CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION
1.8 Conclusion
In conclusion, the awareness regarding health benefit provided by SOCSO Institution is still very poor. This may cause by consumer’s socio-economic status (SES), insufficient knowledge about SOCSO, or unaware of their health condition.
Therefore, the prime objective for this study is to identify the restrictions of SOCSO contributor towards the health screening program and level of awareness for the health screening benefits provided by SOCSO Institution to employees. At the same time, it helps to spread the awareness to the public such as SOCSO Institutions, employees and employers, hospital and also future researchers so that public may able to fully utilize the facilities provided by the government. Besides, it can also be learnt or suggested to the public for future reference or research. Furthermore, there are four factors taken as independent variables to examine whether these variables are one of the contributors to impact the dependent variable which is level of employee’s awareness for the health screening benefits provided by SOCSO
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Institution upon 40 years old. These four factors were categorized into type of industry, health condition, socio-economic status (SES) and source of information.
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CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.0 Introduction
The chapter 2 is illustrates the level of employee’s awareness for the health screening benefits provided by SOCSO upon 40 years old. There are four elements included in this chapter which are literature review, theoretical review, proposal conceptual framework and hypothesis development. As for the level of awareness, there are some factors that influenced which are types of industry, health condition, socio-economic status and source of information.
2.1 Literature Review
2.1.1 Dependent Variable: Level of Awareness
“Awareness” refers as the well-informed interest of human being in a particular program based on their knowledge. Choudhary et al., (2013), Shafi and Shafi (2017), Su, Goh, Tan, Muhaimah, Pigeneswaren, Khairun, Normazidah, Tharisini and Majid (2013) and Yuan, Qian, Huang, Tian, Xiang, He and Feng (2015) researched on the level of awareness in rural area of different countries. On the hand, Madhukumar, Sudeepa and Gaikwad (2012) also been research on awareness in urban area. Health insurance is one of the way and effective social security mechanism for poor families due to social and economic situation in these rural areas, (Choudhary et al., 2013). This statement also been supported by Priya and
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Srinivasan (2015). As it may sensitive to illness, injury, accident, and death risk same goes to urban area.
In Punjab, Pakistan, a few of health screening camps in awareness of hypertension had been organised and hypertension is the most popular health problem, (Shafi and Shafi, 2017). This statement also second by Awuah, Anarfi, Agyemang, Ogedegbe and Aikins (2014). Furthermore, this research was included those who age above 18 years old that had been approved by Institutional Reveiew Board. The awareness of hypertension has been improved but still unable to control it, (Shafi and Shafi, 2017).
On the hand, Choudhary et al., (2013) used epi info 7 statistical software to examine the results of 400 respondents in the particular area. Furthermore, an analysis of variance (ANOVA) had been conducted in research of level awareness on colorectal cancer in Malaysia, (Su et al., 2013). This also been supported by Yuan et al. (2015). As from the results of Choudhary et al., (2013), it showed that there are three variables significant for having a health insurance which included education, socio-economical status and occupation. Futhermore, media are distributing useful information to improve understanding of insurance which play an important for publics.
Panchal (2013) and Desai, Desai, Algotar, Desai and Bansal (2013) also did a research on the customer’s perception on health insurance. The data that had been collected analysed by using Epi Info 2007, results show that there is high awareness in the research, (Desai et al., 2013). Low awareness in health policy, lack of financial tools, and point of the view of consumers insurance affect the power of purchasing in health insurances. This also been supported by Madhukumar, Sudeepa and Gaikwad (2012). There is no significant relationship between Public Insurances and Insurance Companies, (Priya and Srinivasan, 2015). Su et al., (2013) and Yuan et al., (2015) suggested that health education campaign should be adopted for public to receive knowledge and information.
