What Does It Mean to "Age Well" Among British and Javanese Older Adults? A Cross-Cultural Qualitative Study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate perceptions of what it means to "age well" and to explore similarities and differences between a Western and non-Western culture (Britain and Java). METHODS: Qualitative interviews explored how Javanese and British older adults defined aging well, establishing the similarities and differences between cultures. Javanese (n = 14) and British (n = 15) adults aged 61-80 (mean age = 68) participated. The data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis and organized with NVivo. RESULTS: Four themes were identified that captured what it means to age well across cultures: (a) good health is a springboard for aging well; (b) holding a positive outlook is a decisive factor in aging well; (c) "having enough" and "feeling safe" provide peace of mind; and (d) spirituality and religiosity provide tranquility. Although both cultures mentioned similar factors, there were variations in the interpretations and emphasis within themes. For example, Javanese participants emphasized the importance of the social environment whereas British participants highlighted the physical environment. DISCUSSION: Differences between cultures are important for understanding how best to support people as they age. For example, in Java, aging well may be best supported by providing a vibrant social environment. For people in Britain, having a safe and secure physical environment may be more important.

The Javanese Cultural Beliefs and Practices Among Patients With End-Stage Renal Disease Undergoing Hemodialysis.

Introduction: Poor prognosis and higher mortality of chronic kidney disease are linked with cultural beliefs and practices. This study explored cultural beliefs and practices of Javanese people with end-stage renal disease undergoing hemodialysis for ≥5 years. Methods: A qualitative narrative inquiry was applied in this study. Data were collected through in-depth narrative interviews, followed by text messages, calls, and audio-visual calls for 6 weeks. Results: There were 14 participants; their mean age was 51.15 years and hemodialysis duration was 5 years and 2 months up to 10 years and 9 months. Four themes emerged: life-and-death acceptance, expectation of end-of-life care, contemplation of withdrawal from hemodialysis, and wishing for a good death. Discussion: Life values guided the ability to survive for the individual. Adherence to renal disease management regimen clashed with cultural values on occasions, such as social gatherings. Therefore, the unmet needs of patients should be addressed with a transcultural approach to modify personal health behaviors.

Genome of a middle Holocene hunter-gatherer from Wallacea.

Much remains unknown about the population history of early modern humans in southeast Asia, where the archaeological record is sparse and the tropical climate is inimical to the preservation of ancient human DNA1. So far, only two low-coverage pre-Neolithic human genomes have been sequenced from this region. Both are from mainland Hòabìnhian hunter-gatherer sites: Pha Faen in Laos, dated to 7939-7751 calibrated years before present (yr cal BP; present taken as AD 1950), and Gua Cha in Malaysia (4.4-4.2 kyr cal BP)1. Here we report, to our knowledge, the first ancient human genome from Wallacea, the oceanic island zone between the Sunda Shelf (comprising mainland southeast Asia and the continental islands of western Indonesia) and Pleistocene Sahul (Australia-New Guinea). We extracted DNA from the petrous bone of a young female hunter-gatherer buried 7.3-7.2 kyr cal BP at the limestone cave of Leang Panninge2 in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Genetic analyses show that this pre-Neolithic forager, who is associated with the 'Toalean' technocomplex3,4, shares most genetic drift and morphological similarities with present-day Papuan and Indigenous Australian groups, yet represents a previously unknown divergent human lineage that branched off around the time of the split between these populations approximately 37,000 years ago5. We also describe Denisovan and deep Asian-related ancestries in the Leang Panninge genome, and infer their large-scale displacement from the region today.

Epidemiology of patients with anterior cruciate ligament injuries undergoing reconstruction surgery in a multi-ethnic Asian population.

We conducted an epidemiological study to identify the demographics and pre-operative characteristics of patients undergoing primary anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction in a multi-ethnic Asian population. A retrospective study was performed on 696 patients who registered in our ACL reconstruction registry from January 2013 to August 2016. Important inter-ethnic differences were found. Indian patients were significantly older compared to Malay and Chinese patients. Malay and Indian patients were more likely to be male, overweight, and obese compared to Chinese patients. Soccer was the predominant sport involved, although ethnic predominance in specific sports exists. Novel findings from this study include increased prevalence of concomitant chondral injuries in the Chinese population compared to Malays and Indians, and significantly higher rates of concomitant intra-articular injuries in soccer and basketball compared to netball. Identification of these high-risk subgroups would serve useful in guiding the formulation of prevention strategies within our multi-ethnic community.

