Non-Communicable Diseases Among Orang Asli in Malaysia: A Scoping Review of Prevalence and Associated Factors

  • Amir Zharif Adenan Department of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh Campus, Selangor Branch, 47000 Jalan Hospital, Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia.
  • Ahmad Amirul Shafiq Mohd Department of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh Campus, Selangor Branch, 47000 Jalan Hospital, Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia. https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3602-0933
  • Nurul Hannah Mohd Feizal Department of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh Campus, Selangor Branch, 47000 Jalan Hospital, Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia. https://orcid.org/0009-0000-8225-794X
  • Siti Sara Yaacob Department of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh Campus, Selangor Branch, 47000 Jalan Hospital, Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1058-8763
  • Khalid Ibrahim Department of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh Campus, Selangor Branch, 47000 Jalan Hospital, Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia.
Keywords: Non-communicable diseases, Indigenous health, Urbanization, Orang Asli

Abstract

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, and cancer, pose significant public health challenges globally and in Malaysia. The Orang Asli, an indigenous community in Malaysia, faces unique health challenges due to socioeconomic disparities and lifestyle changes. This scoping review synthesizes existing literature on the prevalence and determinants of NCDs among the Orang Asli, aiming to identify research gaps and inform public health strategies. We conducted a systematic search across databases including PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science, identifying 15 relevant studies from an initial pool of 573 records, following PRISMA guidelines. The review reveals significant variability in the prevalence of hypertension (3.3% to 57.2%), diabetes mellitus (0.8% to 25%), and dyslipidaemia (1.5% to 41.4%) among the Orang Asli. Other conditions such as gout and asthma were noted with prevalences of 2.7% and 0.4%, respectively. Factors associated with NCD prevalence include older age, female gender, lower education levels, poor dietary habits, physical inactivity, smoking, obesity, genetic predispositions, and the impacts of urbanization and modernization. Addressing the NCD burden requires multifaceted strategies, including culturally sensitive health promotion, improved healthcare access, and the preservation of traditional practices. This review underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions to mitigate the rising NCD burden in this vulnerable population.

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References

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Published
2025-01-20
How to Cite
Adenan, A. Z., Mohd, A. A. S., Mohd Feizal, N. H., Yaacob, S. S. and Ibrahim, K. (2025) “Non-Communicable Diseases Among Orang Asli in Malaysia: A Scoping Review of Prevalence and Associated Factors”, Malaysian Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities (MJSSH), 10(1), p. e003207. doi: 10.47405/mjssh.v10i1.3207.
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Articles