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Glycemic control is considered the primary therapeutic goal for management of diabetes. This study confirmed the mediating role of self-efficacy and self-management behaviors on the association between social support and glycemic control. Social support should be recognized as a key element in new interventions to improve glycemic control in routine practice., Background Inadequate levels of social support, self-efficacy, and self-management are associated with worse glycemic control, but the pathway between these variables is understood poorly. Hypothesis This study investigated the hypothesis [...]

BackgroundPrenatal supplementation has been introduced to pregnant women during early pregnancy to prevent complication to both mother and fetus. The complications include anaemia, postpartum haemorrhage, low birth weight and fetal defects.AimTo assess compliance with vitamin and mineral supplementation in pregnant women.MethodsA cross-sectional design with simple random sampling was used in this study with 100 respondents who attended the maternal and child clinic in Selangor, Malaysia.FindingsThe findings showed that 86 respondents (86%) were compliance towards vitamin and mineral supplementation, whereas 35 respondents (35%) were non-compliance mainly due to forgetfulness. The result indicated a significant association between compliance with race (p=0.02), occupation (p<0.01), household income (p=0.02), education (p<0.01), parity (p<0.01) and trimester (p=0.02).ConclusionMajority of the respondents acknowledge that side effects and forgetfulness were the main influencing factors towards non-compliance.

With the older population increasing worldwide, depressive disorder in this cohort is a serious public health problem that contributes to increased healthcare costs and mortality. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression among older adults in Malaysia who attended a daycare centre and to identify the relationship between depression and demographic factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 159 older adults recruited following screening for mental capacity. The Malay Geriatric Depression Scale questionnaire was distributed among the participants to obtain descriptive data on the symptoms of depression. Some 59.1% of the participants experienced depression. The most common factors associated with depression were being divorced, low education levels and low income. The findings indicate the need to revise and re-evaluate the activities and programmes in daycare centres for older adults in order to objectively cater to their physical and emotional needs.