Complying with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals: A Case of the Malaysian Ageing Population

Abstract

Objective - The rapid growth in the ageing population necessitates a more intensified effort to include patients of all ages in global sustainable development. While many countries struggle to manage their ageing populations, efforts to ensure adequate health are alarmingly unconvincing. In fact, the spread of infectious diseases, especially Tuberculosis (TB), within the ageing population remains a threat to meet the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. Studies related to the ageing population in Malaysia are rather limited and their perspectives on infectious disease patients are often neglected.Methodology/Technique - Therefore, this study aims to investigate the perspective of ageing tuberculosis patients on preventive measures and to what extent their behaviour helps Malaysia to comply with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. Of 1,600 patients to whom questionnaires were sent, 1,368 completed questionnaires that were used for further analysis. This study was conducted in 2015 within selected states of Malaysia with high occurrence rates of TB cases.Finding - This paper confirmed that TB patients in this study possessed high TB knowledge especially among male and married patients with low household income. Also, the findings revealed that most TB patients understood that smoking increases the risk of TB infection, yet, they did not quit smoking which explains that majority of them have been diagnosed with TB for more than five years. Despite the patients possessed high TB knowledge, results on their attitude towards family, friends, and neighbours indicated that the patients did not distance themselves from others which might cause infections. In fact, in terms of TB practices; most patients still reluctant to wear facial mask in public.Novelty - Hence, the strategies to end the TB epidemic in Malaysia by 2035 should be improved so that the quality of life for the ageing population can be assured.Type of Paper - Empirical.