JH-IIRU Faculty Member Awarded Grant for Child Injury Research In Malaysia

The Johns Hopkins International Injury Research Unit (JH-IIRU) is delighted to announce that associate director, Abdulgafoor M. Bachani has been recently awarded a competitive research grant from the Swami Institute for International Medical Education (SIIME).  The grant, entitled “Preventing Childhood Injuries in Malaysia: Piloting a Home Environment Injury Risk Assessment and Mitigation Program” seeks to develop a better understanding of the burden and breadth of household injuries among children in two districts in Malaysia. 

The project, also involving JH-IIRU associate director Aruna Chandran,  has three fundamental objectives: 1) to develop and pilot test an injury hazard assessment tool that is appropriate for an urban, developing country setting, 2) develop and pilot test an educational pamphlet that will provide information and make suggestions to promote child safety in the home, and 3) develop and pilot test a home-based tutorial program for its feasibility and acceptability as means of disseminating home safety information.

According to Dr. Bachani, the project will continue JH-IIRU’s commitment to collaboration and capacity building by facilitating working relationships with participants in Malaysia, including Faculty of Medicine and Health Services (FMHS), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). The project will also involve mentoring a Malaysian doctoral student.

Dr. Bachani submitted the application along with collaborator, Dr. Kulanthayan K.C. Mani from the Road Safety Research Centre at the Universiti Putra, Malaysia.

“Unintentional home injuries are a major cause of death and disability among children, especially in low- and middle-income countries,” Bachani said.  “I look forward to working with Dr. Mani and his colleagues in Malaysia to address this growing burden.”

To find out more about unintentional childhood injuries, contact us at
IIRU@jhsph.edu