At the 8th Asia Pacific Conference of Public Health (APCPH), held from July 9 to 11, 2024, in Kuching, Sarawak, Dr. Aida Mohd Azlan had the privilege of presenting a key segment of her Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) research. The presentation, titled “Measuring Parental Vaccine Attitudes in Measles Vaccination Program: Cross-cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Translated Malay MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) Attitudes Measurement Instrument,” was well received and earned a merit award from the scientific committee.
This accomplishment marks the commencement of a journey that propels her towards further contributions in the research field. Dr Aida profoundly appreciates the continuous support from her esteemed supervisors, Associate Professor Dr Mas Ayu Said and Dr Nur Afiqah Mohd Salleh, from the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya.
Despite the progress made in Malaysia’s vaccination programs, measles continues to persist, indicating pockets of low MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine coverage. Parents are key decision-makers in newborns’ vaccinations, and their attitudes influence their children’s MMR vaccine status. While many studies and questionnaires on parental attitudes towards the MMR vaccine exist in Western countries, such research is scarce in Asian countries, and none have been translated for the Malaysian populace.
Dr Aida’s study fills a crucial public health need by creating culturally relevant assessment tools reflecting the perspective of Malaysian parents. The validated instrument will improve measles vaccination programs by revealing parental concerns and attitudes, aiding targeted interventions to enhance MMR vaccine confidence and uptake in Malaysia.
The conference further enriched this attainment, providing a platform for her to share a fragment of her research with peers and experts, receive constructive feedback, and engage in discussions on public health strategies. According to Dr Aida, attending and participating in APCPH 2024 was incredibly valuable for her as a student and future public health specialist. She managed to learn from respected panellists, gaining valuable insights.
Additionally, this platform offered networking opportunities with professionals from diverse backgrounds, fostering collaborations essential for addressing complex public health challenges. Participation in such events is crucial for staying updated on current trends, gaining new knowledge, and contributing to advancing public health practices. Dr Aida said, “I am grateful for these invaluable opportunities, which have added key moments to my journey and shaped my learning experiences in public health research, benefiting both academic pursuits and policymaking.”
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