The life and health challenges of young Malaysian couples: results from a stakeholder consensus and engagement study to support non-communicable disease prevention

BMC Public Health

Research

M Hanson¹  H Anuar²  SA Norris³  JCH Cheah⁴  P Matzen⁵  BB Jensen⁶ 

[1] Academic Unit of Human Development and Health, Southampton General Hospital, Mailpoint 801, South Academic Block, Tremona Road, SO16 6YD, Southampton, UK;Institute of Health System Research, Ministry of health Malaysia, Suite 55, Setia Avenue, no.2, Jalan Setia Prima s u13/s, Seksyen U13, Setia Alam, 40170, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia;MRC Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit, Department of Paediatrics, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, PO Box 784314, 2146, JohannesburgSandton, South Africa;Monash University Sunway Campus, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 46150, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia;Novo Nordisk Pharma (M) Sdn Bhd, Menara UOA Bangsar, Tower A, Unit A-9-2 & A-9-3, No 5, Jalan Bangsar Utama 1, 59000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia;Steno Diabetes Center, Niels Steensens Vej 2, DK-2820, Gentofte, Denmark;

关键词: Health Literacy;    Stakeholder Engagement;    Delphi Technique;    Health Capital;    Nominal Group Technique;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2458-14-S2-S6

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundMalaysia faces burgeoning obesity and diabetes epidemics with a 250% and 88% increase respectively between 1996 and 2006. Identifying the health challenges of young adults in Malaysia, who constitute 27.5 % of the population, is critical for NCD prevention. The aim of the study was two-fold: (1) to achieve consensus amongst stakeholders on the most important challenge impacting the health of young adults, and (2) to engage with stakeholders to formulate a NCD prevention framework.MethodsThe Delphi Technique was utilised to achieve group consensus around the most important life and health challenges that young adults face in Malaysia. Subsequently, the results of the consensus component were shared with the stakeholders in an engagement workshop to obtain input on a NCD prevention framework.ResultsWe found that life stress was a significant concern. It would seem that the apathy towards pursuing or maintaining a healthy lifestyle among young adults may be significantly influenced by the broader distal determinant of life stress. The high cost of living is suggested to be the main push factor for young working adults towards attaining better financial security to improve their livelihood. In turn, this leads to a more stressful lifestyle with less time to focus on healthier lifestyle choices.ConclusionsThe findings highlight a pivotal barrier to healthier lifestyles. By assisting young adults to cope with daily living coupled with realistic opportunities to make healthier dietary choices, be more active, and less sedentary could assist in the development of NCD health promotion strategies.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Norris et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2014