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Kamar, Lop, Salleh, Mamter and Suhaimi (2014) carried out a research on the awareness of occupational safety and health management system (OSH) in Kelantan. From the data collection in the questionnaire, it had been analyzed by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) same as Panchal (2013)’s research. Based on the results, most of the top management was aware on the occupational safety and health management system, but there are a few of them were not concerned about it. The safety and health awareness could be improved and employees comply on the OSH requirements (Kamar et al., 2014).
Ndikom and Ofi (2012) stated women in Ibadan, Nigeria did not aware on the cervical cancer screening service. This research also been investigated by Hoque (2013) but in different area which is Durban, South Africa.
Qualitative study was taken throughout the research. Ibandan’s women realized that the importance of cervical cancer but they did not have a knowledge on it. Improvement of awareness and development of policy were recommended throughout the research (Ndikom and Ofi, 2012).
According to Nwaneri, Osuala, Okpala, Emesowum and Iheanacho (2017), the level of knowledge and awareness of breast cancer had been studied. An interview section had been taken by questionnaire. Furthermore, friends or relatives were one of the source of information, but their awareness still very poor. Results show that there isn’t any proper information been told by profesionals. Nwaneri et al., (2017) recommended health education and improvement of health-seeking behaviour are needed. This also supported by Hoque (2013) and implementation on health education’s policies.
Ashari and Mahmod (2013) studied on the awareness of the employee rights in workplace by Malaysian Employment Act 1955. It provides variety of individual employment rights, for example, wages, working time, public holidays and also female employee’s rights. The results show from high level to low level of awareness towards variety of employment rights in Malaysia. Employee did not aware on their own rights in certain particular
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rights which it is important to them (Ashari and Mahmod, 2013). The level of knowledge exhibited by Human Resources practitioners have significant implicates on the legal rights of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
The awareness of behaviour-based safety (BBS) in manufacturing industry had been investigated by Osman et al., (2015). Behaviour-based safety (BBS) is one of the most popular approaches that adopt by major industry on reducing risky performance. Research were been taken by respondents of registered Safety and Health Officers (SHO). In the results that moderate level of knowledge, understanding and practice were found which represent working environment. Therefore, implementing of BBS is needed throughout the research done (Osman et al., 2015). The common research had been researched by Ibrahim, Hassan, Hassan, Nooh and Yusof (2015) but in the construction industry.
Mastaneh and Mouseli (2013) evaluated awareness of patient’s rights based on Patient Rights Charter (PRC) in Iran. Start from 2001, PRC was developed by Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME) and had been enforced to all the hospital across the country. Results shown that the level of awareness is medium, therefore PRC have to deliver to patients clearly so that they got proper information of right on their behalf.
Furthermore, Patient Right Committee should be establishing for monitoring and supervising so that it may improve the awareness.
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2.1.2 Independent variable
2.1.2.1 Types of Industry
There are different types of industry such as foundry industries, engineering industries, textile industries, agricultural industries, and petrochemical industries. The types of industry are exposure to different occupational risk which may influence the level of employee’s awareness on the health benefits.
Padmasundari and Selly (2016) have investigated the relationships between the types of industry and the level of awareness among the unorganized engineering workers in Coimbatore. The researchers had using the stratified random sampling and statistical tools such as frequency distribution, percentage analysis and cross tabulation in the study. The researchers found out those foundry employees have higher level of awareness on health insurance scheme as compare to the engineering employees. This is because the foundry industry is exposure to higher risk which supported by SheikAllavudeen and Sankar (2015). They revealed that foundry industry is exposure to high risk due to the hazardous operations. Therefore, Padmasundari and Selly (2016) suggested that the government should organize a health awareness programs to those unorganized engineering workers which aim to increase their level of health awareness.
Apart from that, the study of Savitha and Sangamithra (2013) indicated a same result with Padmasundari and Selly (2016). Sample sizes of 1500 employees from Coimbatore were involved in the research and the findings are collected by predefined questionnaire and convenient sampling method.
The findings were analyzed by using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and Logistic Regression Model (LRM). The researchers indicated that the foundry employees have shown higher probability of
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awareness on the health insurance as compare to the textile employees. The study of Vanithamani (2013) also indicated the same results with Savitha and Sangamithra (2013).
