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Indonesia Indonesia is in the third rank of countries with the highest tuberculosis (TB) globally, with TB case detection still below 70%. The strategy in the TB control program to increase TB case detection is community partnership through the TB community. However, the role of this community in detecting TB suspects has never been reported. This study aimed to determine the role of the TB community in detecting TB suspects in the Probolinggo Regency. This research is descriptive qualitative research. The population was all TB community members is 130 people. The sample was a purposive sampling method, consideration until it met the data saturation, namely 29 respondents. The data were collected employing interviewed sheets, then analyzed with thematic content. Data triangulation by Head of Infectious Diseases, the Probolinggo Regency Health and five people from each TB community at Puskesmas. From the interviews, it was found that 23 people (79%) could not invite TB suspects to undergo examination, and 25 people (86%) had conducted counselling but were still unable to explain and convince the community of the importance of medical examinations for TB suspects. It is necessary to increase the capacity of TB community members to improve their roles in detecting TB cases.

Abstract Background Sputum smear microscopy is the standard diagnostic method for detection of smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). Insufficient quality of sputum might result in missing cases. In this study we aimed at assessing the quality of sputum in a district in Central Java and determining patient and health worker factors associated with submission of three good quality sputum samples. Methods In 16 health centers information was collected on the quality of sputum submitted by TB suspects, i.e. volume, color, and viscosity. TB suspects were interviewed to assess their knowledge of TB, motivation to provide sputum and whether they were informed why and how to produce a sputum sample. Health workers were interviewed to assess what information they provided to TB suspects about the reason for sputum examination, methods to produce sputum and characteristics of a good quality sputum sample. All health worker and patient factors were evaluated for association with sputum quality. Results Of 387 TB suspects, 294 (76.0%) could be traced and interviewed, and of 272 (70.3%) information about sputum quality was available. Of those 203 (74.6%) submitted three samples, 90 (33.1%) provided at least one good sample, and 37 (13.6%) provided three good quality sputum samples. Of the 272 TB suspects, 168 (61.8%) mentioned that information on the reason for sputum examination was provided, 66 (24.3%) remembered that they were informed about how to produce sputum and 40 (14.7%) recalled being informed about the characteristics of good quality sputum. Paramedics reported to provide often/always information on the importance of sputum examination, and when to produce sputum. Information on how to produce sputum and characteristics of a good sputum sample was less often provided. None of the studied patient characteristics or health worker factors was associated with providing good quality sputum. Conclusion A considerable number of TB suspects did not provide three sputum samples and a large number of sputum samples were of insufficient quality. Training of health workers in providing health education to the TB suspect about the reason for sputum examination and how to produce a good quality sputum sample should be a priority of the TB program.

