SEACO Research Projects

1

Verbal Autopsy - Aged 15 Years and Above*

Verbal Autopsy - Aged 4 Weeks to 14 Years*

Verbal Autopsy - Aged 4 Weeks Below*

Verbal Autopsy (VA) is a Verbal Study of the Causes of Death. The project started in 2015 and is a continuous project. The research questions are the original format of The World Health Organisation (WHO). The objective of this study is to build and implement health policies; to determine an accurate cause of death.

2

Colorectal Cancer - Screening Initiative in Malaysia (CRC-SIM)

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cancer accounting for 13.2% of all cancers. It is estimated that about one- third to one-half of the deaths due to CRC could be avoided through early presentation, detection, and appropriate treatment. However, over 50% of cases present at late stages. Although annual CRC screening is recommended for people aged 50 years or above, a population-based screening intervention is not in place. Therefore, this research project attempts to improve colorectal cancer screening uptake in Malaysia. The development of a theoretically-informed, evidence- based and culturally appropriate CRC-SIM will add new insights regarding approaches and methods of adapting and implementing successful screening programs in Malaysia and elsewhere.

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3

Mother and Infant (MISS P) + International Consortium for Health Outcome Measures (ICHOM)*

This project aims to evaluate, compare and enhance clinical care during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum period which also includes women experienced giving birth, confidence in breastfeeding and mother and infant bonding scale. This project also to find out the postpartum depression and urinary incontinence during the postpartum period.

4

Update Round 2020 + Religion and physical and mental health among elderly in a predominantly Muslim and multicultural community: the causal linkages - (Segamat Faith and Health 1st wave)*

This project has started in 2020 with the goal to recruit about 5000 participants aged 55 years old and above. This project objective is to see the relation between religion and the people's physical and mental health.

5

Staying active at home: the impact of COVID-19 movement restrictions on physical activity in a low-income semi-rural population*

Due the world pandemic, this survey has been conducted to see how people cooperating with the health and activities while staying at home. This project aim to measure symptom prevalence; preventative practices and explore the impact of the MCO on infection and changes in lifestyle practice.

6

NIHR Global Health Group on Dementia Prevention & Enhanced Care - (DePEC)

DePEC project involves a very close collaboration with the Segamat Health District Office. This project collected samples of urine, blood, blood spot and saliva in Segamat Health Clinic. Participants also has been provided with a counseling on the healthy diet, especially on salt intake.

7

Socioeconomic condition, cognition and health during the COVID 19 crisis study - The CORONARISK Study*

The main goal of this study is to disentangle effects caused by the MCO and by the overall COVID-19 crisis, which extends before and after the MCO. This study also to design a prototype relational mental health community- based intervention among semi-rural population in Malaysia. This intervention will help to reduce mental distress during COVID-19 pandemic.

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1

Mother and Infant (MISS P)*

Mother and Infants in SEACO Segamat Project (MISS P) started in 2013. This is a collaboration between SEACO and Pejabat Kesihatan  Segamat. This project aims to provide a mechanism for collaboration, engagement and capacity building with the district nurses to identify new births in 5 sub districts and undertake postnatal visits to new mothers; monitor maternal and infant health.

2

Verbal Autopsy - Aged 15 Years and Above*

Verbal Autopsy - Aged 4 Weeks to 14 Years*

Verbal Autopsy - Aged 4 Weeks Below*

Verbal Autopsy (VA) is a Verbal Study of the Causes of Death. The project started in 2015 and is a continuous project. The research questions are the original format of The World Health Organisation (WHO). The objective of this study is to build and implement health policies; to determine an accurate cause of death.

3

National Obstetrics Registry(NOR), Segamat

This project aims to support the recording of  births in the SEACO Mukim, and  support the integration of  district hospital data into the  NOR.

4

Risk factor surveillance update in South East Asia Community Observatory - Health Round 2018*

The objective of this project is to identify non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity among individuals, families, and communities.

5

DePEC-Nutrition

The objective of this project is to evaluate the feasibility of a  multi-domain intervention to  increase dietary adherence to  dietary plan involving an increased consumption of nitrate-rich green leafy vegetables and reduction of salt  consumption.

6

Work, health & well-being of nurses in public healthcare sector - Nurses Study

This study involves all health care workers in Segamat. This study aims to investigate the state of work, health, and well-being of nurses in the public healthcare sector in Malaysia. This study will identify the workplace antecedents of stress and factors that affect work, health and well-being of nurses in public hospitals and clinics. Around 700 health care workers have participated in this study.

7

Development of population-based Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Screening Intervention in Malaysia (Phase 1)

The objectives of this project are to interview the general population and key informants regarding their views and attitudes towards CRC screening, perceived benefits and barriers towards CRC screening and perceived enablers to improve CRC screening in Malaysia.

1

Risk factor surveillance update in South East Asia Community Observatory - Health Round 2018*

To identify non-communicable diseases such as Diabetes, hypertension, and obesity among individuals, families, and communities.

