Aim: This study aimed to assess the relationship between functional limitations and depression among community‐dwelling older adults in Malaysia. Methods: Data from a nation‐wide community‐based cross‐sectional study were analyzed. This study was conducted using a two‐stage stratified random sampling design. In total, 3772 older adults aged ≥60 years responded to the survey. Depression was identified using a validated Malay version of the Geriatric Depression Scale (M‐GDS‐14), with those scored ≥6 categorized as having depression. Functional limitations were assessed using both Barthel's Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and Lawton's Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL). The relationship was determined by multivariate logistic regression, adjusted for other variables. Results: The prevalence of depression was 11.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] 9.4, 13.4). Multiple logistic regression analysis found that older adults with limitations in ADL were 2.6 times more likely of having depression (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.58, 95% CI 2.01, 3.32), while those with limitations in IADL the risk of having depression was almost doubled (aOR 1.68, 95% CI: 1.32, 2.14). Other significant factors were incontinence (aOR 3.33, 95% CI: 2.33, 4.74), chronic medical illness (aOR 1.44, 95% CI: 1.15, 1.81), current smoker (aOR 4.19, 95% CI: 1.69, 10.39), poor social support (aOR 4.30, 95% CI: 2.98, 6.20), do not have partner, ethnic minorities and low individual monthly income. Conclusions: Older adults with functional limitation in both basic ADL and complex IADL are independently at higher risk of having depression. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; 20: 21–25.

Body weight is a factor, with body weight perception a mediator, toward being a victim of bullying. This study aimed to explore the association between body weight, body weight perception, and bullying among students 13 to 17 years of age in Malaysia. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. A 2-stage stratified cluster sampling design was used, and 212 schools across Malaysia were selected for this survey. Body weight was measured and body weight perception was the student’s reflection of their body weight. The prevalence of being bullied among adolescents in Malaysia was 16.2%. Being too thin or being obese increased the probability of being bullied. Students with a normal body mass index, but with a misperception of their body weight, also had increased odds of being bullied. Obesity prevention, together with instilling positive body weight perception, should be part of all programs directed toward tackling the problem of bullying.

This study aimed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with bullying victimization from a nationwide school-based survey among 27 458 students aged 13 to 17 years. The overall prevalence of having been bullied in the past 30 days was 16.2%; this decreased with age. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that factors most strongly associated with bullying victimization were exposure to physical attacks (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.46, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.17-2.79), illicit drug use (aOR = 2.44, 95% CI = 1.78-3.34), involvement in physical fights (aOR = 1.97, 95% CI = 1.74-2.23), being younger than 14 years (aOR =1.95, 95% CI = 1.59-2.38), and having ever attempted suicide (aOR = 1.83, 95% CI = 1.51-2.21). Other significantly associated factors include loneliness, truancy, making suicidal plans, and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. Exposure to bullying victimization can result in negative lifelong sequelae and important associated factors should be considered in planning effective school-based anti-bullying interventions.

In the early stages of the COVID-19 crisis, there was no specific guideline for handling an outbreak if it occurred in a workplace. This study aimed to describe the first and one of the largest clusters linked to a business corporate in Malaysia. A descriptive analysis was conducted using surveillance data from the Petaling District Health Office notified between 28 Feb and 22 Mar 2020. All cases and contacts were identified through surveillance, epidemiological investigation, and laboratory investigation. The total number of confirmed cases and close contacts were 63 and 1,536, respectively. The respondents were mainly Malay, male, and the mean age was 46 years. Of the 63 positive cases, 48 (76%) were reported to have symptoms during the investigation, while the remaining 15 cases (24%) were asymptomatic. The main clinical manifestations were fever (52%), cough (37%), sore throat (27%) and shortness of breath (27%). The mean incubation period was 3.5 days. Due to the timely prevention and control measures carried out by the Petaling District Health Office, the chain of transmission was interrupted as the last case was reported on 19 Mar 2020.

