Introduction: Eating out has always been associated with increasing cases of food poisoning. These problems can be minimized through mobile applications and technology development. A mobile application called MyWarung© was developed to provide an alternative, improved tool for improving food poisoning knowledge and preventive behaviour. Methods: This cross-sectional study aims to assess the feasibility and acceptance of the MyWarung© application for consumers in Terengganu. The 50 consumers were selected based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria using convenience non-probability sampling. The data were collected through a questionnaire that included three components: socio-demographic, feasible (6 components) and acceptable (7 components). The scoring above 80.0% indicates an acceptable, while lower than 80.0% show unacceptable for both feasibility and acceptability sections. SPSS 22.0 has analyzed the data. Results: The results showed excellent feasibility with a median score of 27.5 (IQR 6.0) out of 30.0, and acceptance with 32.0 (IQR 7.0) out of 35.0. Majority of the respondents agreed that the app is easy to use (94.0%), easy to understand (88.0%), attractive (84.0%), catchy (88.0%), provides more information (96.0%), efficient (96.0%), knowledge improvement (96.0%), beneficial (100.0%), useful application (88.0%), and recommend to the other people (84.0%). The overall result showed that most respondents agreed that MyWarung© application was feasible and acceptable with 90.0% and 86.0% feasibility and acceptability rate. Conclusion: The MyWarung© application among consumers can be highly feasible and acceptable in preventing food poisoning during dining out.

Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) causes significant health and economic burden on society. The aim of this study is to estimate households’ direct and indirect expenditures on AGE and its predicted factors. This cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2019 and March 2020 using a bilingual proforma distributed using Survey Monkey among individuals with self-reported AGE in all 14 states of Malaysia. The finding revealed the average expenditure for a single episode of AGE was RM395.58 (± SD 798.02). The mean indirect expenditure was higher at RM259.14 (± SD 379.92) vs. direct expenditure of RM136.44 (± SD 596.47). The highest expenditure was seen among those who obtained inpatient care. The multiple linear regression analysis showed that household income (RM0.13; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.27; p=0.043) and type of healthcare facility (private vs government) (RM1842.05; 95% CI: 395.13, 3288.98; p=0.014) had a significant association with households’ total health expenditure on AGE. Acute gastroenteritis incurred substantial costs on all affected households regardless of care-seeking modalities. Interestingly, the main economic burden of AGE was the indirect cost of productivity loss; interpreted in terms of days away from work. In conclusion, AGE instigated an economic burden on both households and employers. The household income and type of facility were found to be significant factors associated with the households’ health expenditures due to AGE. This study recommends food safety awareness among the public and enforcement of safe food handling practices among food vendors and industries.

Introduction: Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) are considered one of the neglected parasitic diseases that cause major health problems and other related complications. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of STHs and anaemia among school children of little-known refugee communities in Malaysia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 148 refugee school children in the Klang Valley, Malaysia, from 2017 to 2019. Data were collected using a questionnaire, in addition to haemoglobin testing while faecal samples were screened for STHs eggs using the formalin-ether concentration technique. Results: The result showed that the prevalence of STHs in this study was 37.2%. Trichuris trichiura infection was the most prevalent (46.4%) followed by Ascaris lumbricoides (44.9%) and hookworms (8.7%). About 37.8 % of the respondents were found to be anaemic. Binary logistic regression showed significant infection with STHs complicated with anaemia (AOR: 3.67, 95 % CI 1.595-8.5). Conclusion: The evidence from this study suggests proper and strategic interventions to reduce morbidity. An alternative and efficient system is needed to provide the schoolchildren with basic care for sanitation and health provision. It is recommended that voluntary clinics provided by non-government organisations focus on counselling and advice on personal hygiene of the children.

The bioefficacy of Piper aduncum L. essential oil formulated in aerosol cans was evaluated against Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus in a simulated room. The aerosol spray test was based on the Malaysian test standard for aerosol (MS 1221:1991UDC 632.982.2 modified from WHO 2009 methodology) and examined the knockdown effect within 20 minutes of exposure. Mortality rate after 24 hour of holding period was also determined. A commercial aerosol spray (0.09% prallethrin 0.05% d-phenothrin) was also tested as a comparison. Our results showed that the knockdown effect of the commercial aerosol spray and P. aduncum essential oil spray (8% and 10% concentrations) was significantly higher in Ae. albopictus adult females, when compared with that of Ae. aegypti adult females (P<0.05). There was a significant difference in knockdown between commercial aerosol spray and essential oil spray for both Aedes spp. (P<0.05). The essential oil induced significantly higher mortality in Ae. aegypti (80%) than in Ae. albopictus (71.6%) (P<0.05). The commercial aerosol spray caused 97.7% and 86.5% mortality against Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus respectively (P<0.05). Based on these data, P. aduncum essential oil has the potential to be used as an aerosol spray against Aedes spp.