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Yasin RM, Tan MP, Said MA, Rasul MS, Thangiah N, Rizal H, Magli AS, Ithnin M, Majid HA, Ismail R, Su TT. TVET programme and health-related quality of life among low-income populations during the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1164056. [PMID: 38504686 PMCID: PMC10948447 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1164056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Education improves the economy and quality of life. The availability of skilled education in Malaysia is not restricted to the younger generation but is available to people of all ages, including those with low incomes. Methods This study used the EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level (EQ- 5D-5L) tool during the COVID-19 pandemic to examine relationships between socio-demographics, knowledge, and attitudes towards education and outcomes of health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Between September and October 2020 and January and February 2021, a cross-sectional study using a multi-stage sampling technique was carried out. Results A total of 1,997 adults participated, with a mean age of 45.17 (SD 14.113). In total, 74.9% had good knowledge, while 59.8% had a positive attitude towards skill education. In univariate analyses, the EQ-5D-5L score was related to age, income, education level, marital status, employment status, financial strain level, and knowledge and attitude towards skilled education. Generalised linear model analyses demonstrated that lower EQ-5D-5L scores were associated with older age, financial constraints, and a negative attitude towards skills education. However, additional adjustments for knowledge and attitude towards skills education show only an increase in age and financial strain was significant. Conclusion The findings suggest that appropriate strategies be implemented to increase low-income populations' knowledge and attitude towards skill education. Improving education may improve the quality of life for this vulnerable group. Additionally, a qualitative study can be conducted to determine the barriers to low-income households participating in skilled education to fill in the knowledge gap.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maw Pin Tan
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Mas Ayu Said
- Centre for Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Practice, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Mohd Sattar Rasul
- STEM Enculturation Research Center, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Malaysia
| | - Nithiah Thangiah
- Centre for Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Practice, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Centre for Population Health, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Hussein Rizal
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Centre for Population Health, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | | | - Muslimah Ithnin
- School of Health Sciences, KPJ Healthcare University, Nilai, Malaysia
| | - Hazreen Abdul Majid
- Centre for Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Practice, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Centre for Population Health, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
- School of Rehabilitation Sciences, AECC University College, Bournemouth, United Kingdom
| | - Rozmi Ismail
- Psychology and Human Wellbeing Research Centre, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Malaysia
| | - Tin Tin Su
- South East Asia Community Observatory (SEACO) and Global Public Health, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia
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