States In Peninsular Malaysia Research Articles

Phylogenetic analysis of nucleoprotein gene of Rabies virus in Malaysia from 2015 to 2018.

Rabies is a fatal zoonotic disease caused by rabies virus (RABV) and remains a public health problem in Malaysia. Malaysia was declared rabies-free in 2012, however rabies outbreaks occurred at few states in Peninsular Malaysia three years later; and for the first time, in Sarawak (East Malaysia) in 2017 which has caused more than 20 human deaths. This study describes the phylogenetic analysis of the complete nucleoprotein (N) gene of RABV from animal samples in Malaysia from year 2015 to 2018. The N gene of 17 RABVs from Perlis, Kedah and Sarawak were amplified and sequenced. The nucleotide and deduced amino acid similarities of N gene analysis indicated that there is high similarity among the local RABVs. Phylogenetic analysis of the N gene revealed that all Malaysia RABVs belonged to the Asian clade. Among these, RABVs from Peninsular Malaysia were clustered together with RABVs from Thailand, Vietnam and other Southeast Asia countries except Indonesia. However, RABVs from Sarawak were grouped together with Indonesian strains from Kalimantan. Our study provides baseline genetic information of the potential origins of the circulating RABVs in Malaysia. This crucial information helped the authority in policies making and strategies to be taken in outbreak control. Continuous surveillance program to monitor the disease trend, strict border control, vaccination of dog and cat population and public awareness are important steps to control the spread of the RABV.

People’s Islamic Religious School (SAR) in Northern Malaysia: Administrative Model for Notable Achievements

People’s Islamic Religious School (PIRS) or Sekolah Agama Rakyat (SAR) in Malaysia is a non-sponsored religious school that needs a paradigm shift to become more visible and luminous in the national education system. The management of school that is not guided by an effective administrative model will effect on the school excellence. The continuity of the schools excellent performance depend heavily on the efficiency and effectiveness of the SAR administration. Generally, most of the SAR administration are based on each administrators discretion without relying on one common acceptable model for all SAR. Therefore. only a handful of SAR manage to excel in their operations. This study is done in order to identify the administrative practice and the challenges faced by SAR administrators in managing the SAR, based on these scenario. Eight SAR administrator in three northern state of Peninsular Malaysia (namely Kedah, Penang, and Perlis) were interviewed individually using a semi structured questions in this qualitative research. Data collected from the interview were then analyse with Atlas t.i version 8 (AV8) content analysis software. Findings indicated six administrative practice commonly adopted by selected SAR’s administrators that makes them the finest and most outstanding SAR administrators of their respective states. The findings also suggested one administrative model that could be used by all SAR as a guide to ensure smoothness and excellence of each SAR in order to produce and develop great leaders of the future with Islamic teachings as its root

Quality of Life Among Caregivers of Children with Special Needs in Kelantan, Malaysia: The Importance of Psychosocial Mediators.

BackgroundQuality of life (QoL) is an important aspect of well-being for the caregivers of children with disability, making it a noteworthy outcome. Little is known about the challenges faced by the caregivers in Asian countries and its association to their QoL. The purpose of this study was to examine a model describing the relationship between sociodemographic and disability-related factors on caregivers’ QoL, mediated by the caregivers’ psychosocial factors such as perceived stress, coping skills, and social support.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted involving caregivers of children with special needs in Kelantan, a state of Peninsular Malaysia. A total of 383 caregivers completed questionnaires measuring sociodemographics, disability-related factors, psychosocial factors and QoL outcome. Structural equation modelling was performed to examine the relations of the variables in the conceptual model.ResultsIn the final model, childcare dependency, caregiver’s age, financial support, negative perception of stress and maladaptive coping skills were significant predictors of QoL (R2 = 0.65). Caregiver’s age had a direct effect on QoL, while financial support had an indirect effect on QoL via negative perception of stress. Childcare dependency had direct and indirect effects on QoL via negative perception of stress. Higher perceived stress was associated with lower QoL directly and indirectly via maladaptive coping skills. The final model fitted the data well (root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA] = 0.046; CFI = 0.923; χ2/df = 1.798).ConclusionIntervention strategies to improve the QoL of caregivers should target the family unit and take into account the factors of child’s disability, demographic and caregiver’s psychosocial status.

