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  1. Abai G, Henry J, Lian CB, Wee ASF, Bili H, Ratu I
    Int J Public Health Res, 2011;1(2):92-99.
    MyJurnal
    Introduction Neonatal jaundice occurs in about 60% of newborns. If not managed properly, it can progress to severe neonatal jaundice (SNNJ) leading to death or permanent disability. The incidence of SNNJ in Kuching District increased from 119.3 per 100,000 live births in 2005 to 123.3 per 100,000 live births in 2008, which was above the Standard National QAP Indicator of 100 per 10,000 live births. SNNJ can be prevented by early detection and proper management of neonatal jaundice. The objective is to increase the knowledge and practise of early detection of neonatal jaundice by nurses in Kuching District. Methods This was an interventional study covering a period of six months. The sample comprised 113 nurses of all categories working in urban and rural maternal and child health clinics in Kuching District. Tools used in the study were self-administered questionnaires in English and Bahasa Malaysia. The preintervention survey started in July 2009 while the post-intervention survey was done in January 2010. The interventions were done through Continuing Nursing Education sessions and included new nursing formats and new reporting procedures. New vehicles were also provided for home nursing. Data was collected and analyzed using MS Excel program. Results The pre-intervention survey on nurses showed that only 56.6% were able to identify the risk of factors causing jaundice; 94.6% able to define jaundice; 41.5% able to detect jaundice while 70.8% knew sign of Kernicterus. In term of recommended post natal nursing schedule only 40.7% able to practice the schedule while only 69.0% able to give advice on management of jaundice. Post intervention; 63.2% of nurses were able to identify the risk factors causing jaundice; 97.2% able to define jaundice while 97.2% were able to detect jaundice and 88.6% know sign of Kernicterus. On recommended post natal nursing schedule, 49.9 % practice the recommended schedule while 92.0% were able to give advice to mother on management of jaundice. The incident of jaundice of Severe Neonatal Jaundice dropped to 78 per 100,000 live births in 2010.
    Conclusions The study shows that the interventions taken helped to improve the knowledge and practice of recommended measures to detect neonatal jaundice early. Stronger emphasis must be placed on using the new reporting procedures and new nursing sheets. Continuous monitoring through regular nursing audits by clinic supervisors is also essential to reduce the incidence of SNNJ. Provision of vehicles for all busy maternal and child health clinics for home nursing care is highly recommended.
    Matched MeSH terms: Child Health
  2. Abdul Halim SH, Mohd Zulkefli NA
    Child Care Health Dev, 2021 07;47(4):509-516.
    PMID: 33660312 DOI: 10.1111/cch.12863
    BACKGROUND: Use of a child health record book has long been established in Malaysia. The objective of the study was to determine the proportion of optimum child health record book utilization and its associated factors among parents attending government child health clinics in Putrajaya, the administrative capital of Malaysia.

    METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among randomly selected group of 450 parents using a self-administered questionnaire. Optimum utilization of the book was defined as respondents reading all sections and recording comments in the book. Independent variables studied were sociodemographic characteristics; antenatal and breastfeeding history; child health and immunization status; perceptions and level of knowledge on the book and child health; and healthcare providers' performance. A multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify the associated factors of optimum utilization.

    RESULTS: Out of 450 study participants, 415 completed the questionnaire and 150 (36.1%) were found to optimally utilized the book. Participants who read all sections totalled 245 (59.0%), and 242 (58.3%) respondents reported to record some comments in the book. Optimum utilization of the book was associated with older parents' age (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 1.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.11) and higher education attainment (AOR: 2.21, 95% CI 1.24-3.91), with a good level of knowledge on child health record books and general child health (AOR: 3.87, 95% CI 2.27-6.61; AOR: 2.05, 95% CI 1.25-3.36) and among parents who delivered their children in government hospitals (AOR: 2.93, 95% CI 1.11-7.73).

    CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of child health record book utilization was low at 36.1% but difficult to compare with other studies. Based on the findings, improving the parents' knowledge of the book and general child health, particularly among younger parents with lower educational levels, and delivering the book to institutions outside government hospitals might be useful to increase the utilization.

