Dr Muhammad Solihin bin Rezali, a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) candidate from the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, was awarded the Best Poster Presentation Award at the Persidangan Kependudukan Kebangsaan 2026 (PERKKS26), held from 3 to 5 November 2026 at Berjaya Times Square Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.
Organised by the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) under the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, the conference carried the theme “Menilai Realiti Penduduk, Merangka Masa Depan Keluarga” (Assessing Population Realities, Shaping the Future of Families). The event provided a platform for researchers, academics and policymakers to exchange insights on population dynamics, family development and emerging challenges affecting Malaysian society.
His award-winning poster, entitled “Beyond Childlessness: Men’s Experiences of Infertility Stigma in Malaysia”, presented findings from the qualitative component of his doctoral research. The study brings attention to an often-overlooked dimension of reproductive health by exploring how Malaysian men navigate infertility-related stigma within their personal lives, social relationships and healthcare experiences.
By highlighting men’s perspectives on infertility, the research contributes to a growing recognition of the need for more inclusive, culturally sensitive and couple-centred approaches to reproductive healthcare. It also forms part of a broader research initiative aimed at strengthening the understanding and measurement of male infertility-related stigma in the Malaysian context.
This recognition represents a meaningful milestone in Dr Solihin’s doctoral journey and highlights the importance of addressing underexplored public health issues through research grounded in lived experiences. It also provides an opportunity to raise awareness of men’s reproductive and psychosocial health within wider discussions on population and family well-being.
Dr Solihin extends his heartfelt appreciation to his supervisors, Associate Professor Dr Nik Daliana Nik Farid and Associate Professor Dr Abqariyah Yahya @ Ahmad Noor, for their continuous guidance, encouragement and mentorship. He also acknowledges the valuable contributions of his co-researchers, Dr Chai Chu Ann and Dr Nachiyappan A/L V Annamalai, as well as the support of the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine and the collaborating institutions involved in the research.
The Department congratulates Dr Solihin on this achievement, which reflects its commitment to nurturing emerging public health researchers and advancing research that responds to the evolving health and social needs of Malaysian communities. This achievement serves as a reminder that meaningful public health research begins by recognising experiences that are too often unheard and translating those insights into opportunities for more inclusive healthcare and healthier communities.
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