Endophytic Aspergillus species from corn kernels in Peninsular Malaysia

Endophytes are micro-organisms that infect and colonize internal tissues of host plants without causing obvious disease symptoms. Although most endophyte-plant relationships occur in the absence of the manifestation of disease, infections by some endophytic Aspergillus species may occur, leading to the production of mycotoxins in infected plant tissues by toxigenic species. In this study, endophytic Aspergillus species from kernels of corn plants in six states of Peninsular Malaysia were isolated and identified. A total of 178 isolates of endophytic Aspergillus belonging to two species, were recovered from surface disinfected corn kernels after 4-7 days of incubation on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA), and identified using morphological characteristics on different growth media. Endophytic Aspergillus flavus was the most commonly isolated species (n=177), followed by Aspergillus tubingensis (n=1). Measures to control seed infection by endophytic Aspergillus species are required to improve corn seed health and preserve corn yield in Peninsular Malaysia.

Comparison of Green Design Strategies in Five Traditional Malay Houses

The traditional Malay house architecture is undoubtedly one of the ideal green ideal design concepts that can be applied in Malaysian housing development for sustainability. Not only does it have unique features that symbolize national identity, but it is also an important example with various design strategies for habitable space based on local climate and sociocultural aspects. Nowadays, Malaysia’s construction sector has changed due to modernization and being replaced and disintegrated by modern influences. Thus, it erodes the values of the existing green design approaches commonly found in the design of traditional Malay house architecture, that respond well to the local sociocultural and climate conditions. The objective of this study is to identify the green approaches in traditional Malay houses in Malaysia. This study used a qualitative approach, which is a combination of literature studies and site observations. For the site observations approach, it limited to traditional Malay houses from five out of eleven states in Peninsular Malaysia. The investigated traditional Malay houses are from Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Terengganu, and Kelantan. The findings of the study show that the architecture of these traditional Malay houses have many green design strategies which prove the sustainability aspect exist in all investigated traditional Malay houses. Thus, this study lists 22 of typically found green design strategies in traditional Malay houses and it can be used as reference or guideline for designing homes in Malaysia.

The Impact of Poor Nutrient Intakes and Food Insecurity on the Psychological Distress among Community-Dwelling Middle-Aged and Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of food insecurity and poor nutrient intake on the psychological health of middle-aged and older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. A sub-sample of 535 individuals aged 52 years and above, from the earlier cohort and interventional studies (n = 4) from four selected states in Peninsular Malaysia, were recruited during the COVID-19 outbreak (April to June 2020). Telephone interviews were conducted by trained interviewers with a health sciences background to obtain participants’ information on health status, physical activity, food security, and psychological health (General Health Questionnaire-12; normal and psychological distress). Univariate analyses were performed for each variable, followed by a logistic regression analysis using SPSS Statistics version 25.0. Results revealed food insecurity (OR = 17.06, 95% CI: 8.24–35.32, p < 0.001), low protein (OR = 0.981, 95% CI: 0.965–0.998, p < 0.05), and fiber intakes (OR = 0.822, 95% CI: 0.695–0.972, p < 0.05) were found to be significant factors associated with the psychological distress group after adjusting for confounding factors. The findings suggested that food insecurity and insufficiencies of protein and fiber intakes heightened the psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Optimal nutrition is vital to ensure the physical and psychological health of the older population, specifically during the current pandemic.