Introduction: Substantial advances on the life expectancy have been achieved in Malaysia over the past few decades. It is essential that elderly lead a healthier old age which leans towards successful aging. Thus, this study describes the major causes of premature mortality among the elderly population in Malaysia, 2014. Methods: The calculation of premature mortality in terms of Years of Life Lost (YLL) was based on the method used in the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study. YLL is the mortality component determined by the age-sex specific number of deaths and life expectancy at the age of death. Mortality data was obtained from the Department of Statistics Malaysia. Elderly aged 60 years and above were included in this study. Results: The major causes of premature mortality among elderly in Malaysia were Cardiovascular and Circulatory Diseases (39.0%); followed by Malignant Neoplasms (16.6%), Respiratory Diseases (9.8%), Respiratory Infections (9.2%) and Diabetes Mellitus (6.8%). Conclusions: Awareness programme, early screening and help seeking among elderly should be a priority in planning health services to reduce the burden of Non communicable diseases (NCD) among elderly.

We assessed the current situation of physical abuse among adolescents at home in Malaysia. A total of 27 497 school-going adolescents answered a self-administered questionnaire during the Malaysian National Health and Morbidity Survey 2017. A complex sampling analysis was applied to identify factors associated with physical abuse among adolescents using multivariate logistic regression analysis. The prevalence of physical abuse at home among students was 11.8%. Our result shows that adolescents aged 13 years had significantly higher odds of such abuse, with odds decreasing as the adolescents age. Girls and adolescents from Indian ethnicity (minority ethnic group) had higher odds of such abuse. Other associated factors were mental health problems, substance abuse, and problems at school. Physical abuse among adolescents at home should be countered with appropriate measures.

Serious injury due to motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) significantly contributes to the adolescents’ health status. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of nonfatal injury due to MVAs and its associated factors among Malaysian school-going adolescents. Nationally representative samples were selected via 2-stage stratified cluster sampling. Data was collected using a validated self-administered questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the associations between the variables. A total of 1088 out of 27 497 adolescents reported that they had sustained serious injury due to MVAs with a prevalence of 4.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.7-4.5). Serious injury due to MVAs among adolescents was positively associated with being current cigarette smokers (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.5; 95% CI = 2.2-2.9), followed by Malay ethnicity (aOR = 2.4; 95% CI = 1.9-3.0), current drug users (aOR = 2.3; 95% CI = 1.9-3.0), boys (aOR = 2.1; 95% CI = 1.8-2.4), Indian ethnicity (aOR = 1.8; 95% CI = 1.2-2.5), and those who were in upper secondary school (aOR = 1.3; 95% CI = 1.2-1.5). Targeted intervention and curbing substance use among boys may reduce the morbidities from MVAs and its resulting complications.

Background: Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infection is 1 of the 20 notable neglected tropical diseases according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization. In 2010, it is estimated that 1.73 billion people are infected with STH globally, of which 70% of cases occur in Asia. To date, there is a dearth of published literature on the prevalence of STH infection throughout Malaysia. Objective: The objectives of this study are to review research activity on STH infection in Malaysia, to estimate the prevalence of STH infection among Malaysians, and to identify significant risk factors associated with the infection. This review aims to provide the current state of evidence pertaining to STH infections, focusing on the main areas, limitations, and biases of research and mapping out the morbidity distribution of the diseases and their causative agents, and to identify significant risk factors for preventive measures. Methods: We will conduct a scoping review based on the 6-stage structured framework developed by Arksey and O’Malley. A comprehensive search strategy focusing on STH infection will be executed using electronic databases (Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase). A systematic approach for searching, screening, reviewing, and data extraction will be applied based on the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines. Mendeley software and Microsoft Excel will be used to manage the references and to remove duplicates. Relevant data from selected articles will be extracted using a standardized data extraction form. Results: A total of 164 potential manuscripts were retrieved. Data extraction is currently in progress and completion is expected by the end of 2022. Conclusions: Our scoping review will summarize the current state of research in this field and provide comprehensive information regarding STH infections in Malaysia for future reference. Trial Registration: National Medical Research Register NMRR-20-2889-54348; https://nmrr.gov.my/research-directory/e52ea778-d31c-4eb4-9163-a45bb3680bbf International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/36077