FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH HEALTH STATUS AND LIVING NEEDS IMPACT ON B40 WOMEN’S QUALITY OF LIFE IN MALAYSIA: AN ANALYSIS BASED ON B40 RURAL AND URBAN POOR AREAS

Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh; Hazila Abdul Kadir

Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, National University of Malaysia, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Hazila Abdul Kadir Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, National University of Malaysia, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Keywords: Health status, Living needs, Quality of life, Low income, Non-Communicable Diseases

Abstract

Quality of life among low-income women could cause NCDs due to various factors. The study aims to determine the impact of holistic health, psychological health, life needs, and nutrition practices on the quality of life among B40 women. A cross-sectional study was performed among 1,127 women categorised under low-income populations in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. The respondents were selected using a simple random sampling technique and guided questionnaires. Data were analysed using the Chi-square test and logistic regression models. The overall response rate was 100%. Women in rural locations were 0.378 times more likely to significantly experience low quality of life than women living in poor urban areas (p<0.001; OR=0.378; CI=0.224 - 0.638). The factors related to health status and living needs that resulted in low quality of life among low-income women were sociodemographic, holistic health (physical, mental, and spiritual), psychological health, life necessities, and nutrition practices status. Women with holistic environmental health reflected 0.550 while those with holistic mind and mental health were 0.446 times more likely to experience low quality of life than women with high quality of life respectively (p<0.001; OR=0.550; CI=0.318 - 0.953) and (p<0.001; OR=0.446; CI=0.288 - 0.693). Aggressive efforts in raising the awareness and healthy lifestyle practices among B40 rural and urban poor women could reduce NCDs through preventive, lifestyle modification, and the prudent control of several common risk factors that could lead to chronic diseases.

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