Factors of Poor Self-Rated Health Among Orang Asli in Malaysia

Abstract

The Orang Asli, the indigenous community of Peninsular Malaysia, experience significant health disparities. This study assesses the prevalence and factors associated with poor self-rated health (SRH) among adults aged 18 and above using data from the Orang Asli Health Survey 2022. The prevalence of poor SRH was 12.8% (95% CI: [9.74, 16.68]). Factors associated with poor SRH are health-related factors (acute illness [adjusted odds ratio, aOR = 4.61, 95% CI: [3.54, 5.99]], recent hospitalization [aOR = 2.58, 95% CI: [1.78, 3.74]]), sociodemographic (unemployment [aOR = 1.51, 95% CI: [1.30, 1.76]], older age [aOR = 0.43, 95% CI: [0.30, 0.64]], and the Negrito tribes [aOR = 0.61, 95% CI: [0.37, 0.99]]) as well as lifestyle (tobacco use [aOR = 1.26, 95% CI: [1.03, 1.53]]). These findings underscore the importance of integrated health and social interventions sensitive to Orang Asli beliefs to improve health equity.