MyMedR

Climate change is an incessant global phenomenon and has turned contentious in the present century. Malaysia, a developing Asian country, has also undergone significant vicissitudes in climate, which has been projected with significant deviations in forthcoming decades. As per the available studies, climate changes may impact on the fertility, either via direct effects on the gonadal functions and neuroendocrine regulations or via several indirect effects on health, socioeconomic status, demeaning the quality of food and water. Malaysia is already observing a declining trend in the Total fertility rate (TFR) over the past few decades and is currently recorded below the replacement level of 2.1 which is insufficient to replace the present population. Moreover, climate changes reportedly play a role in the emergence and cessation of various infectious diseases. Besides its immediate effects, the long-term effects on health and fertility await to be unveiled. Despite the huge magnitude of the repercussion of climate changes in Malaysia, research that can explain the exact cause of the present reduction in fertility parameters in Malaysia or any measures to preserve the national population is surprisingly very scarce. Thus, the present review aims to elucidate the possible missing links by which climate changes are impairing fertility status in Malaysia.

Matched MeSH terms: Birth Rate*

In reply

Hamdan M, Cheong Y

Obstet Gynecol, 2015 Jun;125(6):1499.

PMID: 26000533 DOI: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000000892

Matched MeSH terms: Birth Rate*

Prospects and programs for fertility reduction, 1990-2015

Mauldin WP, Ross JA

Stud Fam Plann, 1994 Mar-Apr;25(2):77-95.

PMID: 8059448 DOI: 10.2307/2138086

What is the likelihood that each of the 37 developing countries with populations of 15 million or more in 1990 will reach replacement fertility by the year 2015? These countries have a combined population of 3.9 billion, 91 percent of the population of all developing countries. For this article, a composite index was used as the basis for predicting future levels of total fertility. The index was constructed from socioeconomic variables (life expectancy at birth, infant mortality rates, percent adult literacy, ratio of children enrolled in primary or secondary school, percent of the labor force in nonagricultural occupations, gross national product per capita, and percent of the population living in urban areas), total fertility rates for the years 1985-90, total fertility rate decline from 1960-65 to 1985-90, family planning program effort scores in 1989, and the level of contraceptive prevalence in 1990. Eight countries are classified as certain to reach replacement fertility by 2015, and an additional thirteen probably will also. Five countries are classified as possibly reaching replacement fertility, and eleven as unlikely to do so.

Matched MeSH terms: Birth Rate/trends

Research and policy guidelines from the World Fertility Survey in Asia and the Pacific

Rele JR

Asian Pac Popul Programme News, 1979;8(4):10-2.

PMID: 12261702

Matched MeSH terms: Birth Rate*

Seasonality of births for West Malaysia's two main racial groups

Johnson JT, Ann TB, Palan VT

Hum Biol, 1975 Sep;47(3):295-307.

PMID: 1176104

Matched MeSH terms: Birth Rate*

Aging and economic growth: empirical analysis using autoregressive distributed lag approach

Normaz Wana Ismail, Siti Wardah Abd Rahman, Tengku Aizan Tengku Abdul Hamid, Rusmawati Said

Sains Malaysiana, 2016;45:1345-1350.

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of aging on economic growth. The study used dynamic growth model and employed Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) approach for the period of 1980 to 2011. Three proxies for aging are used namely fertility rate, life expectancy and old dependency ratio. However, only fertility rate is detected to have a long run cointegration. The major finding of this study showed that a reduction of fertility rate lead to higher economic growth. This implied that even though Malaysia will face aging society by 2020, the economic growth is still stable and can increase by investing more on human capital.

Matched MeSH terms: Birth Rate

Proximate determinants of fertility in peninsular Malaysia

Tey NP, Ng ST, Yew SY

Asia Pac J Public Health, 2012 May;24(3):495-505.

PMID: 21490114 DOI: 10.1177/1010539511401374

The continuing decline in fertility despite a contraction in contraceptive use in Peninsular Malaysia since the mid-1980s has triggered considerable interest in the reasons behind this phenomenon, such as increase in abortion, sterility, and out-of-wedlock pregnancy. Fertility decline has been attributed to rapid socioeconomic development, which can only influence fertility through the intermediate variables. Application of vital statistics, population census, and survey data of Peninsular Malaysia on Bongaarts's model vindicates that marriage postponement and contraceptive use are the 2 most important proximate determinants of fertility, but the effects are not uniform across the ethnic groups. For instance, the predicted total fertility rate for Chinese and Malays are 2.9 and 1.6, respectively, compared with the observed level of 3.0 and 1.9. Postpartum infecundability and abortion also play a part in explaining ethnic fertility differentials. The fertility inhibiting effects of these proximate determinants have significant implications on reproductive health and future population growth.

Matched MeSH terms: Birth Rate/ethnology*; Birth Rate/trends

Fulltext Greying Malaysians: strategies for promoting and supporting healthy and productive ageing

Phua KL

Malaysian Journal of Community Health, 2007;13(1):16-21.

MyJurnal

Population ageing is inevitable in Malaysia as a result of declining fertility rates. Steps can be taken to face this challenge. These include ways to promote “healthy ageing” and “compression of morbidity” and ways to promote “productive ageing”, i.e., keeping the elderly economically and socially engaged. This article, based on a review of the literature, argues that it is illogical to force people into compulsory retirement at an arbitrary age when they can continue to contribute actively to society. Instead, ways can be devised to promote healthy ageing, prolonging independence and encouraging productive ageing through gradual economic and social disengagement of the individual depending on the individual’s physical health, mental health, contribution to society and personal inclination and preferences. Public policy in general and public health policy in particular can be designed or redesigned to help achieve this.