Water usage behaviour: Case study in a southern state in Peninsular Malaysia

Generally, Malaysia’s per capita water consumption is high. Therefore, this study perform a thorough investigation on a water consumption that is related to a middle-class community in Malaysia, which accounts for the highest income group in the country. Specifically, we focused on three major categories, i.e. domestic water-usage activities, water habits of the community, and water-saving efforts that can be easily adopted. The main source of data was collected using structured interview method. The frequency of indoor water usage of more than four times a day was high, which suggested that most people did not control their water consumption, especially for cooking, bathing/showering, toilet usage, and dish washing. Community awareness in terms of water-saving efforts is low, as indicated by the respondents that uses dual-pump cisterns in their toilets and employs rainwater-harvesting system for non-potable use. Low water tariff in the study area may discouraged the residents to practice water-saving measures. The findings from this study are important, particularly in understanding the activities and habits associated with high water usage. Additionally, the relevant stakeholders can use these findings to formulate a pro-active action plan to achieve the water usage of 165 litres/capita/day recommended by the World Health Organization.

Climate change impact under CanESM2 on future rainfall in the state of Kelantan using Artificial Neural Network

Kelantan is a state in Peninsular Malaysia that is highly vulnerable to extreme events such as drought and floods which are becoming worse because of climate change due to global warming that is caused by human activities. This study aims to evaluate the potential impacts of climate change on the future of rainfall in Kelantan using Artificial Neural Network. CanESM2 under three Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs), namely RCPs 2.6, 4.5, and 8.5 for 2011-2100 are incorporated with the ANN model and are used to compare the baseline period (1972 to 2018). In general, the simulated rainfall that downscaled by using the ANN model approximates the observed rainfall (during the calibration and validation periods) reasonably well. The study also shows that the ANN model anticipates a major increase in annual rainfall in the 2080s for the RCP 8.5 scenario.

Investigating the structural relationship of mass media on attitude, social influence, product safety and its impact on purchase behaviour of herbal product in Malaysia

Mass media is a crucial advertising platform and serves as an awareness platform for herbal product businesses. The rising popularity of herbal product consumption is due to the changing of lifestyle and health problems. With the increasing demand for herbal products globally, studies related to the herbal products purchase behaviour are considered very limited. Hence, the current study is written to investigate the structural relationship of mass media on attitude, social influence, product safety and its impact on purchase behaviour of Herbal products in Malaysia. By applying the Attitude-Behaviour Context Theory, this study used several variables, namely mass media toward attitude, social influence, and product safety and purchasing behaviour of herbal products. This study was designed using a quantitative approach through a survey questionnaire. A total of 467 respondents from seven states in Peninsular Malaysia have participated in this study and collected using the intercept survey. The data were analysed using structural equation modelling with a partial least square approach (SEM-PLS) and assisting SmartPLS 3.3.3. The results showed that mass media has a significant positive effect on attitude, social influence and product safety. Also, attitude, social influence and product safety have a significant positive impact on the purchase behaviour of herbal products. In conclusion, this study identified that mass media influence on attitudes is the strongest predictor, followed by the effects of the mass media on social influence. These findings indicated that the mass media play an essential role in influencing attitude, social influence, and product safety. Followed by attitude, social influence, and product safety that significantly impact the purchase behaviour of herbal products. The finding of this study provides insightful information to the entrepreneurs regarding consumers purchase behaviour.

Malaysian Public’s Concern About the Environment During the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Study of a Selected State in Peninsular Malaysia

This article examines the level of concern of the Malaysian community towards the environment in a selected state of Peninsular Malaysia during the Covid-19 pandemic. The findings of the study presented are based on a quantitative study involving a total of 211 respondents. This is part of the findings of a real study involving the Malaysian society in general across the state. Overall, this case study found that the respondents' level of concern for the environment during the Covid-19 pandemic was at a high level. However, the level of green consumption practices in society was still seen at a moderate level. There was no significant difference in terms of their level of concern for the environment during the Covid-19 pandemic either among respondents living in urban or rural areas. Similar findings were shown for single and married respondents. In short, the findings of the study show a very positive sign among some parts of Malaysian society towards realising the efforts to preserve the environment by various parties in Malaysia. Therefore, this study argues that the efforts to educate the community that have been done by various parties should be seen as a profitable investment. In fact, it is necessary to secure continuous support from various parties in the community towards the preservation of a sustainable environment, especially in terms of increasing the level of green consumption practices among the community.

