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Income Inequality in Quality of Life among Rural Communities in Malaysia: A Case for Immediate Policy Consideration

Author

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  • Govindamal Thangiah

    (Centre for Population Health (CePH), Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
    South East Asia Community Observatory (SEACO) & Global Public Health, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia)

  • Mas Ayu Said

    (Centre for Population Health (CePH), Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia)

  • Hazreen Abdul Majid

    (Centre for Population Health (CePH), Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
    Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Airlangga, Jawa Timur 60115, Indonesia)

  • Daniel Reidpath

    (South East Asia Community Observatory (SEACO) & Global Public Health, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia
    International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh)

  • Tin Tin Su

    (Centre for Population Health (CePH), Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
    South East Asia Community Observatory (SEACO) & Global Public Health, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia)

Abstract

Quality of life (QOL) is a proxy of health and social well-being. Hence, it is vital to assess QOL as it informs the strategies of policymakers to enhance the living conditions in communities. Rural areas in emerging economies are underserved in terms of modern facilities and technologies, which impact QOL. To address this, this study investigated whether income played a role in the QOL of rural residents within emerging economies using a large survey of Malaysian adults above 18 years old. The study extracted data from a sample of 18,607 respondents of a health and demographic surveillance system survey. A generalized linear model was used to estimate the impact of three income groups, the bottom 40%, middle 40% and top 20%, on perceived QOL, controlling for sociodemographic, chronic disease co-morbidities and mental health status. Results of the study showed a statistically significant association between income and the physical, psychological, social and environmental QOL domains. Using the bottom 40% as a reference category, the middle 40% and top 20% income groups showed a significant and positive association across the four domains of QOL. Hence, intervention programs are necessary to escalate the income levels of rural communities, especially the bottom 40%, to uplift perceived QOL among rural residents.

Suggested Citation

  • Govindamal Thangiah & Mas Ayu Said & Hazreen Abdul Majid & Daniel Reidpath & Tin Tin Su, 2020. "Income Inequality in Quality of Life among Rural Communities in Malaysia: A Case for Immediate Policy Consideration," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-19, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:23:p:8731-:d:450358
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Gonzalo Ríos-Vásquez & Hanns de la Fuente-Mella, 2023. "Mathematical Analysis and Modeling of the Factors That Determine the Quality of Life in the City Councils of Chile," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-31, March.
    2. Mohamad Fazli Sabri & Mas Ayu Said & Amirah Shazana Magli & Tan Maw Pin & Hussein Rizal & Nithiah Thangiah & Muslimah Ithnin & Hazreen Abdul Majid & Rozmi Ismail & Tin Tin Su & Abdul Rahim Husniyah, 2022. "Exploring the Relationships of Financial Literacy and Financial Behaviour with Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) among the Low-Income Working Population in Malaysia during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-15, September.

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