    Matched MeSH terms: Child Health*
  3. Abdul Latiff R, Wan Sulaiman WS, Hoesni S
    Postpartum depression is one of the major depressions experienced by women during three months after giving birth to their babies. The symptoms of this type of depression cannot be taken lightly as it affects not only the women but also the development of the babies, family harmony and functioning and can in fact harm themselves and other individuals in their surrounding. Thus, this research was conducted to identify the influence of parental stress towards postpartum depression. A total of 181 women participated in this study and they were from two groups namely married and unmarried women who just gave birth. Two instruments were used and they were the Postpartum Depression Screening Scale and the Parental Stress Index Short Form. Results obtained showed that parental stress and its dimensions were significantly correlated with postpartum depression. In addition, maternal stress and difficult child characteristics were significant predictors of postpartum depression. Findings also showed that there were significant differences of parental stress and its dimensions between married and unmarried women who just gave birth. These findings imply the importance of coping with parental stress to prevent women from experiencing postpartum depression.
    Keywords Postpartum Depression · Parental Stress · Child Characteristics · Regression
    Matched MeSH terms: Maternal-Child Health Centers
  4. Acuin CS, Khor GL, Liabsuetrakul T, Achadi EL, Htay TT, Firestone R, et al.
    Lancet, 2011 Feb 05;377(9764):516-25.
    PMID: 21269675 DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(10)62049-1
    Although maternal and child mortality are on the decline in southeast Asia, there are still major disparities, and greater equity is key to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. We used comparable cross-national data sources to document mortality trends from 1990 to 2008 and to assess major causes of maternal and child deaths. We present inequalities in intervention coverage by two common measures of wealth quintiles and rural or urban status. Case studies of reduction in mortality in Thailand and Indonesia indicate the varying extents of success and point to some factors that accelerate progress. We developed a Lives Saved Tool analysis for the region and for country subgroups to estimate deaths averted by cause and intervention. We identified three major patterns of maternal and child mortality reduction: early, rapid downward trends (Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand); initially high declines (sustained by Vietnam but faltering in the Philippines and Indonesia); and high initial rates with a downward trend (Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar). Economic development seems to provide an important context that should be coupled with broader health-system interventions. Increasing coverage and consideration of the health-system context is needed, and regional support from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations can provide increased policy support to achieve maternal, neonatal, and child health goals.
    Matched MeSH terms: Child Health Services
  5. Adeloye D, Agarwal D, Barnes PJ, Bonay M, van Boven JF, Bryant J, et al.
    J Glob Health, 2021;11:15003.
    PMID: 34737870 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.11.15003
    Background: The global prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has increased markedly in recent decades. Given the scarcity of resources available to address global health challenges and respiratory medicine being relatively under-invested in, it is important to define research priorities for COPD globally. In this paper, we aim to identify a ranked set of COPD research priorities that need to be addressed in the next 10 years to substantially reduce the global impact of COPD.

    Methods: We adapted the Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative (CHNRI) methodology to identify global COPD research priorities.

    Results: 62 experts contributed 230 research ideas, which were scored by 34 researchers according to six pre-defined criteria: answerability, effectiveness, feasibility, deliverability, burden reduction, and equity. The top-ranked research priority was the need for new effective strategies to support smoking cessation. Of the top 20 overall research priorities, six were focused on feasible and cost-effective pulmonary rehabilitation delivery and access, particularly in primary/community care and low-resource settings. Three of the top 10 overall priorities called for research on improved screening and accurate diagnostic methods for COPD in low-resource primary care settings. Further ideas that drew support involved a better understanding of risk factors for COPD, development of effective training programmes for health workers and physicians in low resource settings, and evaluation of novel interventions to encourage physical activity.

    Conclusions: The experts agreed that the most pressing feasible research questions to address in the next decade for COPD reduction were on prevention, diagnosis and rehabilitation of COPD, especially in low resource settings. The largest gains should be expected in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) settings, as the large majority of COPD deaths occur in those settings. Research priorities identified by this systematic international process should inform and motivate policymakers, funders, and researchers to support and conduct research to reduce the global burden of COPD.