ADOPTION OF SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING AMONG AGROPRENEURS IN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA

Social media has become one of the main platforms for businesses around the world to markettheir products or services. However, some entrepreneurs still feel doubtful whether social mediamarketing is effective enough compared to the traditional marketing on seeking attention fromtheir targeted audience based on the different generation. Besides, people still think that socialmedia is used as the medium for people around the world to socialize with everyone instead ofmarketing their product or services, especially agro-based products. Entrepreneurs also did not usesocial media marketing because they do not have the sufficient knowledge on how to fully utilizethe social media to market their product. This will hinder them from using social media marketingin their business because they might need more time and assistance to learn how to employ socialmedia marketing. Thus, the main objective of this study is to investigate the adoption of socialmedia marketing among agropreneurs in Peninsular Malaysia. Primary data was collected usingstructured questionnaire via online survey. The questionnaire have been distributed through socialmedia platforms and e-mailed to the targeted respondents using purposive sampling method. Atotal of 113 respondents from 12 states in Peninsular Malaysia was successfully participated inthis study. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive analysis, chi-square analysis and factoranalysis. The results of this study indicated that the adoption level of social media marketingamong agropreneurs in Peninsular Malaysia is on the medium high level and the highest socialmedia platform adopted is Facebook. Besides that, the results of chi-square analysis showed thatrespondent’s demographic and business profile including gender, age, education level and typesof agro-based business operated has an association with the adoption of social media marketingamong agropreneurs. The results of factor analysis discovered four factors that influencingadoption of social media marketing among agropreneurs namely; perceived usefulness, socialinfluence, perceived ease of use and facilitating conditions. Hence, entrepreneurs that alreadyadopted social media marketing should cooperate and create an association of online agropreneursto encourage other entrepreneurs so that they start adopting social media marketing.

Factors influencing pregnancy planning of multi-ethnic Asian women with diabetes: A qualitative study.

IntroductionPregnancy planning varies among women with diabetes. Observing that the literature examining the factors affecting diabetic women’s pregnancy intentions in multi-ethnic Asian populations is limited, we sought to explore these factors to give a better perspective on these women’s pregnancy planning.MethodsThis qualitative study used individual in-depth interviews to capture the views and experiences of non-pregnant diabetic women of reproductive age in four public health clinics in a southwestern state of peninsular Malaysia from May 2016 to February 2017. The participants were purposively sampled according to ethnicity and were interviewed using a semi-structured topic guide. Interviews were audio-recorded, and transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis.ResultsFrom the 33 interviews that were analysed, four important factors influencing participants’ decisions regarding pregnancy planning were identified. Participants’ perception of poor pregnancy outcomes due to advanced age and medical condition was found to have an impact. However, despite these fears and negative relationships with doctors, personal, family and cultural influences supported by religious ‘up to God’ beliefs took centre stage in the pregnancy intention of some participants. Participants demonstrated a variety of understandings of pregnancy planning. They outlined some activities for pregnancy preparation, although many also reported limited engagement with pre-pregnancy care.ConclusionsThis study emphasised the known dilemma experienced by diabetic women considering their desire for an ideal family structure against their perceived pregnancy risks, heterogeneous religious beliefs and the impact of cultural demands on pregnancy intention. This study urges healthcare providers to increase their engagement with the women in pregnancy planning in a more personalised approach.