Moreover, a study was carried out in the state of Uganda, Africa to explore the level of employees’ awareness on occupational health and safety from the agricultural industries. According to Lunner-Kolstrup and Ssali (2016), there was a low level of awareness on occupational health among the agricultural employees in Uganda through their qualitative, small-scale, cross-sectional study by using the semi-structured interviews and transect walks. From the research, researchers found that most of the agricultural employees were illiterate and these situations are common in many development countries. This is because they did not have any occupational knowledge which provided by their employer. Therefore, it will lead them exposure to the higher occupational risk.
On the other hand, industrial workers have more aware on the healthcare benefits because the high risk present in their working environment which then may affect their health. This was supported by the Sharma and Singh (2013). The researchers revealed that the skilled workers have high level of awareness about the social security benefits as compared to unskilled and semi-skilled workers. Besides, the Mangasuli and Sherkhane (2016) also have the same study results. Their study on the awareness of woman workers on utilizes the social welfare and healthcare schemes among the beedi worker and non-beedi worker in India. The beedi industry is the largest tobacco based industry in India which has been classified as unorganized sector that under the small scale and cottage industry sector. The researchers collected the data from 200 women worker which the 100 worker from the beedi industry and 100 worker from the non beedi industry by using the systematic random sampling method and pretested questionnaire. Also, by using the SPSS software, descriptive statistics and Chi square test, the researchers found out that the beedi workers were more aware and have high
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utilize the social welfare and healthcare schemes as compare with the non beedi worker. This is because their aware the nature of working environment was higher risk than non beedi worker.
However, the result in the research by Sudina, Ansuya and Lakra (2015) were different with the result done by Mangasuli and Sherkhane (2016).
Sudina et al. (2015) showed that there is a lack of awareness on health and social welfare benefits among the beedi workers. The researchers also mentioned that the low awareness of beedi workers on the health and social welfare benefits leads to affect their health and quality of life. This is because most of the beedi workers do not have a good knowledge on the availability of benefits provided by government. Therefore, the researchers recommended that there is needs of the periodic education in order to increase the awareness of beedi worker on utilize the health and social welfare benefits.
Additionally, Campbell, Owoka and Odugbemi (2016) were also support the Sudina et al., (2015) with the views that the low level of awareness among the informal sector workers on national health insurance scheme (NHIS) is because the poor knowledge on its benefits. Furthermore, there was also low awareness on the availability of the Community-based health insurance (CBHI) schemes among the informal sector workers. This is because the poor knowledge on the basic concepts of CBHI leads to low participation in this scheme (Noubiap, Joko, Obama, and Bigna, 2013).
Thus, the researchers recommended that government should take initiatives on organizing an awareness campaign or programs to informal sector workers for improving coverage of the scheme (Nyorera and Okibo, 2015).
Another study of Yang (2013) also revealed that the industrial workers in the small enterprises do not have high awareness on the labour insurance benefits, although there is a present of high risk working environment. The labour insurance benefits which included medical care benefits, injury and
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sickness benefits, and disability benefits for occupational injuries and disease. The researcher was distributed the questionnaires to total 251 participants for small enterprises, large enterprise and general public in Hualien, Taiwan. The small enterprises include self-employed, temporary, agricultural, fishing, and informal sector workers. While the large enterprises are workers from the government owned Power Company and the general public represent the people who participated in a health promotion activity. The researcher proposed that there should have a regular education programs in order to raise the awareness on the labour insurance benefits.
Besides, the formal sector workers were having the high level of awareness on health scheme that provided by government. This was supported by the Adewole, Dairo and Bolarinwa (2016). The researchers stated that majority formal sectors workers were aware on the NHIS, but there was a low level of coverage on the scheme. Also, Kansra and Gill (2016) revealed that there was a low level of awareness on the health insurance scheme among the informal sector workers. Hence, this showed that the formal sector workers will have high awareness on health scheme as compare with informal sector.
