BKM Public Health and Community Medicine

Food accessibility and its influencing factors during early social restriction period of COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia

2024-10-01T09:33:56+07:00

Purpose: This study aims to assess food accessibility and its influencing factors among adults in Indonesia during the early COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: The research was cross-sectional and conducted using an online questionnaire that assessed sociodemographic characteristics, food access, physical access (enabling factors for individuals to reach food physically), financial access, social support, and coping strategies of the respondents. We included 439 adults, 358 females and 81 males, aged 20-62 years.

Results: This research found that physical access difficulties (aOR=3.945; CI:1.652-9.421; p=0.002), unemployment status (aOR=3.104; CI:1.436-6.712; p=0.004), and lower education level (aOR=2.819; CI:1.036-7.672; p=0.042) were associated with increased inability to access food. Meanwhile, coping strategies for food insecurity conditions (aOR=0.634; CI:0.536-0.750; p<0.001) were protective of the inability to access food (R2=0.298).

Conclusion: People with a high risk of unemployment and low education who will have difficulty accessing food in times of social restrictions should be protected.

Malaria knowledge and self-medication practices among local community of Papua

2024-10-07T07:53:04+07:00

Purpose: Papua Province is Indonesia's largest contributor to malaria cases, accounting for 81% of the national malaria burden. These cases are concentrated in City of Jayapura, Jayapura Regency, Keerom, Mimika, Sarmi, Mamberamo Raya, Asmat, Boven Digoel, and the Yapen Islands. Given this high concentration, there is an urgent need for accelerated efforts to reduce malaria cases, particularly in these areas, to improve the overall malaria situation in Papua. Self-medication behavior plays a crucial role in malaria treatment, but fostering the desired knowledge and behavior around self-medication is challenging. This study surveyed the understanding of malaria and self-medication practices among the local population of Papua.

Methods: The survey involved 100 respondents in areas with access to doctors and community health centers (Puskesmas) in Harapan Village, Jayapura Regency.

Results: While there is strong knowledge about malaria transmission, significant gaps remain in safe self-medication practices, such as improper medication use and storage. These findings highlight the need for better public education on the importance of following medical instructions and seeking timely medical consultation when self-medication fails.

Conclusion: Despite having relatively better access to a public health center, the local Papuan community still exhibits unsafe self-medication practices for malaria treatment. There is an urgent need to improve malaria treatment literacy and educate the community on proper treatment behaviors to ensure more effective malaria control.

Map of the distribution of diabetes mellitus cases and their treatment in the number of health workers and primary health care in Yogyakarta City District 2020

2024-10-11T15:14:39+07:00

Purpose: One of the non-communicable diseases with the highest incidence rate at the global level is diabetes. The percentage of diabetes cases in Indonesia increased from 6.9% in 2013 to 10.9% in 2018. The Indonesian government, through the Ministry of Health, has made efforts to overcome diabetes due to the increasing incidence of diabetes. This study aims to describe the number of diabetes mellitus cases, the distribution map of health facilities, and various elements of the diabetes mellitus management program in Yogyakarta City in 2020.

Methods: Descriptive analysis with quantitative approach using aggregate data at the sub-district level in Yogyakarta City. Data analysis using QGIS applications.

Results: Distribution is shown by classifying the number of cases and the percentage of different diabetes cases in the sub-district, which is described by elements of diabetes management programs.

Conclusion: The distribution of diabetes cases is based on the number of cases with the highest categories in the sub-districts of Umbulharjo, Gondokusuman, and Tegalrejo. Pakualaman sub-district has a very high percentage of diabetes cases coupled with intermediate accreditation status, the number of posbindu is 6-8, the number of nurses is less than 5, the number of health cases, and the number of medical laboratory technology is only one.

Navigating older adults care: insights from caregivers and community health workers in Ngestiharjo, Bantul, Yogyakarta

2024-10-15T12:37:09+07:00

Purpose: This study aimed to elucidate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of older adult caregivers in Ngestiharjo, Bantul, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, towards older adult care and to discern the role of Community Health Workers (CHWs).

Methods: A mixed-methods approach was employed between April and June 2023, encompassing quantitative data collection with a cross-sectional approach from 253 older adult caregivers via a pretested questionnaire and qualitative insights with a descriptive approach from focus group discussions with seven CHWs. The data were analyzed using descriptive analysis and thematic analysis.

Results: The caregivers were predominantly female (67.2%) and over the age of 50 (46.6%), with the most common occupation being housekeeping (34.8%). Knowledge deficits were noted in several areas, with mean scores of 0.53 for depression signs, 0.56 for physical exercise, 0.73 for sleep quality, and 0.79 for fall risk. Caregivers' sleep quality and fall risk knowledge were better than depression and physical exercise. Attitude scores averaged 82.42 ± 20.42 (out of 125), showing moderate confidence in caregiving activities. Practices related to older adult care showed promising results, especially in maintaining a clean living environment (mean Score: 4.08 ± 0.86). The pivotal role of CHWs in bridging this knowledge gap and facilitating healthcare access was underscored.

Conclusion: The study highlights the need for targeted educational programs to improve the knowledge and practices of caregivers, particularly in physical exercise and mental health areas. Strengthening the role of CHWs is essential to enhancing caregiving outcomes.

Evaluation of mercury (Hg) control analysis in water bodies near traditional gold mines

2024-11-18T15:18:19+07:00

Purpose: This study evaluates the mercury content in water bodies around artisanal gold mines.

Methods: This study was conducted in water bodies in the Gledeg, Cimande, and Panaruban rivers, Paningkaban Village, Gumelar in Banyumas Regency as a sampling site for traditional gold mining wastewater by taking three sampling points at locations that are before, right, and after being polluted. Samples were then analyzed using the AAS (Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry) method to measure mercury content. The data obtained were compared with applicable water and sediment quality standards, such as those set by WHO. Sample analysis was conducted at the Research Laboratory of Jenderal Soedirman University. The research time from the preliminary survey, sampling, lab test, and data analysis was conducted from May to August 2024.

Results: The results showed that the mercury content in water bodies ranged from 0.05489 mg/L to 12.3544 mg/L, exceeding the threshold set by WHO (0.001 µg/L), PP No. 82/2001, and Kepmen LH No. 2/1988 (0.001 mg/L).

Conclusion: This study found significant levels of mercury contamination, and further mitigation and regulatory actions are required to protect the environment and the health of local communities.