Health promotion and active aging among seniors in Malaysia

PurposeThis paper explores the relationship between health promotion and active aging among seniors in Malaysia. The specific objectives were to (1) identify the contributing factors for seniors undergoing full medical check-up and (2) to explore the association between selected active aging factors and health promotion behavior and beliefs.Design/methodology/approachThe study used data from 662 seniors from three different states in Peninsular Malaysia. Logistic regression was used to identify significant determinants of full medical check-up, and chi-square statistics were used to explore the association of active aging and selected health promotion behavior and beliefs. Healthy aging was characterized by being employed or traveling outdoors for leisure.FindingsHousehold income was found to be a significant barrier to seniors undergoing a full medical check-up. Overall, active seniors were more likely to have positive self-rated health, positive health responsibility and health promotion beliefs but were less likely to undergo a full medical check-up.Practical implicationsGiven that cost of a medical check-up could be a barrier for seniors, authorities could consider subsidizing medical check-ups to promote early detection of disease. There is also a need for continuous effort to educate seniors on health risk factors and the importance of taking fuller responsibility for their own health.Originality/valueThis study examined the relationship between active aging and health promotion together, as both components are essential in enhancing the mental and physical well-being of seniors.

Reliability and Validity of the Malay Version of Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) When Administered to Postpartum Mothers at Two Points in Time

Introduction: Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) is a tool used to assess the risk of postpartum depression (PPD). In this study we determined the reliability and validity of the Malay version of EPDS when administered at two different time points in the postpartum period. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study design was carried out between May and September 2017 at three government primary healthcare clinics located in Batang Padang district, a suburban area of Perak state in Peninsular Malaysia. We recruited a total of 89 women; 41 women were in the early postpartum period (1-30 days) and 48 women were in the late postpartum period (31-120 days). Cronbach's alpha coefficient, inter-item correlation, and corrected item-total correlation were used to assess the internal consistency. The concurrent validity was assessed using Spearman’s correlation. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 and R 3.4.2. Results: The Cronbach’s alpha for the first and second group was 0.78 and 0.62, respectively, which indicated satisfactory reliability. At both time periods, removing Item 2 from the scale resulted in a significant increase in Cronbach’s alpha (to 0.847 and 0.709, respectively). As expected, the EPDS scores correlated moderately with the BDI-II scores (1−30 days: Spearman's rho = 0.65, p &lt; 0.01; 31−120 days: Spearman's rho = 0.73, p &lt; 0.01). Conclusion: The Malay version of the EPDS is a reliable screening instrument for detecting postpartum depression. It showed reasonability and feasibility and can be used in postpartum clinical settings or for assessing intervention effects in research studies. Furthermore, as our results indicated, removing Item 2 from the Malay version would increase the internal consistency of the EPDS.

Cow- and herd-level factors associated with lameness in dairy farms in Peninsular Malaysia

Lameness is a major welfare issue in dairy cows. This study was aimed at investigating the cow- and herd –level factors associated with lameness in dairy farms from four states in Peninsular Malaysia. The study population was 1001 lactating cows from 28 dairy farms located in Selangor (n = 9), Perak (n = 8), Negeri Sembilan (n = 6) and Johor (n = 5). Lameness was assessed by locomotion scoring. Individual cow characteristics such as breeds, parity, body condition score (BCS), hock condition, leg hygiene, presence of claw lesion and claw overgrowth were recorded. Data on herd characteristics, management practices and housing design were collected by on-farm inspection and farmers’ interview. Mixed-eff ;ects logistic regressions were used to model the data and to assess the factors associated with lameness. Cow-level lameness prevalence was 34.2 % (95 % CI 22.2–50.0 %), with all the farms having at least one case of lameness. Claw lesions were recorded in 470 cows (46.9 %; CI 33.3–63.3 %) of which 296 (62.9 %) of them were lame. Of these, 78.9 % of the lesions were present on the rear feet and 25.5% of the cows had more than one foot affected. The proportion of cows having non-infectious and infectious claw lesions were 81.9 % and 18.1 %, and the predominant claw lesions were sole ulcers (24.9 %), white line disease (19.6 %), sole haemorrhage (10.2%), swelling of coronet (9.6 %), toe ulcers (8.4 %), and digital dermatitis (5.6%). Cows at third or more parities had higher odds of lameness (OR = 2.2; 95 % CI 1.2–4.1) compared to primiparous cows. Low BCS (< 2.5) increased the odds of lameness (OR = 4.8; 95 % CI 2.9–7.9) relative to cows with moderate BCS, and cows with hair loss around the hock (OR = 1.4; 95 % CI 1.1–1.9) relative to those with normal hock condition. Greater odds of being lame was observed in cows having claw lesion (OR = 15.2; 95 % CI 10.4–19.2) and those with overgrown claw (OR = 3.3; 95 % CI 2.4–4.5). There was increased odds of lameness in farms with high stocking density (OR = 1.8; 95 % CI 1.1−3.1), concrete floored walkways (OR = 1.9; 95 % CI 1.0–3.6), dirty floors (OR = 2.3; 95 % CI 1.9–3.7), and practicing preventive claw trimming (OR = 2.3; 95 % CI 1.9–4.6). Based on the high lameness prevalence, these findings could assist dairy farmers to make informed decisions on areas to implement on-farm changes to reduce lameness in the studied herds.

