Aim Quality of life (QoL) among the older persons provides valuable insights into the potential modifiable risk factors that affect well‐being in later life. This study aimed to describe the QoL and psychosocial factors of QoL of older persons in Malaysia. Methods We used the 19‐item Control, Autonomy, Self‐realization and Pleasure scale, a validated instrument that measures psychological well‐being related to QoL in older persons. Scores range from 0 to 57, and higher scores indicate better QoL. We included several factors as covariates. Analysis of complex samples was carried out using Stata 15. Descriptive analysis was carried out to determine QoL by sociodemographic characteristics and other factors. Linear regression analysis was used to identify psychosocial factors that influence QoL. Results A total of 3444 individuals aged ≥60 years completed all 19‐item Control, Autonomy, Self‐realization and Pleasure items. The estimated mean QoL score was 47.01 (95% CI 46.30–47.72). Adjusted for confounders, QoL was lower among individuals with no formal education (−2.554, 95% CI −3.684, −1.424), probable depression (−1.042, 95% CI −1.212, −0.871) and food insecurity (−0.815, 95% CI −1.083, −0.548). QoL continued to improve with improved ADL score (0.302, 95% CI 0.052, 0.552), IADL score (0.646, 95% CI 0.382, 0.909) and better social support (0.308, 95% CI 0.187, 0.429). Conclusions Lower education, depression, food insecurity, presence of limited functional status and poor social support negatively influenced QoL in older Malaysians. This study identified potentially modifiable factors that could be targeted for interventions to enhance QoL of older persons in Malaysia. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; 20: 92–97.

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Background: Malaria remains a public health problem in Malaysia despite a decline in the number of cases in recent years. Public knowledge of malaria is essential to achieving and maintaining malaria elimination. Therefore, this survey assessed the prevalence of people who had ever heard of malaria, had correct knowledge of malaria transmission, symptoms, risk activities, and prevention measures in the Malaysian population, and identified the associated factors involved. Methods: The data were obtained from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) which was conducted from September to October 2020. A cross-sectional survey with five structured questionnaires using the method of computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI) was used to collect data. The socio-demographic characteristics such as age, gender, ethnicity, nationality, marital status, educational level, and occupation were recorded. Data were analyzed using STATA SE Version 16. Associations between variables were tested using chi-square and logistic regression, with the level of statistical significance set at p<0.05. Results: Out of 3085 respondents who participated in this survey, 2491 had ever heard of malaria with a prevalence of 76.1% (95% CI: 70.51, 80.94). The prevalence of correct knowledge of malaria transmission was 53.9% (95% CI: 50.16, 57.69), symptoms 24.1% (95% CI: 21.18, 27.23), risk activities 34.0 % (95% CI: 29.26, 39.07) and prevention measures 59.7% (95% CI: 55.47, 63.70). Multivariate analysis showed that age, ethnicity, and educational level were significantly associated with correct malaria transmission and risk activities. In addition, age, educational level, and occupation were significantly associated with correct malaria symptoms. Subsequently, only the variable ethnicity showed a significant association with the correct malaria prevention measures. Conclusion: In general, the prevalence of ever heard of malaria was considered high since the survey was performed based on a non-specific malaria population. However, the prevalence of correct knowledge of malaria symptoms and risk activities were considered low. It is concluded that educational level is one of the major factors associated with correct malaria knowledge, along with age, ethnicity, and occupation. Therefore, based on these findings, targeted intervention and innovation should be planned by malaria program managers to sustain malaria elimination in Malaysia.

