Asia-Pacific journal of public health
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Asia Pac J Public Health · Jan 2000
Comparative StudySexual health education for youths--a Malaysian experience.
A survey was conducted to assess student's sexual knowledge and attitudes using a questionnaire based on the Sex Knowledge and Attitude Test (SKAT-II) to compare medical and nursing students with students (non-medical/nursing) who registered for a sexual health course. 85 Sexual Health, 115 medical and 81 nursing students voluntarily participated in the survey. This study showed that all the student groups showed relatively low scores in knowledge. ⋯ Furthermore, multivariate statistical analyses showed that among these factors, student group, race/religion and religious importance were significant predictors of sexual knowledge. Specifically, being a medical student was associated with higher scores relative to a non-medical student, being a Malay student was independently associated with a lower average score compared to other races, and perceiving religion as extremely important was associated with a lower score.
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Asia Pac J Public Health · Jan 1999
A statewide survey of general practitioners in NSW, Australia, about immunisation and strategies to increase childhood immunisation rates.
A statewide survey was conducted to ascertain GPs' views in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, about the potential usefulness of strategies to increase immunisation rates and to facilitate providing childhood immunisation in their practice. The survey also explored the usefulness of information sources about immunisation. From September 1997-January 1998, a cross-sectional study using a four page self-administered questionnaire was undertaken. ⋯ This study identified GP support for many initiatives aimed at increasing immunisation rates in Australia although GPs were sceptical about the benefits of some programmes. Studies to monitor the impact of GP incentives on immunisation rates in populations and individual practices are underway. These will be useful in determining whether GPs' opinions found in our study correlate with practice in this regard.
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Asia Pac J Public Health · Jan 1999
ReviewThe prevalence of low back pain in Australian adults. A systematic review of the literature from 1966-1998.
The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature on the prevalence of low back pain in Australian adults. All Australian low back pain prevalence studies published between 1966 and 1998 were identified. General and methodological criteria using current best practice were applied to each prevalence study. ⋯ These studies were Australian Government Health studies conducted over the past 12 years. However, even these studies were flawed, and thus the true prevalence of low back pain in Australia remains uncertain. A methodologically sound study for Australia is recommended as are best practice guidelines for other studies.
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Asia Pac J Public Health · Jan 1999
Clinical TrialRapid streptococcal testing in Vietnamese children with pharyngitis.
Streptococcal pharyngitis has been a significant public health problem in Vietnam for many years. Accurate diagnosis of the infection, however, has been difficult. We carried out a clinical trial of a rapid streptococcal antigen detection test (Quick-Vue (R) Flex Strep A) on a population of 777 children with pharyngitis seen at the Institute for the Protection of Children's Health (Children's Hospital) in Hanoi, Vietnam. ⋯ The rapid test was found to be 89% sensitive and 92% specific (96% in children not on prior antibiotics) compared to culture. The test was also found to be convenient and acceptable to patients and clinicians. A significant benefit of the test is that those children found positive are more likely to be treated with penicillin rather than a broad spectrum antimicrobial, which in turn will reduce the likelihood of resistant infections in the future.
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Asia Pac J Public Health · Jan 1998
Impact of the east Asian economic crisis on health and health care: Malaysia's response.
In the wake of the east Asian economic crisis, the health budget for the public sector in Malaysia was cut by 12%. The Ministry of Health responded swiftly with a series of broad-based and specific strategies. There was a careful examination of the operating expenditure and where possible measures were taken to minimise the effects of the budget constraints at the service interface. ⋯ Important projects such as rural health projects and training facilities, and committed projects, were continued. In public health, population-based preventive and promotive activities were expected to experience some form of curtailment. There is a need to refocus priorities, maximise the utilisation of resources, and increase productivity at all levels and in all sectors, both public and private, in order to minimise the impact of the economic downturn on health.