Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of obesity among patients with schizophrenia and its association with the demographic profile. Methods: This is a cross sectional study. Subjects were selected using systematic sampling. Patients attending the out patient psychiatric clinic, Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, who fulfilled the criteria and able to give consent were included in this study. Diagnosis of schizophrenia was made using Structured Clinical Interview (SCID) for DSM-IV. Demographic profiles of the patients were obtained and anthropometric measurements were measured and classified according to Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist Circumference (WC) of Asian population. Results: A total of 97 patients were included. The prevalence of overweight (BMI: 23.0- 27.4 kg/m2) was 39.2% (n=38), and the prevalence of obesity (BMI: >27.0 kg/m2) was 35.1% (n=34). BMI was higher among non-Chinese (Malay and Indian, p=.03) and those who had low total household income (p=.03). Sixty-two patients (63.9%) had high WC, which was associated with male (p=.003) and non-Chinese (p=.03). Conclusions: Obesity is highly prevalent among patients with schizophrenia. The risk factors for obesity include male, non-Chinese and those with low total income. The high WC among non-Chinese and male patients suggests that they are at a higher risk of developing obesity-related physical illnesses. These findings support that obesity is a common critical issue among schizophrenic patients, and it warrants serious clinical interventions.
Study site: Psychiatric clinic, Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (PPUKM)
Introduction: Teenage pregnancy is common and has become a key public health concern for all. This study aims to discover the meaning of lived experiences and to strategize in addressing the phenomenon from the previous or current unwed pregnant girls’ or young women’s perspective. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted among 10 girls or young women recruited during their stay at two shelters in Selangor but came from various state in Malay- sia; who have experienced becoming unwed mothers when they were between 10 to 19 years old. All participants gave informed consent. In-depth face-to-face interviews were conducted, audiotaped and transcribed. All quotes were encoded using Qualitative Data Analysis (QDA) Miner program. Data were analyzed using interpretative phe- nomenological analysis. Results: The themes emerged from the analyses; i) Trajectory of sexual activity, ii) struggles of motherhood to un-wed teenage mother. Most of these girls were pregnant due to consensual sexual intercourse although there were some refutes but their actions have led them for this to happen. They described how indirect relationship such as communication via telephone and the internet may have initiated the desire for sexual activity which led to a short first-time meeting and short term partnership, caused them to enact the sinful deed. They were overwhelmed with ambivalence feelings of wanting to terminate the pregnancy, abandon the newborn or to endure the journey of motherhood together with their ex-nuptial baby. Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that the strength of indirect relationship is able to evoke sexual desire that contributes to out-of-wedlock pregnancy. Max- imum support is needed from all; peers, parents, educators and the whole community structures.
The evaluation of mental health among older adults has become increasingly important in health and social science. Although this has been studied in developed countries, there are also issues for emerging countries, which have aging populations. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of loneliness/social isolation and late-life depression among older adults with cognitive impairment living in institutional care. Methods: A cross sectional survey involving residents of four government nursing homes in West Malaysia was carried out. All residents aged 60 years old and above with cognitive impairment were included in the study. Participants were assessed by the Short Mini Mental State Examination (SMMSE), Friendship Scale (FS) and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Results: The prevalence of depression and loneliness/social isolation were 85.5% and 95.5% respectively. Depression was strongly associated with age, education attainment, financial conditions, health, cognitive impairment and loneliness/social isolation. Loneliness/social isolation was strongly associated to depression and relationship satisfaction with children. Conclusion: There was high prevalence of depression and loneliness/social isolation among older adults with cognitive impairment living in institutional care. Depression and loneliness/social isolation are interrelated and influence each other and these problems need to be addressed to improve their quality of life.
Device, Questionnaire & Scale: Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE-12); Friendship Scale (FS); Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15)