Original Research
Public Health Medicine
MJPHM Research Article — Volume 6, Issue 2 (2006), Pages 6–12
Last reviewed: March 2026
Key Findings
- This article was published during the formative years of MJPHM, when the journal was establishing its identity as Malaysia’s dedicated public health medicine publication.
- Research published in 2006 reflected Malaysia’s evolving public health priorities, including the double burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases.
- Volume 6 contributed to MJPHM’s growing reputation as an essential resource for Malaysian public health evidence.
- The article addressed public health topics relevant to Malaysia’s 9th Malaysia Plan period (2006–2010), which emphasised strengthening health services and disease prevention.
Article Context
This article was published in Volume 6, Issue 2 of the Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine in 2006. As an early contribution to the journal, it represents part of the foundation upon which MJPHM built its reputation as the primary publication outlet for public health research in Malaysia.
The year 2006 marked the beginning of the 9th Malaysia Plan, a five-year national development plan that included significant healthcare commitments. The health sector goals included expanding primary healthcare services, strengthening disease surveillance systems, promoting healthy lifestyles, and reducing health disparities between urban and rural populations. Research published in MJPHM during this period contributed directly to the evidence base informing these policy priorities.
Public Health Research in Malaysia: The 2006 Context
Malaysian public health research in 2006 was characterised by an increasing recognition of the non-communicable disease epidemic, even as the country continued to address persistent infectious disease challenges. Dengue fever outbreaks remained a recurrent public health emergency, requiring sustained surveillance and vector control efforts. Tuberculosis, while declining in incidence, continued to pose challenges particularly in underserved communities and among migrant populations.
Simultaneously, the National Health and Morbidity Survey programme was generating alarming data about the rising prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. Malaysia was beginning to recognise that its public health strategies needed to evolve to address this dual disease burden effectively. Research published in MJPHM contributed to this understanding by providing local epidemiological data, evaluating intervention effectiveness, and informing health service planning.
The broader academic environment for public health research was also evolving, with Malaysian universities expanding their postgraduate programmes in public health, community medicine, and related disciplines. MJPHM served as an important publication outlet for dissertations and thesis-related research, helping early-career researchers establish their publication records while contributing to the national evidence base.
MJPHM’s Role in Malaysian Public Health
By 2006, MJPHM had completed five years of publication and was solidifying its position as an essential resource for the Malaysian public health community. The journal provided a forum for sharing research findings that might not find placement in international journals due to their specifically local focus, but which were critically important for informing Malaysian public health policy and practice.
The editorial leadership, drawn from the Malaysian Public Health Physicians’ Association, ensured that the journal maintained scientific rigour while remaining accessible and relevant to public health practitioners. The peer review process engaged experts from across Malaysia’s medical schools and public health institutions, fostering a culture of evidence-based practice within the national public health community.
Public Health Implications and Significance
Research from this early period of MJPHM publication helped establish the journal’s credibility and demonstrated the value of having a dedicated national platform for public health research dissemination. The accumulated evidence from these formative years informed subsequent policy developments, including revisions to Malaysia’s national health plans and the development of clinical practice guidelines for various public health priorities.
Limitations
This page serves as a placeholder for an article from MJPHM’s earlier Joomla-based publication platform. Complete article details including title, authors, and abstract may be available through direct contact with the MJPHM editorial office or through academic databases. Readers seeking the specific content of this article are encouraged to use the journal’s current search facilities.
MJPHM Research Article. Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 2006; 6(2): 6–12.
Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)