Introduction: The integration of infant and young child feeding into childcare settings is important to the overall wellbeing of a community. To our knowledge, there is no questionnaire at the national context specifically on the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of infant and young child feeding among childcare providers. Preexisting questionnaires are unsatisfactory due to different target populations and validation approaches. This study aims to develop a new questionnaire for assessing the KAP regarding infant and young child feeding among childcare providers in Malaysia. Methods: A new questionnaire on childcare providers’ KAP was developed using literature review, expert opinions, and a theoretical framework. It was developed using a modified Delphi technique in five phases: 1. Identification of the domains, 2. Verification of the identified domains, 3. Definition of the domains, 4. Identification of relevant and representative items for each domain, and 5. Final verification of the domains and items, followed by a pre-survey evaluation. Results: The final items were verified by experts with references to relevant literatures, other questionnaires, and experts’ experiences. A total of 236 items were selected after consideration of their relevancy and representativeness: 104, 90, 42 items addressing knowledge, attitude, and practice, respectively. The questionnaire was named Borang Kaji Selidik Pemakanan Bayi dan Kanak-kanak dalam kalangan Pengasuh, or IYCFCCPQ. Conclusion: The IYCF-CCPQ is a newly developed questionnaire to measure childcare providers’ KAP regarding infant and young child feeding.

The flood disaster in Kelantan in 2014 had resulted in substantial health implications including increased cases of communicable diseases. There was a lack of community preparedness including customized health educations in the prevention and control of flood-related communicable diseases in the affected areas. The research was aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of community-based health education modules on flood-related communicable diseases among communities in Kelantan. Health education modules focusing on major food-related diseases were developed. A non-randomized community-controlled trial using the modules were conducted. Outcomes were assessed on knowledge, attitude and preventive practice scores to flood-related communicable diseases using a pre-validated questionnaire. Independent t test was used to compare mean scores between the intervention community (Tumpat) and the control community (Bachok) at 1-month post intervention. One-way independent ANOVA test was done to compare score differences at baseline (pre), post 1-month and post 2-month from repeated surveys among random samples within the intervention community. There were significant improvements in all knowledge components from 9.4% to 52.6% with 10% increment in attitude scores toward preventing behaviours on flood-related communicable diseases. When compared against the control community at one-month post-intervention, there were significantly higher knowledge on types of diseases, symptoms and risk factors as well as practice scores of drinking safe water and protective habits. This research demonstrated that community-based health education is effective in improving relevant knowledge, attitude and preventive practices among affected communities as part of their preparedness toward communicable diseases related to flood.