VIOLENCE-RELATED BEHAVIORS AMONG SCHOOL GOING ADOLESCENTS IN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA

Violence among adolescents is a significant public health issue. The focus was on school-going adolescents because of the life-long negative impact at an individual level both for the perpetrator and victim. Besides, it increases the costs to provide health, welfare, and criminal justice as well as decreases general productivity at the community level. The study aims to determine the prevalence of violence-related behavior, characteristics of both victims and perpetrators, in addition to inter and intrapersonal factors associated with violence-related behaviors. A study was carried out in 2013, which involved all upper secondary school students (aged 16 to 17 years). It was a part of the Malaysian Adolescent Health Risk Behavior (MyAHRB) study, which was conducted in 11 states in Peninsular Malaysia. Standardized, validated questionnaires were used for data collection. The prevalence of violence-related behaviors was 22.4%, and this was higher among male students as compared to females (29.1% vs. 16.3%). Multivariable analysis revealed that the odds of violence-related behaviour increased among males, Malay race, drug use, smoking, had exposure to sex, which sometimes and always felt lonely and had attempted suicide. Agreeable to ensure that their lifestyles do not transgress religious limit and belief was significantly protective. This study provides evidence for a targeted approach to combat violence-related behaviors among adolescents.

Molecular DNA-based spatial mapping technique predicting diversity and distribution of otters (Lutrinae) in Peninsular Malaysia using non-invasive fecal samples

This study investigated the current distribution of otters (Lutrinae) in all states of Peninsular Malaysia. Four species of otters have been recorded in Peninsular Malaysia in the past based on field survey methodology, namely the Asian small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinereus), smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata), hairy-nosed otter (Lutra sumatrana), and Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra). This study aims to determine the current number of otter species and their distribution in Peninsular Malaysia through molecular approaches using D-loop and Cyt b loci of mitochondrial DNA sequences. Our findings indicate that 337 samples were identified as three species of otter that are currently distributed in Peninsular Malaysia: A. cinereus (112 samples), L. perspicillata (218 samples), and L. sumatrana (7 samples). All three species can be found in Perak, Kelantan, Pahang, Selangor, and Johor while other states only contained two species (A. cinereus and L. perspicillata). Seven sympatric locations were recorded between two or three species: Tumpat and Kg. Padang Salim (Kelantan), Penarik and Sg. Kemaman (Terengganu), Taman Negara (Pahang), Tg. Piai (Johor), and Kuala Gula (Perak). The discovery of L. sumatrana in this study has confirmed that this species is still present in Peninsular Malaysia. However, L. lutra was not observed in this study. Our findings successfully highlight the diversity and distribution of Peninsular Malaysian otters that suggest the importance of continuous assessment and population status of otters to ensure their ongoing survival in Peninsular Malaysia.