    Matched MeSH terms: Child Health*
  6. Ahmad Z, Jaafar R, Mohd Hassan MH, Othman MS, Hashim A
    Malays J Nutr, 1997 Mar;3(1):83-90.
    PMID: 22692237 MyJurnal
    A retrospective study of anaemia in pregnancy in rural Kelantan was conducted. The study sample consist of 9,860 mothers who had antenatal care at one of the 102 rural health clinics selected and had delivered a live baby. Anaemia in pregnancy was determined by reviewing the antenatal records for the haemoglobin level recorded at the first and last antenatal visit. Estimation of haemoglobin was done either by photocalorimetric methods or the Sahli's method in these rural clinics. At the time of booking, 47.5% of the mothers were anaemic by WHO criteria (Hb < 11.0 g/dl), with 1.9% having less than 9.0 g/dl. Age of mother, parity and late gestational age at the first antenatal visit were associated with anaemia during pregnancy at the time of booking. However, practise of contraception by the mother did not show any association with anaemia in pregnancy. There were 594 mothers (6.0%) who delivered a baby weighing less than 2.5 kg. There was no association between the low birth weight of the child and the status of anaemia in the mother at the last antenatal visit.
    Matched MeSH terms: Maternal-Child Health Centers
  7. Aniza I, Jamsiah M, Amin SA, Ali M, Munizam AM
    MyJurnal
    Introduction : Family Health Development Division is one of the earliest divisions in Public Health Department, Ministry of Health Malaysia. The division has progressed each year with the extension and expansion of the scopes of services since the establishment of Maternal and Child Health Unit in 1956. The services currently include school children, adolescent, adult and elderly health and also known as life-course perspective: from womb to tomb.
    Objectives : The objective is to elaborate and explain the reformation of primary health care services implemented in the past and present.
    Methods : The methodology applied is compilation, data review and comparison from annual report, action plan report, articles, speeches, specialists and stake holder view.
    Results : The focus of Primary Health Care Service is covering health promotion, disease prevention, early detection and treatment, acute disease care, disease limitation and rehabilitation, clinical support services and teleprimary care. The reformation is caused by factors such as globalization, modernization, growth of health market, emergence and re-emergence of diseases, and development of medical technology. Three health fields that have underwent and under going reformation are concept and wellness practise in primary healthcare, primary healthcare clinical support services development and primary healthcare informatics development. The outcome of these reformations is the increment of service quality and outstanding services for patients and health staffs.
    Conclusion : Health reformation in primary healthcare is greatly needed to give excellent services for primary health care for today and future.
    Matched MeSH terms: Child Health
  8. Arhsat H, Tan BA, Tey NP
    Malays J Reprod Health, 1985 Dec;3(2):105-14.
    PMID: 12314737
    Matched MeSH terms: Maternal-Child Health Centers
  9. Ariffin W
    Arch Dis Child, 1994 Nov;71(5):452-6.
    PMID: 7826121
    Matched MeSH terms: Child Health Services/organization & administration*
  10. Arifin SRBM, Cheyne H, Maxwell M, Yousuf A
    PMID: 34040649 DOI: 10.2174/1745017902117010010
    Objectives: Early detection and intervention for Maternal Postnatal Depression (PND) are imperative to prevent devastating consequences for mothers, babies, and families. However, there are no guidelines that explicitly focus on the management of PND in Malaysia. Consequently, it is unclear whether women with PND are receiving proper care and treatment. Therefore, this study aimed to explore Malaysian Women's experience in managing PND symptoms.

    Methods: A qualitative study was conducted among 33 women attending Maternal and Child Health (MCH) clinics in Kuala Lumpur. Data were obtained through a face-to-face semi-structured interview and analysed using framework analysis.

    Results: The women considered PND as a personal and temporary issue. Therefore, professional care was deemed unnecessary for them. Additionally, all Malay women considered religious approach as their primary coping strategy for PND. However, this was not the case for most Indian and Chinese women.

    Conclusion: The findings of this study indicated that women did not acknowledge the roles of Healthcare Practitioners (HCPs) in alleviating their emotional distress.Also, they perceived PND as a personal problem and less serious emotional condition. It is due to this perception that the women adopted self-help care as their primary coping strategy for PND. However, the coping strategy varied between different cultures. These findings underscore the importance of HCPs' proactive action to detect and alleviate PND symptoms as their attitude towards PND may influence Women's help-seeking behaviour.

