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@#Introduction: Food security and dietary diversity are critical in ensuring the nutritional and dietary adequacy of mothers. However, since the COVID-19 outbreak, it has become more challenging for mothers to maintain a healthy and varied diet, as more households are reported to be food insecure. Thus, this study aimed to assess food insecurity and its determinants, as well as to determine how it relates to dietary diversity. Methods: A cross-sectional study comprising 200 of B40 mothers with children under the age of two who resided in metropolitan regions of Selangor was conducted. Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) and Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women (MDDW) questionnaires were used to measure food insecurity and dietary diversity, respectively. Results: About 67% of mothers experienced food insecurity and 29.5% experienced dietary monotony. Less than 12 years of education (AOR=4.89, 95% CI=1.87-12.83) and living in a family with six or more people (AOR=3.48, 95% CI=1.20-11.20) were significantly associated with food insecurity. Besides, mothers with a monotonous diet were eight times more likely to be food insecure (AOR=8.03, 95% CI=2.67-24.05). Higher odds of dietary monotony were associated with less than 12 years of education (AOR=2.46, 95% CI=1.13-5.35) and household income contributor of not more than one person (AOR=3.78, 95% CI=1.66-8.60). Conclusion: Food insecurity was associated with an increased chance of dietary monotony among low-socioeconomic women residing in urban community. Therefore, identifying and addressing issues related to poor dietary diversity may allow for preventive and proactive measures to improve their nutritional status and well-being.
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@#Introduction: Hepatic diseases patients are especially prone to malnutrition, which is often underestimated. Screening tools were developed to detect the risk of malnutrition. However, screening tools for patients with liver disease were frequently underestimated. Fluid overload is the main issue to perform nutritional screening in liver disease patients. Therefore, this study aimed to validate the Royal Free Hospital Nutritional Prioritizing Tool (RFH-NPT) among patients and to evaluate association between RFH-NPT, Nutritional Risk Screening (NRS 2002) and Subjective Global Assessment (SGA). Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in 3 phases; transcultural adaptation, criterion validity and reliability phases. Content validity was confirmed by interviewing eight liver disease professionals. Face validity was assessed by surveying forty nurses working in the liver disease ward. In addition, agreement between NRS 2002 and RFH-NPT assessment was assessed using the SGA tool. Results: Eighty patients with liver disease took part in this study. The SGA assessment found malnutrition in 75% of patients (95% CI, 60%–95%) while 80% (95% CI, 65%-80) were found as at risk of malnutrition using RFH- NPT. Moderate specificity and high sensitivity of RFHNPT were 97% and 74%, respectively, and 95% positive predictive value was measured. Conclusion: The RFH-NPT nutritional screening tool is the initial and most reliable in this population to assess the malnutrition risk. Thus, inclusion of the RFH-NPT with NRS 2002 demonstrated positive and a fair agreement between the SGA and RFH-NPT tool to be used as a routine nutrition screening protocol for identifying patients at risk of malnutrition.
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@#Introduction: Fathers’ knowledge, attitude, and involvement in breastfeeding practices are crucial factors to determine the success of breastfeeding outcomes such as decision-making on breastfeeding, successfulness of exclusive breastfeeding, and continuation of breastfeeding practices. This study aimed to identify the determinants of fathers’ involvement in breastfeeding practices. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 203 fathers attending Maternal and Child Health Clinics in Kuala Selangor. Self-administered questionnaires were used to obtain information regarding fathers’ sociodemography, breastfeeding knowledge, attitudes, and involvement towards breastfeeding practices. Results: Mean age of the fathers was 32.1±5.9 years, ranging between 21 to 50 years. Findings showed that majority of the fathers were involved in breastfeeding practices (52.7%; n=107, 57.0±6.2), had fair knowledge in breastfeeding (62.6%; n=127, 13.8±3.2), and showed low attitude towards breastfeeding (68.0%; n=138, 61.9±6.7). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed factors with significant influence on fathers’ involvement towards breastfeeding practices were: (1) fathers’ breastfeeding knowledge, (2) fathers’ attitudes towards breastfeeding practices, and (3) mode of infant delivery. Conclusion: These significant predictors may help healthcare professionals to establish effective strategies by advocating the role of fathers in the breastfeeding process such as by offering continuous support, active involvement, and effective participation.