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Fulltext An exploration of disease awareness among tuberculosis patients: The empirical link between attitude and self-preventive care

Mokhtar KS, Rahman NA, Haron MS, Rahman NHA

J Infect Dev Ctries, 2020 04 30;14(4):349-359.
PMID: 32379711 DOI: 10.3855/jidc.11583

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) remains alarmingly high in developing countries, including Malaysia. Recognised as the leading global infectious disease, untreated TB can be fatal. TB is easily spread through the air, and any close contact with a TB patient can put others at risk. This study therefore aimed to investigate the level of awareness of TB among TB patients and how their attitudes affect self-preventive healthcare.
METHODOLOGY: This cross-sectional study was conducted using a validated self-administered questionnaire at 18 hospitals in six states of Malaysia, namely, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Kelantan, Sabah, and Sarawak in 2015. The study sample comprised 1600 TB patients who were randomly selected using data obtained from the Disease Control Division, Ministry of Health Malaysia. A total of 1368 of the completed questionnaires were considered usable and included in the statistical analysis.
RESULTS: Overall, the level of TB awareness was found to be high, and the respondents possessed positive attitudes towards TB and health-seeking behaviours. Self-preventive care among the TB patients was determined as being at a moderate level. With regard to contact with others, the patients were more comfortable around their families than their friends and neighbours.
CONCLUSIONS: More health education programmes are recommended to cultivate positive attitudes towards TB, to encourage communities to have a better understanding of TB, and to create awareness among patients of the proper ways to practice self-preventive care.
Fulltext Repercussions of COVID-19 Lockdown on Implementation of Children's Rights to Education

Rahman NHA, Mohd Zahir MZ, Althabhawi NM

Children (Basel), 2023 Feb 27;10(3).
PMID: 36980031 DOI: 10.3390/children10030474

Lockdowns were among the control measures taken by many countries to hinder the virus from rapidly spreading. Public places had to be closed, including schools, as children are among the vulnerable groups that must always be protected. The primary purpose of this article is to explain children's rights to education based on the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 (SDG 2030). This article further investigates the consequences of COVID-19 lockdowns for ensuring that privilege for children. The article applies a qualitative method and observed that the lockdown strategy created challenges for all children with respect to receiving education, as the traditional learning pedagogy involving face-to-face meetings forcibly replaced by online learning. The principle of the best interest of the child is a primary consideration. In conclusion, governments must be responsible for providing all necessities to support education for all children, which is essential for human development.
Investigating metal removal potential by Effective Microorganisms (EM) in alginate-immobilized and free-cell forms

Ting ASY, Rahman NHA, Isa MIHM, Tan WS

Bioresour Technol, 2013 Nov;147:636-639.
PMID: 24001691 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2013.08.064

Metal removal potential of both alginate-immobilized and free-cells of Effective Microorganisms (EM-1™ Inoculant) was investigated in this study. Results revealed that removal of Cr(III), Cu(II) and Pb(II) followed a similar trend where alginate-immobilized EM were more efficient compared to free-cells of EM. For these metals, 0.940, 2.695 and 4.011 mg g(-1) of Cr(III), Cu(II) and Pb(II) were removed compared to only 0.160, 0.859 and 0.755 mg ml(-1) removed by free-cells, respectively. The higher efficiency of alginate-immobilized EM was primarily attributed to the alginate matrix. This was evident when both alginate-immobilized EM and plain alginate beads (without EM), were not significantly different in their removal efficacies. Presence of alginate also enhanced the use of the biosorbents as maximum metal sorption was achieved after 120 min as opposed to only 60 min for free-cells. EM per se in immobilized or free-cell forms did not enhance metal removal efficacy.
Fulltext Multibeam Characteristics of a Negative Refractive Index Shaped Lens

