Introduction: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a public health concern globally, characterized by impairments in cognitive process, social functioning, communication skills, behaviours and interests. These problems require mul-tidisciplinary approach through an early intervention programme (EIP) which is remarkably expensive. To date, the knowledge of EIP costs for ASD children in Malaysia remains unknown. The objective of this study was to determine the annual average EIP costs for ASD children from the societal perspective (total average costs, education costs, treatment costs, and living costs), and its contributing factors. Methods: A cross-sectional cost analysis study using simple random sampling according to proportion was conducted among 280 parents of ASD children receiving EIP services in Klang Valley. The data was collected using interview-based questionnaire and proforma. The Ac-tivity-based Costing Technique and Microsoft Excel 2016 were used to estimate the total annual average EIP costs, education costs, treatment costs, and living costs per ASD child. The association between the total annual average EIP costs and its contributing factors were carried out using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25. Results: The total annual average EIP costs, education costs, treatment costs, and living costs per ASD child were estimated at RM15,158; RM3,896; RM1,948; and RM4,409 respectively. There was a significant association (p
Introduction: Adherence towards childhood immunization (completeness and timeliness), with consideration of age-dependent-seroconversion, is the basis for children protection. Despite high global and national immunization coverage, vaccine preventable diseases’ are rising. This study aimed to determine adherence (completeness and timeliness) towards different vaccines of childhood immunization and associated factors among mothers of under five children. Methods: Cross-sectional study design was conducted at a health clinic in Seremban. Total of 320 mothers of under five children attending child health clinic selected via systematic random sampling. Data collection was via validated self-administered questionnaires and proforma, analysed using SPSS version 22. Associations between categorical variables determined by chi-square tests. Results: Consented respondents were 314; resulting in response rate of 98.1%. Adherence (completeness) was 98.09% but only 56.5% - 97.1% of respondents adhered in terms of timeliness. Types of transportation was significantly associated with adherence (completeness), p=0.041. Employment status was significantly associated with adherence (timeliness) towards BCG (p=0.008), Hepatitis B dose one (p=0.018) and dose two (p=0.040) vaccines. Education level was significantly associated with adherence (timeliness) towards DTaP/IPV/HiB dose four (p=0.019). Maternal age and usage of government clinic were significantly associated with adherence (timeliness) of MMR dose one, p=0.030 and p=0.017 respectively. Conclusion: Adherence (completeness) was high but varying adherence towards vaccine timeliness. Transportation types associated with completeness. Employment status associated with BCG, first and second doses of Hepatitis B vaccines’ timeliness. Education level associated with fourth dose of DTaP/IPV/HiB. Maternal age and usage of government clinic associated with timeliness of first dose MMR.
Introduction: With the increasing number of international students joining various universities worldwide, including Malaysia, acculturative stress resulting from their attempts to adjust to the cultures of host countries is one of the most challenging issues affecting their life in general and academic life in particular. The purpose of this study is to determine the level of acculturative stress and intention to dropout among new postgraduate international students in public universities, Malaysia. Methods: a cross-sectional study was conducted among 522 new international post-graduate students joining Malaysian public universities on their first semester. A multistage sampling method was adapted, and data were collected via self-administered questionnaire by using a validated questionnaire. Results: Out of the overall number of 522 respondents, (68.60%) of them were males while (31.40%) were females, the mean age of respondents was 28.95 ±5.91 years. The majority of the participants 60.54% (326) were single, whereas those who are married students represented 205 (39.3%). This study showed that 410 (78.5%) of the new postgraduate international students experienced a moderate level of acculturative stress with a median value of 107.00, while 63 (12.1 %) high level of stress and 49 (4.9 %) experience low level of acculturative stress .Consequently224 ,42.1 % of the participants students they have intention to dropout from the university for any reason , while 298 (57.1 % ) they don’t have any intention to dropout from the university Conclusions: This study showed the importance of educational intervention program among new international postgraduate students towards adapting to the Malaysian culture, in relation with increasing their cultural knowledge and interaction with host nationals and to reduce their acculturative stress and their intention to dropout from the university.