    Matched MeSH terms: Child Health
  11. Arshat H, Othman R, Kuan Lin Chee, Abdullah M
    JOICFP Rev, 1985 Oct;10:10-5.
    PMID: 12313881
    PIP:
    The NADI program (pulse in Malay) was initially launched as a pilot project in 1980 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It utilized an integrated approach involving both the government and the private sectors. By sharing resources and expertise, and by working together, the government and the people can achieve national development faster and with better results. The agencies work through a multi-level supportive structure, at the head of which is the steering committee. The NADI teams at the field level are the focal points of services from the various agencies. Members of NADI teams also work with urban poor families as well as health groups, parents-teachers associations, and other similar groups. The policy and planning functions are carried out by the steering committee, the 5 area action committees and the community action committees, while the implementation function is carried out by the area program managers and NADI teams. The chairman of each area action committee is the head of the branch office of city hall. Using intestinal parasite control as the entry point, the NADI Integrated Family Development Program has greatly helped in expanding inter-agency cooperation and exchange of experiences by a coordinated, effective and efficient resource-mobilization. The program was later expanded to other parts of the country including the industrial and estate sectors. Services provided by NADI include: comprehensive health services to promote maternal and child health; adequate water supply, proper waste disposal, construction of latrines and providing electricity; and initiating community and family development such as community education, preschool education, vocational training, family counseling and building special facilities for recreational and educational purposes.
    Matched MeSH terms: Maternal-Child Health Centers*
  12. Azidah AK, Shaiful BI, Rusli N, Jamil MY
    Med J Malaysia, 2006 Mar;61(1):76-83.
    PMID: 16708738 MyJurnal
    This is a cross sectional study to determine the relationship of postnatal depression (PND) and socio-cultural practices post-delivery among women in Kota Bharu, Kelantan. Four hundred and twenty one pregnant women were screened for depression between 36 - 42 weeks of pregnancy, 1 week and 4 - 6 weeks postpartum using Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). The women also completed questionnaires on socio-demography, psychosocial support and traditional postnatal care. The prevalence of PND at 4-6 weeks postpartum was 20.7%. Depressive symptoms at the end of pregnancy (p<0.05) and one week postpartum (p<0.05), worry about the baby (p<0.05), use of traditional medication (p<0.05) and traditional massage (p<0.05) were significantly associated with PND.
    Study site: Maternal and Child Health Clinics (Klinik Kesihatan), Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: Maternal-Child Health Centers
  13. Balbir Singh HK, Badgujar VB, Yahaya RS, Abd Rahman S, Sami FM, Badgujar S, et al.
    Hum Vaccin Immunother, 2019;15(11):2544-2551.
    PMID: 31070987 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2019.1612666
    Aim: Mothers knowledge and attitude toward childhood vaccination influence uptake is the most adequate tool and preventive aspects to infectious disease epidemics. The present study assesses and measures knowledge and attitude of postnatal mothers toward vaccination.Methods and results: The present study adopted a cross-sectional study design, whereby 200 postnatal mothers were identified during their postnatal visit to clinics. The subjects were accessed using questionnaire to assess the level of knowledge and attitude of mothers regarding vaccination. The objectives were to study the level of knowledge, the attitude, and to find the association between knowledge and attitude of the study subjects. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 16. The results was analyzed through chi-square test. The association between age (p = .031), education (p = .021), occupation (p = .013), and knowledge score toward vaccination was found to be statistically significant. However, ethnicity (p = .127), employment (p = .197), and mode of delivery (p = .750) toward mothers vaccination knowledge were not significant for the study. Mothers education, age, and occupation were found to be associated with attitude toward childhood vaccination. No association was found between ethnicity, employment, and mode of delivery with attitude of childhood vaccination.Conclusion: More than half of the studied mothers had good knowledge scores on vaccination, more than two-thirds of the studied mothers had good attitude scores on vaccination. However, the religious misconception and fear of autism was the main cause of vaccine resistance in Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Child Health*
  14. Bazlin Ramly
    MyJurnal
    Meningococcal Diseases: Post Men C Vaccination EraMalaysian Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, Vol. 23 (2), December 2017: 36-44© 2017 MJPCH. All Rights Reserved.36ORIGINAL ARTICLEMENINGOCOCCAL DISEASES: POST MEN C VACCINATION ERABazlin RamlyPaediatric Department, Letterkenny University Hospital, Co Donegal, Ireland.AbstractIntroduction: Meningococcal infections are caused by Neisseria Meningitidis and they are manifested in a spectrum of disease in particular meningitis. There are different strains of this bacteria which are A, C, B, W and Y. Mortality rates are from 5-15% with 10-15% suffering permanent disability. After the introduction of Men C vaccination in the year 2000, the incidences of meningitis caused by both Neisseria Meningitidis Serotype C and Serotype B have significantly reduced. Methods: A retrospective study of children whomlumbar puncture was performed with the preliminary diagnosis of meningococcal disease/ meningitis. Total numbers of children were 30 after excluding neonates, those with non-infectious diagnosis and failed lumbar puncture. Symptoms, signs and investigations results were collected in a data collection sheet using the documented data from the patients’ chart. Results: Five children had positive results in either the cultures or the PCR samples sent. None of these children had Serotype C. Three children had Serotype B and 2 others were Serotype W135. Conclusions: There were presence of Nisseria Meningitidis Serotype B and Serotype W135 when blood and cerebrospinal fluid samples were sent. It shows how significant is the value of lumbar puncture to be done to secure a definite diagnosis of meningitis. The preventive strategy to include Men B vaccination in the national vaccination schedule is definite so that death and morbidity can be reduced.
    Matched MeSH terms: Child Health
  15. Benster R, Stanton J
    Br J Hosp Med, 1989 Dec;42(6):488-90.
    PMID: 2611474
    Rosalind Benster and Judith Stanton went to Sarawak to study child health care. Their aim was to highlight areas of most need so that the tiny health budget could be channelled in the relevant directions. They found cultural and environmental differences to account for significant differences in the nutritional status of children from different tribes. They suggest remedies to this situation.
    Matched MeSH terms: Child Health Services/standards*
  16. Binns C, Lee MK, Low WY
    Asia Pac J Public Health, 2018 05;30(4):315-320.
    PMID: 29978722 DOI: 10.1177/1010539518783808
    The widespread availability and use of e-cigarettes in many countries has established the need for an assessment of their effect on children. By the end of 2017 the number published annually on e-cigarettes had increased to 2976 and included 171 papers on e-cigarettes and children. The objective of this commentary is to provide a review and public health perspective on the effects of e-cigarettes on children. There are four public health questions to be answered: 1. Are e-cigarettes and replenishing fluids toxic on accidental ingestion? 2. If children smoke e-cigarettes is this harmful? 3. Does exposure to second hand vapour from e-cigarettes cause harm to children? 4. Are children (adolescents) who use e-cigarettes more likely to begin smoking conventional cigarettes? There were 2229 reported exposures to e-cigarette fluids and liquid nicotine in the USA in 2017 causing cardiovascular symptoms of varying severity. No deaths were reported although the potential is always there. Exposure to e-cigarette vapor is less dangerous than cigarette smoke. However it does damage pulmonary endothelium in experimental models. No long term studies are yet available on chronic diseases although vapor does contain carcinogens. Adolescents who use e-cigarettes are more likely to become tobacco smokers. Because of the accumulating evidence of harm to children great caution should be exercised in widening the public promotion and usage of e-cigarettes. Children should avoid any contact with E-cigarettes or their vapour.
    Matched MeSH terms: Child Health*
  17. Bong WT, Tan CE
    Open Access Maced J Med Sci, 2018 Oct 25;6(10):1928-1933.
    PMID: 30455776 DOI: 10.3889/oamjms.2018.339
    BACKGROUND: Parental anxiety regarding fever may be unwarranted as most cases are owing to self-limiting causes.

