001), retirees (B = -12.060, 95% CI = -21.310 to -2.811, p = 0.011), and those with a history of medical illness (B = 4.971, 95% CI = 0.096 to 9.845, p = 0.046). Experiencing stigma contributed to patients' PTG in addition to psychosocial factors such as ethnicity, history of medical illness, and retirement.