Hamid SA, Rahman NHA, Yamada Y, Hung PV, Quoc DN

Sensors (Basel), 2020 Oct 07;20(19).
PMID: 33036419 DOI: 10.3390/s20195703

Narrow beam width, higher gain and multibeam characteristics are demanded in 5G technology. Array antennas that are utilized in the existing mobile base stations have many drawbacks when operating at upper 5G frequency bands. For example, due to the high frequency operation, the antenna elements become smaller and thus, in order to provide higher gain, more antenna elements and arrays are required, which will cause the feeding network design to be more complex. The lens antenna is one of the potential candidates to replace the current structure in mobile base station. Therefore, a negative refractive index shaped lens is proposed to provide high gain and narrow beamwidth using energy conservation and Abbe's sine principle. The aim of this study is to investigate the multibeam characteristics of a negative refractive index shaped lens in mobile base station applications. In this paper, the feed positions for the multibeam are selected on the circle from the center of the lens and the accuracy of the feed position is validated through Electromagnetic (EM) simulation. Based on the analysis performed in this study, a negative refractive index shaped lens with a smaller radius and slender lens than the conventional lens is designed, with the additional capability of performing wide-angle beam scanning.
Fulltext Multi Beam Dielectric Lens Antenna for 5G Base Station

Ansarudin F, Abd Rahman T, Yamada Y, Rahman NHA, Kamardin K

Sensors (Basel), 2020 Oct 16;20(20).
PMID: 33081110 DOI: 10.3390/s20205849

In the 5G mobile system, new features such as millimetre wave operation, small cell size and multi beam are requested at base stations. At millimetre wave, the base station antennas become very small in size, which is about 30 cm; thus, dielectric lens antennas that have excellent multi beam radiation pattern performance are suitable candidates. For base station application, the lens antennas with small thickness and small curvature are requested for light weight and ease of installation. In this paper, a new lens shaping method for thin and small lens curvature is proposed. In order to develop the thin lens antenna, comparisons of antenna structures with conventional aperture distribution lens and Abbe's sine lens are made. Moreover, multi beam radiation pattern of three types of lenses are compared. As a result, the thin and small curvature of the proposed lens and an excellent multi beam radiation pattern are ensured.
Fulltext Factors associated with informal caregiving and its effects on health, work, and social activities of adult informal caregivers in Malaysia: findings from the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2019

Kong YL, Anis-Syakira J, Jawahir S, R'ong Tan Y, Rahman NHA, Tan EH

BMC Public Health, 2021 Jun 01;21(1):1033.
PMID: 34074275 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-11022-1

BACKGROUND: The increase in the elderly population, chronic and degenerative diseases, as well as accidents at work and on the road in Malaysia would result in an increased demand for informal care. This paper aimed to determine the associated factors of informal caregiving and its effects on health, work and social activities of adult informal caregivers in Malaysia.
METHODS: The data from the 2019 National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS), a nationwide cross-sectional survey with a two-stage stratified random sampling design, was used in this research. The study included respondents who were 18 years and older (n = 11,674). Data were obtained via face-to-face interviews using validated questionnaires. Descriptive and complex sample logistic regression analyses were employed as appropriate.
RESULTS: 5.7% of the adult population were informal caregivers. Provision of informal care were significantly associated with the female sex (OR = 1.52, 95% CI [1.21, 1.92]), those aged 36-59 years (OR = 1.61, 95% CI [1.15, 2.25]), and those who reported illness in the past 2 weeks (OR = 1.79, 95% CI [1.38, 2.33]). The risk of having their health affected were associated with female caregivers (OR = 3.63, 95% CI [1.73, 7.61]), those who received training (OR = 2.10, 95% CI [1.10, 4.00]) and those who provided care for 2 years or more (OR = 1.91, 95% CI [1.08, 3.37]). The factors associated with the effects on work were ethnicity, received training and had no assistance to provide the care. In terms of effect on social activities, female caregivers (OR = 1.96, 95% CI [1.04, 3.69]) and caregivers who received training were more likely (OR = 2.19, 95% CI [1.22, 3.93]) to have their social activities affected.
CONCLUSION: Our study revealed that sex, age, and self-reported illness were factors associated with being an informal caregiver in Malaysia. Informal caregivers faced effects on their health, work, and social activities which may be detrimental to their well-being. This understanding is crucial for planning support for caregivers.