This is a cross sectional study to determine the attitudes and practices in smoking cessation counselling among dentists in Kelantan and to identify the barriers that prevent them from doing so. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to 152 dentists practising in Kelantan. A total of 84 (55.2%) questionnaires were completed and returned. Although majority of the dentists (98.8%) agreed that they have a role in smoking cessation counselling, only few of them (17.9%) were actually involved in a considerable extent. The main barriers cited were lack of training and time in their practice. In conclusion, dentists in Kelantan believed that they have a role in smoking cessation counselling but their involvement was rather limited.
INTRODUCTION: The intention of a woman to breastfeed is one of the predictors of breastfeeding initiation and duration.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) intention among women admitted for elective cesarean delivery in Kelantan and their postnatal EBF practices.
METHODS: A total of 171 women, mostly Malays, admitted for elective cesarean delivery at two tertiary hospitals in Kelantan participated in this prospective cohort study. The Malay version of Infant Feeding Intentions (IFI) scale was administered one day before the surgery to determine the EBF intention, and follow-up phone calls were made at one month, three months, and six months after delivery to determine the actual EBF practices.
RESULTS: Before delivery, 86.5%, 82.5% and 77.2% of the women somewhat agreed or very much agreed to practice EBF for 1, 3 and 6 months respectively and the actual EBF practices after delivery were 80.1%, 59.6%, and 42.1%. Women who had the intention to practice EBF for 6 months were about 2 times more likely to practice EBF for 6 months than those who did not have the intention to EBF (OR 2.19, 95% CI: 1.01-4.76). No significant association was found between EBF intention and the actual EBF practices at 1 month and 3 months postnatal.
CONCLUSIONS: The number of women who practiced EBF after cesarean delivery was lower than those who had the intention prior to delivery. The number further declined as the child grew older. Prenatal EBF intention was associated with actual postnatal EBF practices at 6 months.