Introduction: During which HFMD epidemic has kept on recurring worldwide, effective vaccine and specific treatment for HFMD are still not available, calling attention to on preventive practices as the mainstay of the management. Therefore, it is timely to renew the assessment on maternal preventive practices and its predictors in Klang District, Selangor wherein the endemicity and upsurge of HFMD cases has been demonstrated. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from 1st April 2017 until 15th May 2015 among mothers of Community Development Department (KEMAS) preschool children in Klang District. Respondents were selected based on probability proportional to size sampling, whereas data collection was facilitated by validated, and reliable self-administered questionnaire, that examine on the preventive practices towards HFMD. Results: A total of 353 mothers responded to questionnaire, resulting response rate of 80.2%. Most of the respondent were housewife, married and obtained educational level up to secondary school. Insufficient knowledge score (13.61 ± 4.04) was demonstrated, with health belief highlighted on low mean score for perceived severity and perceived barrier, which was 8.30(SD=1.36) and 7.80(SD=2.14) respectively. Simple linear regression revealed significant linear relationship between preventive practices with knowledge and all health belief subscales. Hierarchical multiple linear regression reported predictors of preventive practices towards HFMD, which include knowledge, (perceived susceptibility)2, perceived severity, and perceived barrier, with the group of variables was significantly predicting the (preventive practice)3 and accounted for 13.1% variance in the (preventive practices)3 (F[5,347]=11.588, p value=
Introduction: Despite advancement of treatment modalities, Tuberculosis (TB) treatment interruption rate has glob- ally accelerating, calling for greater framework shifting towards psychosocial intervention. Similarly, Selangor state had reported the perturbing TB treatment interruption rate, which was figured persistently above 10% in the interval year of 2014 to 2018, thus signifies an empirical assessment on Information-Motivation-Behavioural skills (IMB) determinants of TB intensive phase treatment. This study aims to determine the time to intensive phase TB treatment interruption and its prognostic factors among newly diagnosed pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB) smear positive patients in urban district Selangor. Methods: A multi-centric prospective cohort study will recruit 695 newly diagnosed PTB smear positive patients at treatment centres in urban districts, Selangor. This study will utilize validated self-admin- istered questionnaire and standardised data collection form (PROFORMA). At baseline, we will elicit information on IMB models constructs, additionally on socio-demographics, health service factors and clinical characteristics. Meanwhile, four points follow up will be executed to retrieve information on treatment status and time varying effects of body weight, treatment side effects, symptoms improvement and internalised stigma. Finally, survival analysis will be computed to identify the time to intensive phase treatment interruption and its prognostic factors. Conclusion: This study will enlighten IMB model determinants of intensive phase treatment interruption, hence to endeavour psychosocial elements in designing time relevant public health strategies in TB case management.
Introduction: Evidently, stigma has potentially prompted the negative outcome in Tuberculosis (TB) control through delayed diagnosis and poor adherence to treatment. Amidst accelerating treatment interruption in Selangor, little attention is paid to the quantitative assessment of stigma, thus warrant further characterisation of TB stigma in ur-ban districts, Selangor. This study aimed to determine the predictors of internalised stigma among newly diagnosed PTB smear positive in urban districts, Selangor. Methods: A multi-centric longitudinal study recruited 345 newly diagnosed PTB smear positive patients who started TB treatment from November 2018 until June 2019. Baseline assessments utilised pre-tested self-administered questionnaire and standardised data collection form. Using IBM SPSS version 25.0, multiple linear regression was computed to determine the predictors. Results: The response rate was 84.7% with most of respondents were married and attained educational level up to secondary school. Other than low mean score of social support [mean (SD)=33.39(5.86)], the prominent findings were lacking knowledge of anti-TB side effect and wrongly perceived damaging effect of anti-TB drug to internal organ. The mean internalised stigma score was 24.88 (SD=4.70), which predicted by age, educational level (no formal education), employment status (retiree), alternative medicine practice, baseline symptoms score, perceived barrier, and social support, with entire group of variables significantly predicted TB stigma (F [9, 331] =21.476, p