Parents' and caregivers' satisfaction with community‐based rehabilitation (CBR) services for children with disability in east coast states in Peninsular Malaysia

The Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) services under the Malaysian Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development have provided two types of services for disabled children: centre-based and home-based care since 1984. A cross-sectional study was conducted among parents and caregivers with children receiving treatment at CBRs on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, to determine the level of satisfaction with the services provided. Respondents were recruited via multi-staged sampling, and simple randomisation at CBR level. Respondents self-administered the Physical Therapy Satisfaction Questionnaire (PTSQ) and provided sociodemographic data. A total of 297 respondents were recruited and all the questionnaires were returned complete, making the response rate 100%. Total satisfaction scores and factors influencing respondents' satisfaction for both groups were analysed. The mean total satisfaction score for centre-based and home-based were 84.69 (SD=10.01) and 75.30 (SD=12.23; t=7.160, p≤.001) respectively. Ninety-eight per cent of centre-based and 89% of home-based respondents were satisfied with the current services. There were significantly mean differences in the satisfaction level of respondents of different states respectively (Kelantan mean 84.92 10.83, Terengganu mean 77.49 11.16 and Pahang mean 77.47 12.93, p≤.001). Factors associated with satisfaction were education (p=.002), occupation (p=<0.001), monthly income (p=.001) and source of income (p=.001). In conclusion, majority of parents and caregivers were satisfied with current services provided at CBR and satisfaction with services was dependent on CBR centre location and education and financial earning capacity.

Natural Plasmodium infection in wild macaques of three states in peninsular Malaysia

Zoonotic cases of Plasmodium knowlesi account for most malaria cases in Malaysia, and humans infected with P. cynomolgi, another parasite of macaques have recently been reported in Sarawak. To date the epidemiology of malaria in its natural Macaca reservoir hosts remains little investigated. In this study we surveyed the prevalence of simian malaria in wild macaques of three states in Peninsular Malaysia, namely Pahang, Perak and Johor using blood samples from 103 wild macaques (collected by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia) subjected to microscopic examination and nested PCR targeting the Plasmodium small subunit ribosomal RNA gene. As expected, PCR analysis yielded significantly higher prevalence (64/103) as compared to microscopic examination (27/103). No relationship between the age and/or sex of the macaques with the parasitaemia and the Plasmodium species infecting the macaques could be identified. Wild macaques in Pahang had the highest prevalence of Plasmodium parasites (89.7%), followed by those of Perak (69.2%) and Johor (28.9%). Plasmodium inui and P. cynomolgi were the two most prevalent species infecting the macaques from all three states. Half of the macaques (33/64) harboured two or more Plasmodium species. These data provide a baseline survey, which should be extended by further longitudinal investigations that should be associated with studies on the bionomics of the anopheline vectors. This information will allow an accurate evaluation of the risk of zoonotic transmission to humans, and to elaborate effective strategies to control simian malaria.

The Use of Reflection-for-Action in Planning English Language Lesson at Primary School

Teaching English language is a challenging task for primary school teachers. Teachers need to plan their lesson to match all levels of students in one class as there is no streaming classes allowed. This study explored how reflection-for-action to be used by the English language teachers at primary schools in Northern state of Peninsular Malaysia in planning their teaching starting from choosing lesson objectives, planning the activities and preparing the materials. Hence, this study also gathered another relevance data on principles, benefits, changes and stages of reflection which led the teachers to use reflection-before-action in teaching English language. There were six participants involved in this study, three of them were male. The participants were experienced teachers who teach English language at primary schools with more than eighteen years teaching experience. This study used semi-structured interviews to collect the data. The researchers used thematic analysis to analyze the data. The findings revealed that reflection-for-action was very helpful to help the teachers to plan a meaningful lesson, to improve their teaching and to maximize their students' learning and knowledge of the target language. After applying reflection-for-action, the English language teachers managed to plan specific teaching activities to deliver specific skills in English language classroom to suit their teaching and learning contexts. Therefore, the four main themes found in this study contribute a recommendation for the teachers to learn and to use reflection-for-action dynamically to plan a meaningful lesson for multiple intelligence students in the classroom. Hence, the findings also found that teachers need to apply theory in practice to plan and reason their lesson plan arrangements to fulfil the nature of teaching and learning process which needs them to attain the skills, objectives, knowledge, experiences, subject to be taught and the materials to be learned in the current teaching and learning context.