2

Brain & Heart Health : Heart health and cognitive decline in ageing populations - Phase 1*

Brain & Heart Health : Heart health and cognitive decline in ageing populations - Phase 2*

Focusing on elderly people aged 70 and above, this project aimed to gather information on brain and heart health of these groups of participants. Participant’s heartbeat is recorded using an electrocardiogram device (ECG) and a few questions were asked during house-to-house visits. This is to investigate the association between atrial fibrillation, stroke and cognitive decline.

3

The Malaysian Microbiome Project in Health and Disease - Microbiome Study

Microbiome project has been conducted as a one collaboration project with Monash University, Malaysia. The objective of the project is to investigate the link between lifestyle habits and major diseases. This project has been completed in August 2018, with 458 participants agreed, out of 450 targets to participate, 374 saliva samples collected, and 233 stool samples.

4

A novel predictive model for early diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease and related Dementias among Malaysians using Artificial Intelligence techniques

This study investigates and aims to develop a novel computational diagnostic tool for early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia from verbal utterances of the elderly population in Malaysian.

5

Diseases and early Dementia among Malaysians

To be updated.

1

Census Round*

SEACO started the first census in 2012 and involved five sud-district: Bekok, Chaah, Gemereh, Jabi and Sungai Segamat. The purpose of the census was to count the whole population in these mukim and to collect basic household information about the individual household members.

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2

Development of an implementation framework for community based breast cancer screening in the multi ethnic population of Malaysia

The objective of this project is to assess the bottlenecks to coverage of breast cancer screening in Malaysia.

3

Socio-Economy Status-Effective Function (SES-EF)

The main goal of this project is to unveil the cognitive determinants of well-being in southern Malaysia.

1

Feasibility of  Elderly Cohort*

A feasibility study for the development of an ELDERLY COHORT was undertaken, funded through a Monash-Newcastle (UK) collaboration and led in the UK by Dr Blossom Stephan and in Malaysia by Dr Devi Mohan. Signs of mild cognitive impairment were noted and funding is being sought to extend this work on a larger scale to link the biological and ecological factors that mitigate a range of illnesses that affect quality of life in the rural elderly community.

2

SEACO Infants: Health And Transition (SI:HAT): A feasibility study for establishing a Malaysian birth cohort (SIHAT Birth Cohort)

The birth cohort aims to understand how the health status of pregnant women in Segamat may affect the health and development of their children from birth. The project is a collaboration between SEACO, the Segamat District Health Office (PKD) and Segamat Hospital.

The study is split into three specific groups for data collection: Group A, B, and C. Further, each mother is contacted twice during the study. For example, data collectors first collect data from a mother when her infant is three months old and secondly when the infant is eight months old. Data collection for this project is carried out at three government health clinics, Segamat Hospital as well as at the respondent's homes. The accumulated data is on the individuals socio-demographic and life style. Additionally, their height and weight, blood pressure and body fat are measured. Further, blood samples are collected to identify diabetes and excess fat in the blood. Urine and hair samples are collected to identify links to environmental, hereditary and genetic factors.

The study will assist in increasing healthy birth outcomes in the community. Additionally, it will provide data to assist in the early identification and treatment of health issues. A major objective is that this will help prevent death or disability in infants.

3

Feasibility Community Cohort : SEACO Families Biomarker Study (Community Cohort) - Genetic epidemiology feasibility studies

Evidence from early work in SEACO demonstrated that children that had one or more obese parents had a two-fold greater risk of being obese compared with children who had no obese parents. However, it is not clear how much of this risk is associated with environmental exposures (habits - diet and physical activity) within the family, and how much of it may have some hereditary or biological components. In collaboration with the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute at Cambridge, SEACO is collecting data from families that include not only the physical health status of parents and children but also some questionnaire data to assess their eating habits and physical activity and biological data to determine possible genetic and other biomarkers that might explain the risks of obesity.

1

Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Study for Older People

Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Study for Older People is a study commissioned by UNFPA Malaysia and conducted in collaboration with postgraduate students from University Putra Malaysia (UPM). The study was led in UPM by Dr Mary Huang and presented an important opportunity for SEACO to provide community based field methods training to students within the context of a study of public health relevance.

2

Update Round*

Update Round is a project for updating the household information (Migration in and Migration out). This project was conducted annually. This is also an opportunity for SEACO to visit those houses which they have never visited before, empty house or reject.

3

Eye Screening by SEGI College

The experience of supporting the training of health professionals was extended to Optometry Students from SEGI University who provided community wide screening for eye care in the Orang Asli community in Kg Tamok and provided corrective lenses for those who needed them, donated through a charitable foundation.

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4

Catastrophe and Impoverishment from Diabetes: An Exploration of the Economic Burden of Diabetes Care - CID

This study is funded by the Duke Global Health Institute to explore the economic costs to households and health systems of chronic diseases like diabetes. This study is being conducted as part of the PhD candidature of Julius Chee Ho Cheah.

5

New frontiers in Dengue Viral Infections - a community-based study (DENGUE)

The study represents a collaboration between the JCSMHS, the Segamat District Health Office and the Segamat Hospital. The study has attempted to identify the complex interaction of the dengue virus, its human hosts and the mosquito vectors. The study features a multi-disciplinary effort in entomology, virology, genetics, public health, social determinants and clinical practice. The methodology has been scaled up to a study funded by MOSTI and being undertaken in Shah Alam.

6

Citizen Science Reporter (CSR)

This project aimed to train citizens in the Segamat district of Johor, Malaysia to identify and report on health related issues in their community.

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7

Complementary Feeding and the Early Origins of Obesity Risk (C-FOO)*

The study aimed to explore the factors that determine complementary feeding practices and the early risks of childhood obesity.

8

Segamat Paediatric Eye Disease Study (SEGPAEDS)

The Segamat Paediatric Eye Disease Study (SEGPAEDS) was a study initiated by the paediatric Ophthalmology team to explore the evidence for reducing the age for early childhood eye screening. SEACO supported mass screening of kindergarten school children to determine rates of correctable visual impairment in under-seven year olds.

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1

Update Round*

Update Round is a project for updating the household information (Migration in and Migration out). This project was conducted annually. This is also an opportunity for SEACO to visit those houses which they have never visited before, empty house or reject.

2

Verbal Autopsy - Aged 15 Years and Above*

Verbal Autopsy - Aged 4 Weeks to 14 Years*

Verbal Autopsy - Aged 4 Weeks Below*

Verbal Autopsy (VA) is a Verbal Study of the Causes of Death. The project started in 2015 and is a continuous project. The research questions are the original format of The World Health Organisation (WHO). The objective of this study is to build and implement health policies; to determine an accurate cause of death.

3

SEACO Stroke Study : Recovery and well-being following stroke

Recovery from stroke, a four year study funded by the Australian Research Council and led by medical anthropologist Dr Narelle Warren from Monash University Australia, commenced, to explore the factors that support recovery and successful rehabilitation of people who have had a stroke. This includes the role of Islam in coping, complicating effects of dementia and age related cognitive decline, trajectories of recovery, the impact of providing long term care on carers, and health and welfare systems’ support. Cases were identified through the SEACO health assessment data collection.

4

Singleton (Social Support and Care Arrangements of Older People Living Alone in Rural Malaysia) - Singleton Study

This project was funded by the University of Amsterdam and data collection was led by Dr Natalie Evans. The study sought to explore the health and well being of elderly members of the community, identified through the household visits as living alone. Although there was some indication of social isolation and poor health, living alone was largely a choice for many. Again, SEACO staff collaborated with the district public health team to follow up on those who needed further support.

5

National Obstetrics Registry(NOR), Segamat

This project aims to support the recording of  births in the SEACO Mukim, and  support the integration of  district hospital data into the  NOR.

6

Youth Study : Establishment of an adolescent cohort to assess health related behaviours

MIGRATING YOUTH is a study that builds on work with the youth cohort. This attempts to establish the methodology to follow youth who leave rural communities to determine how much they retain healthy (or otherwise) habits or lifestyles and what the ecological factors are in their new homes that mitigate their healthy choices. This study is being conducted with Malaysian Chinese youth, by Fang Fang Li, an Erasmus Mundi funded PhD student from the University of Amsterdam and the University of Barcelona.

1

Youth Study : Establishment of an adolescent cohort to assess health related behaviours

Building on the findings from the youth, a qualitative study on YOUTH HEALTH PRACTICES was funded by the University of Amsterdam. This project aimed to identify the importance of family and peers in the eating patterns, physical activity and identification of health priorities of young Malaysians in Segamat. The study was led by Dr Debora Joanna Imelda from the University of Indonesia.

2

Update Round*

Update Round is a project for updating the household information (Migration in and Migration out). This project was conducted annually. This is also an opportunity for SEACO to visit those houses which they have never visited before, empty house or reject.

3

Mother and Infant (MISS P)*

Mother and Infants in SEACO Segamat Project (MISS P) started on 2013. This is a collaboration between SEACO and Pejabat Kesihatan  Segamat. This project aims to provide a mechanism for collaboration, engagement and capacity building with the district nurses to identify new births in 5 sub districts and undertake postnatal visits to new mothers; monitor maternal and infant health.

4

Risk factor surveillance update in South East Asia Community Observatory - Health Round 2013*

The objective of this project is to identify non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity among individuals, families, and communities.

1

Census Round*

SEACO started the first census in 2012 and involved five sud-district: Bekok, Chaah, Gemereh, Jabi and Sungai Segamat. The purpose of the census was to count the whole population in these mukim and to collect basic household information about the individual household members.

Read more