Matched MeSH terms: Birth Rate

Semai Senoi fertility and population dynamics: Two-census method

Fix AG

Am J Hum Biol, 1989;1(4):463-469.

PMID: 28514113 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.1310010409

The fertility and parameters of population growth of the Semai Senoi of Malaysia are studied by using a two-census method based on nonstable population theory. Semai fertility is shown to be moderately high; female completed fertility is 7.42 children and the crude birth rate is greater than 0.050. Previous estimates of Semai mortality rates are also moderately high but are insufficient to balance birth; thus, the overall rate of growth is presently nearly 2%. Compared with an earlier description of the pre-1969 Semai population, fertility has increased markedly leading to a nearly threefold increase in the annual growth rate.

Matched MeSH terms: Birth Rate

Semai Senoi mortality: Two-census method

Fix AG

Am J Hum Biol, 1989;1(4):471-477.

PMID: 28514106 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.1310010410

The mortality pattern of a subpopulation of Semai Senoi of Malaysia is studied by using a two-census method. The method yields abridged life tables for both sexes as well as an estimate of the birth rate. The life tables show that Semai mortality is reduced compared to estimates based on stable population methods for the population prior to 1969. Increased health care availability seems to account for this lower mortality.

Matched MeSH terms: Birth Rate

Fulltext Determinants of active aging and quality of life among older adults: systematic review

Marzo RR, Khanal P, Shrestha S, Mohan D, Myint PK, Su TT

Front Public Health, 2023;11:1193789.

PMID: 37435519 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1193789

INTRODUCTION: Population demography across the globe shows an increasing trend in the aging population due to better healthcare, improved nutrition, advanced health-related technology, and decreased fertility rate. Despite these advancements, there remains a knowledge gap in understanding the association between active aging determinants and quality of life (QoL) among older adults, particularly within diverse cultural contexts, which has not been adequately explored in previous research. Therefore, understanding the association between active aging determinants and QoL can help policymakers plan early interventions or programs to assist future older adults in both aging actively and optimizing their quality of life (QoL), as these two factors have a bidirectional relationship.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to review evidence regarding the association between active aging and quality of life (QoL) among older adults and to determine the most widely used study designs and measurement instruments in studies conducted between 2000 and 2020.

METHODS: Relevant studies were identified by a systematic search of four electronic databases and cross-reference lists. Original studies examining the association between active aging and QoL in individuals aged 60 years or older were considered. The quality of the included studies and the direction and consistency of the association between active aging and QoL were assessed.

RESULTS: A total of 26 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this systematic review. Most studies reported a positive association between active aging and QoL among older adults. Active aging had a consistent association with various QoL domains including physical environment, health and social services, social environment, economic, personal, and behavioral determinants.

CONCLUSION: Active aging had a positive and consistent association with several QoL domains among older adults, backing the notion that the better the active aging determinants, the better the QoL among older adults. Considering the broader literature, it is necessary to facilitate and encourage the active participation of older adults in physical, social, and economic activities for the maintenance and/or improvement of QoL. Identifying other possible determinants and enhancing the methods to improve those determinants may help improve the QoL among older adults.

Matched MeSH terms: Birth Rate

Why Women Are Averse to Facility Delivery in Northwest Nigeria: A Qualitative Inquiry

Tukur I, Chan CK, Tinsu T, Muhammed-Baba T, Aderemi Ijaiya M

Iran J Public Health, 2016 May;45(5):586-95.

PMID: 27398331

In many sub-Saharan African countries the rate of antenatal care (ANC) has been increased but skilled birth attendance rate is still low. The objective of this study was to evaluate the reasons why women prefer home delivery when facility based delivery is available at minimal cost.

Matched MeSH terms: Birth Rate

Chinese culture and fertility decline

Wu C, Jia S

Chin J Popul Sci, 1992;4(2):95-103.

PMID: 12317926

Matched MeSH terms: Birth Rate*

Do fertility intentions predict subsequent behavior? Evidence from Peninsular Malaysia

Tan PC, Tey NP

Stud Fam Plann, 1994 Jul-Aug;25(4):222-31.

PMID: 7985216 DOI: 10.2307/2137905

Data from the 1984 Malaysian Population and Family Survey were matched with birth registration records for 1985-87 to determine the accuracy of statements regarding desired family size that were reported in a household survey in predicting subsequent reproductive behavior. The findings of this study were that stated fertility intention provides fairly accurate forecasts of fertility behavior in the subsequent period. In other words, whether a woman has another child is predicted closely by whether she wanted an additional child. Informational, educational, and motivational activities of family planning programs would, therefore, have greater success in reducing family size if fertility intentions were taken into account.

Matched MeSH terms: Birth Rate*

On estimating fertility using first and second order births

Pathak KB, Murthy PK

Janasamkhya, 1990 Jun;8(1):73-9.

PMID: 12285535

"An attempt has been made to present two regression equations for estimating total fertility rate from the birth order data. While one of the equations has been derived from the longitudinal data of Malaysia another has been obtained from cross sectional data on Mother's total fertility rate...and births of orders one and two. These equations are used to estimate the [total fertility rate] for the districts of [Uttar Pradesh, India,] which are quite close to the estimates obtained by using other methods."

Matched MeSH terms: Birth Rate*

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