Dengue is a mosquito-borne disease that rapidly spreads throughout tropical and subtropical regions. An estimated 2.5 billion people live in dengue-endemic countries and millions of cases occurring each year. Identifying key breeding containers are important to prevent dengue epidemics. This study aims to identify key breeding containers and to evaluate the risks of dengue transmission in the dengue outbreak localities in Kepong District, Kuala Lumpur. Entomological surveillance was done between January 2016 to December 2017 in 38 different outbreak localities. Both indoors and outdoors water-holding containers were inspected for the presence of mosquito larvae. All collected larvae have identified the species, types of breeding containers were recorded, and three larval indices, House Index (HI), Container Index (CI), and Breteau Index (BI), were calculated. Of the 2,067 containers inspected, 227 (10.98%) containers were positive for Aedes larvae. The four main breeding container types in this study were plastic containers (31.72%), water drums (22.47%), drains (18.06%), and flowerpots (14.98%). The HI, CI, and BI varied from 0 to 52.94, from 1.72 to 32.76, and from 2.33 to 75.00, respectively. Key breeding containers of Aedes larvae found in this study provide guidance for health service providers to educate residents to eliminate the common indoors and outdoors Aedes mosquito breeding containers in the study area. Contribution/Originality:This study contributes evidence-based data on dengue vectors' key breeding containers that useful in planning and monitoring the intervention of vector control strategies. INTRODUCTIONDengue has a high disease burden globally. It spreads throughout tropical and subtropical regions [1]. Over 100 countries affected by this mosquito-borne disease and approximately 400 million infections occur annually [2]. In Malaysia, dengue has become a major public health issue, with an increasing trend in dengue outbreaks every year. The number of reported dengue cases in 2014 was 108,698 with 215 deaths, followed by 120,836 cases with 336 deaths in 2015, and reduced to 101,357 cases and 237 deaths in 2016 [3]. In the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, the number of reported dengue cases in 2016 was 8,663 with 22 deaths and reduced to 8,350 cases with 19 deaths in 2017 [4].

Construction sites are often blamed for dengue outbreaks in surrounding localities. The environment is suitable for immature mosquitoes to develop without predators and the convenience of female mosquitoes to feed on the exposed construction workers. The purposes of this study were to identify the species of mosquitoes present at construction sites and the types of their preferred breeding habitats, and also to determine the vertical distribution of the mosquitoes. Nineteen construction sites in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur were cross-sectionally surveyed for the presence of immature mosquitoes in 2018. All water-holding containers were inspected for the presence of immature mosquitoes. Types of water-holding containers were recorded and counted. The number of immature mosquitoes was counted from each positive container and then transferred to the laboratory for species identification. A total of 1,643 immature mosquitoes were collected, comprising 1,287 larvae and 356 pupae. Aedes aegypti immature was the most abundant mosquito species (76%), followed by Culex quinquefasciatus (19%), and the Aedes albopictus (5%). The most productive breeding sites were flooded floors, drains, plastic containers, elevator shafts, water drums, and pails. We discovered that the immature mosquitoes were most abundant from the ground floor to the second floor, with Ae. aegypti immature could disperse up to the thirteenth floor. This study has provided useful information to the health department regarding the preferred breeding habitats of vector mosquitoes at construction sites. Consequently, it contributes to effective and efficient vector prevention and control measures, thus saving time and manpower.

The epidemic of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) in China and a number of countries had led to the Covid-19 pandemic declaration by WHO. The aim of this study is to assess the evidence and to report the effectiveness of Covid-19 containment and mitigation measures among the affected countries. A comprehensive search strategy was performed using the MESH terms of “Novel coronavirus,” “Novel coronavirus 2019”, “2019 nCoV”, “Covid-19”, “Wuhan coronavirus”, “SARS-CoV-2”, “Containment”, “Mitigation” and “Control”. After completion of the initial screening, 922 articles were excluded for the following reasons: the article did not meet the inclusion criteria (N = 862), the article was a duplicate (N = 60). The remaining 72 articles were screened at the full-text level. After full review for relevancy, 41 articles were excluded and a total of 31 articles were selected for scoping review. The two most successful countries that managed to control this pandemic were Hong Kong and South Korea. While, the United States of America (USA) and Brazil are the countries yet unable to significantly reduce the Covid-19 cases. The aggressiveness of government efforts and the compliance among the population are the main factors contributing to the effectiveness of the containment and mitigation measures implemented.

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