Background: Children living in agricultural areas are at risk of exposure to pesticides due to their involvement in agricultural activities. Pesticides are one of the chemicals classified as endocrine disrupting chemicals. Objective: To examine the association between exposure to organophosphate pesticides and the occurrence of thyroid dysfunction in children. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 66 children in two elementary schools located in an agricultural area in Brebes District, Indonesia, in 2015. To determine the pesticide exposure history, we analyzed urine samples and completed a questionnaire. Meanwhile, thyroid function tests were performed. Results: Organophosphate pesticide metabolites were detected in urine samples of 15 (23%) of 66 children. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels >4.5 μIU/mL were detected in 24 (36%) children. Free thyroxine (FT4) levels of all participants were normal. The mean TSH level in children with positive urinary organophosphate pesticide metabolites (7.74 µIU/mL) was significantly (p=0.005) higher than that in those who were negative (4.34 µIU/mL). The prevalence of hypothyroidism in children with positive urinary organophosphate pesticide metabolites (67%) was significantly higher than that in those who were negative (27%; PR 2.4, 95% CI 1.4 to 4.3). Conclusion: A history of pesticide exposure could be used as a risk factor for the occurrence of thyroid dysfunction in children living in agricultural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to find out the relationship between age, gender, fat intake, obesity, physical activity, and tobacco smoke exposure with fasting hyperglycemia among adults, belonging as participants in PROLANIS programme at Puskesmas Kedungmundu, one of primary health care in Semarang City. The study was conducted on 100 adults using accidental sampling technique, consisting of 74 women and 26 men. The study design used is cross sectional. Fasting hyperglycemia is defined when blood glucose is above 130 mg/dl, physical activity measurement using the PAL, FFQ and Food Recall to measure the intake of fat, nutritional status measurement using the BMI, and interviews to determine the age, sex, and history of tobacco smoke exposure. The average fasting blood sugar was 104.2 mg / dl, the mean of fat intake was 70 grams / day, and the mean BMI of 23.9 kg / m2. The prevalence of fasting hyperglycemia was higher in the majority of women (14,9%), p=0,551. It was also higher among respondents aged above 40 years old (16,7%), p=0.302; among them who had excess fat intake (15.2%), p=0.564; among obesity respondents (21.1%), p=0,061, among them who had sedentary physical activity (11.8%), p=0.791; and exposed to smoke (15.1%%), p=0.716. There were no associations between age, gender, fat intake, obesity, physical activity, and tobacco smoke exposure with fasting hyperglycemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sputum smear microscopy is the standard diagnostic method for detection of smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). Insufficient quality of sputum might result in missing cases. In this study we aimed at assessing the quality of sputum in a district in Central Java and determining patient and health worker factors associated with submission of three good quality sputum samples. Methods: In 16 health centers information was collected on the quality of sputum submitted by TB suspects, i.e. volume, color, and viscosity. TB suspects were interviewed to assess their knowledge of TB, motivation to provide sputum and whether they were informed why and how to produce a sputum sample. Health workers were interviewed to assess what information they provided to TB suspects about the reason for sputum examination, methods to produce sputum and characteristics of a good quality sputum sample. All health worker and patient factors were evaluated for association with sputum quality. Results: Of 387 TB suspects, 294 (76.0%) could be traced and interviewed, and of 272 (70.3%) information about sputum quality was available. Of those 203 (74.6%) submitted three samples, 90 (33.1%) provided at least one good sample, and 37 (13.6%) provided three good quality sputum samples. Of the 272 TB suspects, 168 (61.8%) mentioned that information on the reason for sputum examination was provided, 66 (24.3%) remembered that they were informed about how to produce sputum and 40 (14.7%) recalled being informed about the characteristics of good quality sputum. Paramedics reported to provide often/always information on the importance of sputum examination, and when to produce sputum. Information on how to produce sputum and characteristics of a good sputum sample was less often provided. None of the studied patient characteristics or health worker factors was associated with providing good quality sputum. Conclusion: A considerable number of TB suspects did not provide three sputum samples and a large number of sputum samples were of insufficient quality. Training of health workers in providing health education to the TB suspect about the reason for sputum examination and how to produce a good quality sputum sample should be a priority of the TB program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescent hypertension is emerging as a significant health challenge. Peer-led interventions utilizing engaging multimedia platforms have demonstrated the potential to enhance prevention behaviors among adolescents. However, there remains a gap in the literature comparing the effectiveness of multimedia intervention with traditional lecture-based approach in adolescent hypertension prevention in Indonesia. The aim of this study was to compare the traditional lecture-based approach and interactive multimedia intervention (e-module, animated videos, and infographics) on adolescents' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding adolescent hypertension prevention. A quasi-experimental study with pre-test and post-test control group study was conducted from June to December 2023 in two senior high schools in districts of Pedurungan and Kedungmundu, Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia. To prepare the multimedia model, the Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation (ADDIE) framework and mapping intervention approach were employed to ensure effective decision-making at each step. A total of 100 high school students were involved, with 50 assigned to the intervention group and 50 to the control group. The intervention group received a multimedia model from the peer educators, while the control group received a traditional PowerPoint-based presentation from the community healthcare workers. The hypertension prevention knowledge, attitude, and practice were assessed using validated questionnaires with 20, 15, and 15 items, respectively. This study found that, after model implementation, significant improvements were observed in students' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding hypertension prevention (all had p <0.001). Specifically, knowledge scores increased by 4.78 points, attitude scores by 10.64 points, and practice scores by 2.9 points. This study highlights that multimedia interventions could significantly improve hypertension prevention behaviors among adolescents by enhancing their knowledge, attitudes, and practices through engaging and interactive multimedia materials., Competing Interests: All the authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

Background: WHO initiated lymphatic filariasis (LF) elimination globally. Pekalongan District, as LF endemic area, started a program of mass drug administration (MDA) to combat LF in 2015. This study aimed to determine prevalence of Wuchereria bancrofti infection prior to the MDA., Methods: LF infection was detected by the existence of circulating filarial antigen (CFA) W. bancrofti using immunochromatographic card test (ICT). The study population consisted of 1404 elementary school (ES) students living in Pekalongan District. Overall, 1033 were selected as study subjects. Prevalence survey was also conducted on 436 general population in areas where infected students were found., Results: The subjects ranged from 7-17 yr old (mean 9.85±1.296) and equally distributed between both sexes. Prevalence of W. bancrofti infection was 1.98% in children. Infection was mostly found in older students (12 yr old), male, in 6th grade, but did not differ significantly ( P =0.129, 0.376, and 0.212 respectively). On the other hand, distribution of infection was significantly different by school ( P =0.009) and sub-district ( P =0000). Most of children with LF infection were found in Tirto Sub District. In general population, the prevalence of W. bancrofti infection in Tirto was 4.4%. Proportion of infection in males (12.2%) was greater than females (3.8%), with 78.9% of positive cases were in adult over 20 yr old., Conclusion: Cases of W. bancrofti infection exist in Pekalongan District, both in children and adults. Implementation of MDA must be carefully monitored in order to achieve elimination target., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests.

Prevention and control of leptospirosis require an understanding of risk factors. This review identifies risk factors associated with leptospirosis infection from countries in the Asia-Pacific region, and compares and contrasts these data with those available from Indonesia. MEDLINE, PubMed, and Scopus databases were used to search for relevant articles. Indonesian gray literature was searched for leptospirosis risk factor studies in Indonesia. A total of 34 articles were included in this review. The contrast between peer-reviewed publications and Indonesian gray literature revealed that the variety of risk factors associated with leptospirosis infection is region or area specific. The presence of skin wounds, the existence of rodents, especially rats, and activities related to contact with contaminated surface water are factors frequently reported to have significant association with leptospirosis infection in human in Indonesia and in other Asia-Pacific countries.