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Health Status in Kuala Lumpur, Kinmen, Matsu, and Northern Thailand

Saturday, 29 October 2011

Hsuan-Ju Kuo
School of Nursing, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
Shih-Hsien Kuo, RPh, PhD
Basic Medical Science Education Center, Fooyin University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Fan-Hao Chou, RN, PhD
School of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Learning Objective 1: The learner will be able to know the health status differences between urban and rural areas.

Learning Objective 2: The learner will be able to learn how the gap between the poor and the wealth influences one's health condition.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this research was to compare the health status of local residents dwelled in four different parts of Southeast Asia, including Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Northern Thailand (border of Thailand and Burma), Kinmen and Matsu (Taiwan, ROC). Among the four places, Malaysia is considered relatively urban while Kinmen, Matsu and Northern Thailand are regarded as rural areas.

METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was used to collect health status, medication used, and nutrition intake, especially in sodium intake.

RESULTS: We collected 120, 43, 196, and 46 subjects in Kuala Lumpur, Matsu, Kinmen, and Northern Thailand, respectively. The average age was 66.02, 67.90, 64, and 47.67 years old as the above ordinary. The average blood pressure was 126/70, 133/78, 137/78, and 126/82 mmHg in Kuala Lumpur, Matsu, Kinmen, and Northern Thailand, respectively. Notably, the mean sodium intake in Northern Thailand was 75.06 gm, which highly excess normal range. Osteoarthritis was more common in Matsu and Kinmen while the prevalence of diabetes mellitus was more common in Kuala Lumpur.

CONCLUSIONS: The data revealed that all of the providers in the four areas may have hypertension potential. It is critical that health education related to health promotion and nutrition should be involved to eliminate this potential health risk.

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