Siti Munira Yasin¹*, Khairul Mizan Taib², Mohammad Idris Zamhuri¹

¹Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA Sungai Buloh, Selangor

²Faculty of Information Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA Puncak Alam, Selangor

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to examine the association between environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and avoidance of tobacco smoke among pregnant non-smoking women.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was used to obtain a representative sample of non-smoking pregnant women who attended health clinics (n = 661) six states in Malaysia. The durations of ETS exposure within and outside of the home were obtained by self-report. Exposure to ETS was assessed by the second-hand smoke (SHS) avoidance subscale. The analyses were conducted using logistic regression adjusted for demographic variables and other variables.

Results: Among non-smoking pregnant women, the prevalence of ETS exposure was 66.3%. The overall knowledge of ETS was good (>50%). The odds of ETS exposure were higher among those in the low-salary (RM1000-RM1999) group (OR=2.37; 95% CI=1.22, 4.62) and those with a history of chronic disease (OR=2.47; 95% CI=1.09, 5.62), whereas ETS exposure was significantly lower among those working full time during pregnancy (OR=0.31; 95% CI=0.17, 0.59). In the multivariate model, compared with non-ETS-exposed individuals, ETS-exposed individuals showed significantly different avoidance behaviour in situations that involved speaking to smokers who were smoking in same room (OR=2.31; 95%CI= 1.26, 4.21), sitting in a smoking section on public transport (OR=2.15; 95% CI= 1.07, 4.34) and frequently associating with smokers (OR=3.01; 95% CI=1.14-8.30).

Conclusions: Our findings revealed that knowledge about ETS exposure failed to manifest as avoidance behaviour. The knowledge was good but avoidance was poor, especially among women frequently exposed to ETS.

 Keywords: environmental tobacco smoke, pregnant women, avoidance behavior

Wong Yee Kiat¹, Emilia Zainal Abidin¹*, Irniza Rasdi¹, Noor Hassim Ismail²

¹Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences,

Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.

²Department of Community Health, UKM Medical Centre, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Ya’acob Latif,

Bandar Tun Razak, 56000, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Abstract

Heavy schoolbag weight has been identified as one of the risk factors that influenced the health of young children. Considering the increased and improved syllabus in the primary schools in Malaysia, the risk of heavy schoolbag weight and its impact on the musculoskeletal health of children needs to be identified. This study was performed to determine the association between schoolbag weight and perceived load with back pain among schoolchildren. This was a cross-sectional study performed among 114 primary schoolchildren in two schools at Selangor, Malaysia in 2015. Background information and perceived load was obtained via self-administered questionnaires from both parents and schoolchildren. Data on height, body weight and schoolbag weight were objectively measured. Data obtained were entered into statistical software for analysis. The average schoolbag weight and relative schoolbag weight were 5.98 kg and 19.7% respectively. The prevalence of back pain was 36.8% and more than one-third of the respondent perceived load as heavy and cause fatigue. Significant associations were found between relative weight and perceived load (heaviness and fatigue) with back pain. Findings of this study suggest that schoolbag weight pose musculoskeletal health risk to schoolchildren. Therefore, there is a need for implementation of policy and guideline as well as intervention in minimising schoolbag weight. 

Keywords: Musculoskeletal Disease, Ergonomic Risk, Adolescents, Knapsack, Heavy Lifting

How Vivien*, Hashim Zailina, Miswon Nurul Husna, Lokman Nur Naqibah, Hashim Nurul Maizura, Mohd Bashah Nursyahidah, Nasiruddin Lim Nur Sabrina

Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences,

Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor