NurulHuda Mohd Satar

Demographic and Socioeconomic Factors Influencing Public Attitudes Toward a Presumed Consent System for Organ Donation Without and With a Priority Allocation Scheme.

Abstract The influence of demographic and socioeconomic factors on the publics attitude towards a presumed consent system (PCS) of organ donation was estimated in 2 scenarios: without and with a priority allocation scheme (PAS). Self-administered questionnaires were completed by 775 respondents. Using multiple logistic regressions, respondents’ objections to donating organs in both scenarios were estimated. In total, 63.9% of respondents would object to donating under a PCS, whereas 54.6% would object under a PCS with a PAS. Respondents with pretertiary education were more likely to object than were respondents with tertiary education, in both the first (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.615) and second (AOR = 1.728) scenarios. Young respondents were less likely to object than were middle-aged respondents, in both the first (AOR = 0.648) and second (AOR = 0.572) scenarios. Respondents with mid-ranged personal monthly income were more likely to object than were respondents with low income, in both the first (AOR = 1.994) and second (AOR = 1.519) scenarios. It does not seem that Malaysia is ready to implement a PCS. The educational level, age, and income of the broader public should be considered if a PCS, without or with a PAS, is planned for implementation in Malaysia.

Strategies Targeted at Motivating Unrelated Living Kidney Donation

BACKGROUND This paper aimed to assess the willingness of Malaysians with post-secondary education to be living kidney donors. MATERIAL AND METHODS From the total of 1,310 living kidney donor respondents in Kuala Lumpur and its suburbs, we focused on 688 respondents with post-secondary education. These 688 respondents were asked whether they were willing to become living kidney donors if the government provides a reasonable amount of financial incentive. Those who were not willing to be donors (490) were then asked the reasons for their unwillingness. Six options were given and respondents can choose more than 1 option. RESULTS Malaysians with post-secondary education remain unconvinced to be living donors even when provided with monetized incentives. The main reason cited was they are not convinced that individuals can live with just 1 kidney. CONCLUSIONS There is a need for the government to develop new ways to promote organ donation. These include strengthening government coordination of medical procedures and creating public awareness about the safety of living with 1 kidney. Setting up new institutions such as donor clinics, creating a living donor registry, and having independent donor advocates are also instrumental.

Factors Associated With Medical and Nursing Students' Willingness to Donate Organs.

AbstractMalaysia suffers from a chronic shortage of human organs for transplantation. Medical and nursing students (MaNS) are future health professionals and thus their attitude toward organ donation is vital for driving national donation rates. This study investigates MaNS’ willingness to donate organs upon death and the factors influencing their willingness. A cross-sectional design was used with a sample of 500 students (264 medical and 236 nursing) at the University of Malaya. A self-administrated questionnaire was used. The responses were analyzed by using descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression. Of all respondents, 278 (55.6%) were willing to donate organs upon death, while the remaining 222 (44.4%) were unwilling to donate. Only 44 (8.8%) had donor cards. The multiple logistic regression revealed that the minorities ethnic group was more willing to donate organs than Malay respondents (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.98, P = 0.010). In addition, medical students were more willing to donate than nursing students (aOR = 2.53, P = 0.000). Respondents who have a family member with a donor card were more willing to donate than respondents who do not (aOR = 3.48, P = 0.006). MaNS who believed that their religion permits deceased donation were more willing to donate than their counterparts (aOR = 4.96, P = 0.000). Household income and sex were not significant predictors of MaNS’ willingness to donate organs upon death. MaNS have moderate willingness, but low commitment toward deceased organ donation. Strategies for improving MaNS’ attitude should better educate them on organ donation, targeting the most the Malay and nursing students, and should consider the influence of family attitude and religious permissibility on MaNS’ willingness.

Investigation of Household Debt through Multilevel Multivariate Analysis: Case of a Developing Country

This study focuses on investigating the relationships between different socioeconomic and demographic characteristics and households’ debt decision and demand. We used six survey rounds of data from Pakistan household integrated expenditure survey (HIES) 2001 to 2014. HIES is a nationally representative data collected by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Multilevel models were used to investigate the relationship in which the data on households was nested in primary sampling units (PSUs) and PSUs were nested in provinces. The decision of taking household debt varies 22% at PSU level and 18% at provincial level due to unobserved variables. We found that households having higher financial assets, higher income and larger household sizes tend to have a higher percentage of debt. The amount of debt also increases with education and age. In the case of demand for debt, the variation is 12% at the provincial level. Literature studying household debt decision in Pakistan often ignore the geographical differences (region/province specific studies). Considering socioeconomic characteristics habituating the usage of credit is of countless importance in guiding policy design and interventions that aim to improve financial inclusion.

Household debt in different age cohorts: A multilevel study

Abstract There is a need to identify household debt behaviour in different age cohorts even in countries without prominent household debt problems so that the measures for vulnerable groups can be made. Authors used multilevel mixed effect analysis to test the effect of age and other variables on demand of debt. A national representative survey data of HIES (2001–2013) based on stratified sampling design was used. Household debt in mature workers was higher than youth whereas debt of older people was not significantly different from other cohorts. Education and household size positively affect the demand for debt. This study contributed to existing literature by exploring the demand for debt in different age cohorts, taking into account other socio-economic variables. The design of debt products should be such that mature workers should not accumulate a high level of debt.

Muslim Women’s Marriage, Pregnancy, Abortion and Spacing of Children: Evidence from the United States, Iran and Malaysia

Background: This study investigates the decisions on marriage, pregnancy, abortion and spacing of children among Muslim women (MW) residing in the United States, Iran and Malaysia to explore the occurrences as well as socio-demographic characteristics associated with the likelihood of making an independent decision regarding sexual and reproductive health rights. Methods: A total of 1140 MW in Washington, D.C. (the United States), Tehran (Iran) and Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) participated in this study, and the number of respondents were equally distributed across the three cities. To examine the occurrences of sexual and reproductive rights violation, we report the descriptive statistics from the responses given by MW in these cities. Results: On the decision to solemnize marriage, 84.5 per cent of MW in Malaysia reported that the marriage decision is made jointly with their husbands, but this figure stands at only 30 per cent in Iran and 47.9 per cent in the United States. More than 80 per cent and 72 per cent of MW in Malaysia and Iran, respectively, make decisions on pregnancy, abortion and spacing of children jointly with their husbands. Conclusions: Policymakers should promote jointly made (made by wife and husband together) decisions among Muslims, which accords with Islamic teachings and is considered as good practice among Muslims.