Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health最新文献

Improper disposal of household pharmaceutical waste (HPW) contributes to environmental contamination and public health risks, yet safe disposal practices remain inconsistent in many communities. This study examined the behavioral intentions of urban Malaysian residents toward safe HPW disposal using the Health Belief Model (HBM). A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 450 stratified pharmacy customers across the Klang Valley. Respondents completed a self-administered digital questionnaire assessing HBM constructs on a 6-point Likert scale. Data was analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The final model explained 63.7% of the variance in behavioral intention (R² = 0.637; adjusted R² = 0.635). Cues to action and self-efficacy were identified as the strongest predictors, while perceived susceptibility and perceived benefits influenced perceived severity. Findings highlight three public health strategies: integrating disposal guidance into routine care, embedding visible cues to action in health care and community settings, and strengthening regulatory frameworks to expand accessible take-back infrastructure.

The Generation End Game (GEG) policy in Malaysia aims to establish a smoke-free generation and has prompted substantial media attention. This qualitative cross-sectional study employed a netnographic approach to analyse Malaysian online news articles published between January 2022 and January 2024 in response to the policy. Data from news portals were collected via NCapture and analysed in NVivo using thematic content analysis. A total of 441 news articles were analysed and categorised into three timeframes: the initial announcement, the official announcement and the removal of the GEG provision from the bill. A positive slant prevailed across all timeframes with 52.2%, 42.1% and 37.8%, respectively, while negative slants were observed with 32.6%, 30.3% and 21.6%, respectively. Supportive arguments emphasised anticipated public health benefits, whereas opposition centred on concerns of the enforcement challenges. Most online news articles reported the GEG policy positively, suggesting that online media predominantly played a role in garnering support for the policy.

Child health and well-being remain a challenge in Indonesia, partly due to low health insurance coverage among children younger than five, especially in informal sector households. Many informal workers are not classified as poor, making insurance unaffordable for their families. This study analyses the 2022 National Socio-economic Survey (SUSENAS) to examine the social determinants of health insurance ownership among children younger than five, focusing on household head employment, child health, and family well-being. Using data from the 2022 National Socio-economic Survey (SUSENAS), this study examines the social determinants of health insurance ownership among children younger than five, focusing on household head employment, child health, and family well-being. Results show that children from households of informal workers are less likely to be insured than those from formal sector households (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.80, 95% CI [0.76, 0.84]). Low education (AOR = 1.30, 95% CI [1.23, 1.37]) and poverty further reduce access, while having a national identity number (AOR = 4.10, 95% CI [3.78, 4.45]) increase the likelihood of coverage.

Workplace bullying (WPB) remains a persistent occupational hazard in Malaysian health care, particularly affecting house officers who face heavy workloads and rigid hierarchies. This study examined the prevalence of WPB among house officers in Malaysian public hospitals and explored its association with Psychosocial Safety Climate (PSC) and conflict management styles (CMS). A multicentre cross-sectional study was conducted across thirteen hospitals using validated instruments. Multivariable regression analyses identified key factors while adjusting for sociodemographic and institutional factors. WPB affected 23.4% of respondents. Higher PSC (β = -0.70; P ≤ .001), problem-solving CMS (β = -1.08; P ≤ .001), longer employment duration (β = -0.21; P = .032), and female gender (β = -4.32; P ≤ .001) were associated with lower WPB. Increasing age (β = 0.77; P = .033), ethnic minority (β = 5.79; P ≤ .001), and avoidance (β = 0.47; P = .049) and forcing (β = 0.99; P ≤ .001) CMS were associated with higher WPB. The findings highlight the importance of strengthening PSC and enhancing conflict management skills to promote safer and healthier working environments.

While COVID-19-related stigma perception is recognized as a mental health risk, its effects on the general population are understudied. This study examines the link between stigma perception and symptoms of anxiety disorder among the general population in South Korea. This study used data from a nationwide survey, the Korean National Mental Health Survey related to COVID-19. Anxiety symptoms were measured using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7). Stigma perception was assessed with a single question and categorized as "No," "Yes," or "Strongly Yes." Logistic regression was used, adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic, COVID-19-related, and health-related factors. Results showed that 12.7% of respondents met the criteria for anxiety disorder. Compared with those who perceived no stigma, individuals who answered "Yes" had 2.12 (95% CI [1.31, 3.46]) times higher odds of anxiety, and those who answered "Strongly Yes" had 6.61 (95% CI [3.75, 11.62]) times higher odds. Other significant factors included marital status, lower income, worsened economic conditions during the pandemic, subjective stress, poor sleep quality, and underlying health conditions. These findings suggest that stigma perception related to COVID-19 is a strong and independent risk factor for anxiety. Public health interventions should incorporate anti-stigma strategies to support mental health during and beyond pandemic.

The present study examined how perceived barriers to leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) differ by socioeconomic status (SES) (household income, years of education, and occupation), considering the relationships among barriers and distinguishing between barriers to initiation and maintenance. In this study, 2024 nationwide survey data from 27 197 (13 634 women and 13 563 men) Japanese adults aged 18 to 64 years were analyzed. The key findings are as follows. The types of perceived barriers were classified into "health issues," "lack of time," "dislike/hassle," and so on. "Health issues" was negatively associated with household income and years of education. With respect to the barriers to initiating LTPA, years of education was negatively associated with "dislike/hassle," whereas higher education increased the likelihood of "lack of time" as a barrier to adhering to LTPA. In addition, lower economic status was associated with maintenance-stage barriers among women, underscoring the need for promotion strategies tailored to both SES and LTPA stages.

Measles remains a global health threat, and rising vaccine hesitancy in Malaysia underscores the need for locally tailored communication strategies to strengthen public trust and vaccination. This current research developed and validated the Parental Health Education (PaHE)-Measles toolkit, grounded in the Health Belief Model, to support parental confidence and the uptake of measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination in Malaysia through a four-stage process: information gathering, preliminary adaptation design, preliminary adaptation testing, and adaptation refinement. Five multidisciplinary experts validated its content both in Malay and English, and 10 health care providers confirmed overall quality. The acceptability was assessed among 30 end-users. The PaHE-Measles achieved a Content Validity Index (CVI) score of 1.0 from expert reviewers, whereas health care providers rated its understandability and actionability more than 80%. End-users reported an average score of over 9.0. In conclusion, PaHE-Measles is a valid and ready toolkit for educating parents, countering misinformation, and strengthening vaccine confidence.

This cross-sectional study examined sociodemographic factors influencing diet quality among 691 Cambodian schoolchildren aged 6 to 11 years. The average Global Dietary Recommendation (GDR) score was 9.47, with 49% achieving a GDR-healthy diet. Only 15.63% consumed All-5 recommended food groups, whereas 63.53% met the minimum dietary diversity (MDD). After adjusting for confounding factors, children aged 9 to 11 years were significantly more likely to consume all five food groups than those aged 6 to 8 years (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.55, 95% confidence interval, CI [1.02, 2.37], P = .04). Schoolchildren with caregivers having only primary education were significantly less likely to meet the MDD (AOR = 0.49, 95% CI [0.27, 0.90], P = .02). Interventions should prioritize improving diet quality among school-aged children by fostering multisectoral collaboration to create healthier school food environments and ensure access to diverse, nutritious foods.