Dr Fairuz Binti Abdul Rani was awarded First Place in the Oral Poster Presentation category at the 9th JKWPKL and Putrajaya and 4th HRC Research Day 2026, held from 6 to 7 August 2026 at Hospital Rehabilitasi Cheras. The event carried the theme “Human Centred Research, Advancing Innovation, Empowering Lives” and brought together healthcare professionals, researchers and leaders in research and innovation to share findings, exchange ideas and strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration.
The event was officiated by Datuk Dr Nor Fariza binti Ngah, Deputy Director General of Health for Research and Technical Support, who also delivered the plenary session entitled “Reimaging Research Impact, Putting People First in the Age of Innovation.” The programme also featured the forum “Human Centred Research, Advancing Innovation, Empowering Lives,” with panel members comprising Datuk Dr Nor Fariza binti Ngah, Dr Carren Teh Sui Lin, Director of the Institute for Clinical Research, Mr Ashran Dato’ Ghazi, Chief Executive Officer of the Malaysian Research Accelerator for Technology and Innovation, and Dr Akhmal Yusof, Chief Executive Officer of Clinical Research Malaysia.
The forum brought together perspectives from healthcare research, clinical research and innovation, with discussion centred on advancing research that remains responsive to the needs of patients and communities. It reinforced the importance of moving beyond evidence generation towards research that drives meaningful innovation, strengthens health systems and translates into tangible improvements in health and healthcare.
The two-day scientific programme also included oral and poster competitions, poster viewing sessions, and expert discussions. Poster presentations were organised across clinical, non-clinical and case report categories, reflecting the range of research represented during the event.
Dr Fairuz presented Abstract 180, entitled “Factors Associated with Out-of-Hospital Deaths among Children Under 5 Years Old in Kuala Lumpur from 2017 to 2021.” The study was undertaken as part of her Master of Public Health research project under the supervision of Associate Professor Dr Nik Daliana Nik Farid. The poster was co-authored by Dr Fauziah Abdullah, Dr Thaneswaran Marthammuthu, Dr Noriklil Bukhary Ismail Bukhary and Associate Professor Dr Nik Daliana Nik Farid.
The research examined the prevalence, causes and factors associated with out-of-hospital deaths among children under five years of age in Kuala Lumpur. Using secondary data from the Ministry of Health Stillbirth and Under-5 Mortality Death Form, the study included 1,001 reported under-five deaths. Of these, 54 deaths, representing 5.4%, occurred outside hospital, with most occurring at home. Conditions originating in the perinatal period were the leading cause of out-of-hospital death, followed by congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities, and diseases of the respiratory system.
The study also identified the factors associated with these out-of-hospital deaths. Non-citizen children had nearly three times the odds of out-of-hospital death compared with Malaysian children in the univariable analysis. In the multivariable analysis, higher odds of out-of-hospital death were observed among children of mothers younger than 25 years, grand multiparous mothers and fathers with primary education only. It is also important to note that 45.6% of the records had missing data for one or more variables, which may have limited the completeness of some analyses and should be considered when interpreting the results.
The study may help inform more targeted maternal and child health interventions, particularly through strengthening home and community-based care, optimising perinatal and postnatal services and improving support for vulnerable families. The association observed among non-citizens also highlights the importance of considering potential differences in access to timely healthcare and support services, although the study did not directly assess the mechanisms underlying this relationship. The proportion of missing data further emphasises the importance of complete documentation in mortality reporting, as high-quality records are essential for reliable surveillance, meaningful analysis and appropriate public health planning.
Receiving First Place in the Oral Poster Presentation category provided recognition of the scientific value of the research and its relevance to maternal and child health. It also provided an opportunity to disseminate findings from a postgraduate research project to a wider healthcare and public health audience and to contribute local evidence on an area of under-five mortality that remains relatively understudied in Malaysia.
The Department congratulates Dr Fairuz Abdul Rani and her co-authors on this achievement and their contribution to public health research.
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