    AIM: To assess the level of knowledge and concerns regarding childhood fever among parents with young children in a public health clinic in Kuching, East Malaysia.

    METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among parents recruited from a maternal and child health clinic, with children aged 6 months to 6 years. The participants completed a self-administered questionnaire regarding their knowledge and concerns about childhood fever. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed, and associations between dependent and independent variables were determined.

    RESULTS: Only 26.1% of participants were found to have good knowledge. Knowledge regarding childhood fever was significantly associated with parent's ethnicity, education level, and household income. About 72% of parents were always worried about their child's illness. Three major reasons for their concerns were persistently rising temperature; discomfort caused by the fever, and feared complications of fever.

    CONCLUSION: Excessive parental anxiety due to poor knowledge and misconceptions about fever may lead to poor quality of life and inappropriate management of fever. Healthcare providers may help by educating parents about fever and serious signs that indicate the need to seek healthcare advice.

    Matched MeSH terms: Child Health
  18. Burke S
    N Z Nurs J, 1977 Oct;70(10):14-16.
    PMID: 271909
    Matched MeSH terms: Child Health Services*
  19. CHEAH PEI SHYUAN, HAYATI MOHD YUSOF, ASMA ALI, NOOR SALIHAH ZAKARIA
    MyJurnal
    Food insecurity is normally associated with lower socioeconomic status and improper feeding practices which may consequently affect growth and development of young children. This study aims to assess household food security status and its association with child feeding practices and children’s weight status among low income mothers in Terengganu. A cross-sectional study using convenience sampling was conducted at four public maternal and child health clinics (MCH) located in Terengganu. A total of 107 of low-income mothers between ages of 18 to 45 years with net household income less than RM 3000 who has at least one child aged two years and above were recruited. The instruments used were Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), Child Feeding Questionnaire (CFQ) and weight-for-age child growth chart for children’ weight status at aged one year. Descriptive statistic and non-parametric tests were employed (SPSS 20). Majority of the households were food secure (85.0%). Yet, it is also important to note that about 15% of the household had experienced some degree of food insecurity. There was no significant correlation between household food security and all child feeding practice domains. Most of the mothers had children with normal weight (mean Z-score =-0.72+0.99). There was statistically significant association between household food security status and weight of children at one year of age (p=0.01). In conclusion, majority of the households experienced food secure. Household food security were associated with children’s weight status at early age but not correlated with parent’s child feeding practice.
    Matched MeSH terms: Child Health
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