In addition, the government health insurance policy will also influence the employee’s awareness and utilization on the health benefits. This was supported by the Sachin and Punith (2014), they stated that some of the employees who are not utilize the government health insurance benefits is because the benefits can be claimed only from the specific hospitals.
Rashida (2015) also discovered that even though majority of the industrial workers are aware of the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) scheme, but majority industrial workers does not satisfy with the ESI scheme. This is because the lack of medical facility and bottlenecks in procedure when their getting this benefit. Thus, it influences their utilization on the scheme.
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2.1.2.2 Health condition
Level of awareness to health will be affected by personal health condition.
Past researches had shown significant relationship between the level of awareness to health and health condition. Health condition is defined as whether the participant has a risk factor of disease in this research. A person with good health condition is probably away from the risk factors of diseases and diseases either mentally or physically. Health condition can be measure by Physicaal Components Scores and Mental Components Scores.
Respondents with lower PCS and MCS indicated poor health condition.
In the research of Venkataraman, Khoo, Wee, Tan, Ma, Heng, Lee, Tai and Thumboo (2014), the respondents with diagnosed diabetes had a lower health condition since their Physical component scores are lower when compare to the respondents with undiagnosed diabetes or no diabetes. The level of awareness to diabetes was associated with the Physical component scores. Hence, the respondents with lower physical component scores which had lower health condition have higher level of awareness to diabetes (Venkataraman et al., 2014). Besides that, Venkataraman et al., (2014) stated that respondents with diseases will emphasize on their quality of life since they have higher level of awareness to health.
The result obtained by Venkataraman et al., (2014) was supported by the research conducted by Vathesatogkit, Sritara, Kimman, Hengprasith, Tai, Wee and Woodward (2012). There was higher level of awareness to diabetes among the respondents with self-reported diabetes (Vathesatogkit et al., 2012). The respondents with higher level of awareness to diseases will have a better mental health since they will seek for medical help and thus become diagnosed diseases.
The rural population is more vulnerable to risks such as illness, injury, accident and death because of their social and economic situation. The health status of rural population is more risky and the results of the
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awareness regarding health insurance is poor (57.25%) for the rural area therefore awareness creation is needed (Choudhary et al., 2013). According to another research done by Su, T. T. et al in 2013, the level of awareness on colorectal cancer warning signs and risk factors in the rural population of Malaysia is very low which are 38% and 32% of the respondents had zero knowledge score for warning signs and risk factors respectively.
However, the research conducted by Desai et al., (2013) show there is relationship between level of awareness to health and health condition.
According to the research of Desai et al., (2013), about 70% of the respondents have their own health insurance and one-third of them took insurance because of having threatening diseases before. Therefore, the research concluded that people with poor health condition will have higher level of awareness to health as they would subscribe for health insurance.
Furthermore, the research conducted by Panchal had support the outcome of the research done by Bhaesh et al., (2013). In the research of Panchal (2013), more than 20% of the respondents bought insurance in order to cover the risk. The respondents with diseases have a high level of awareness to their health hence they bought insurance. Therefore, the research concluded that respondents with self-reported diseases will have higher level of awareness to health and hence they subscribe to insurance to cover their risk.
2.1.2.3 Social-Economic Status (SES)
According to Baker (2014), Social-Economic Status (SES) can be defined as the combination of social and economic status of an individual which tends to be associated with better health positively. In simple words, SES is an indicator of income, education and employment status of an individual that enable them to have the access to the use of primary health care system.
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According to Cassedy et al. (2013), the measures of SES such as family income, occupational prestige and educational level have been found to affect an individual’s health condition. In this journal, family income, educational level and occupation were taken as the indicator of SES.
According to Cassedy et al. (2013), the measures of SES such as family income, occupational prestige and educational level have been found to affect an individual’s health condition. In this journal, family income, educational level and occupation were taken as the indicator of SES.