Determinants of nursing students' intention to migrate overseas to work and implications for sustainability: The case of Indonesian students.

High graduation of nurses and limited job opportunities in Indonesia may lead to the emigration of nurses particularly through facilitated migration. This study aimed at identifying the prevalence of Indonesian nursing students with intention to work in Japan and predictors of their intention to migrate as well as having a definite plan to work in Japan. The study adopted cross-sectional design with a sample of 1,407 Indonesian nursing students. Factors associated with having migration intention, as well as a definite plan to work in Japan, were age, residence, and overseas experience. Other factors related to a definite plan to work abroad were family income, mastering a foreign language, knowledge about the nurse migration related to Indonesia-Japan cooperation, and their motivations to migrate to Japan. Sustainability of this international recruitment of nurses is possible by understanding the context of both source and destination countries. Maximizing benefits of migration of nurses for Indonesia and Japan requires structured policies targeting the educational sector and addressing the sustainability issues.

Structural validation of The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) among Filipina and Indonesian female migrant domestic workers in Macao: STRUCTURAL VALIDATION OF PHQ-9.

Within diverse global populations, validated tools are needed to assess common mental disorders. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is one of the most commonly used depression screeners. However, the PHQ-9 has not been structurally validated among female migrant domestic workers (MDWs). Female MDWs constitute a population numbering 11.5 million, and commonly report depression. This study aimed to structurally validate the PHQ-9 among Filipina and Indonesian female MDWs in Macao Special Administrative Region of China. Participants were recruited using respondent driven sampling. Participants were adult female MDWs from The Philippines (N=1375) or Indonesia (N=367) and legally working in Macao. We used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to test five structural models of depression using all PHQ-9 items with the Filipina and Indonesian samples. We applied multi-group CFA to test measurement invariance across samples. A two-factor (cognitive/affective, somatic) model yielded the best fit within both samples, and the multi-group CFA demonstrated invariance across samples. The two-factor model best represents the factor structure of the PHQ-9 among Filipina and Indonesian female MDWs.

New proposed cut-off of waist circumference for central obesity as risk factor for diabetes mellitus: Evidence from the Indonesian Basic National Health Survey.

BACKGROUND: Waist circumference (WC) measurement is practical to define central obesity. However, WC cut-off point might be differ based on different race or ethnicity. This study aims to analyze the optimal WC cut-off point to identify T2DM risk among Indonesian population. METHOD: We analyzed the secondary data of national based cross-sectional study of the Indonesian Basic National Health Research 2013, comprising 24,660 adults aged ≥ 18 years who were assessed for fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). The new proposed cut-off point for WC was calculated using ROC curve analysis and Youden index. The odds ratio of having T2DM was calculated using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Increased WC was associated with worsening dysglycemia status among men and women (p<0.001). The optimal cut-off point of WC for detecting T2DM from ROC analysis was 76 for men and 80 for women. Based on this WC cut-off point, the odds ratio for having T2DM was 1.64 [95% CI 1.45-1.86, p<0.01] for men and 1.90 [95% CI 1.71-2.11 p<0.01] for women. CONCLUSION: The newly proposed WC cut-off point of 76 for men and 80 women can be used to screen the risk of T2DM among Indonesian population.

Recurrent ascending cholangitis with acute pancreatitis and pancreatic atrophy caused by a juxtapapillary duodenal diverticulum: A case report and literature review.

RATIONALE: Intermittent combined pancreaticobiliary obstruction may lead to multiple episodes of ascending cholangitis and pancreatitis, usually due to choledocholithiasis or periampullary mass. However, one of the rare causes is periampullary or juxtapapillary duodenal diverticulum. Although duodenal diverticula are relatively common in the general population, the overwhelming majority are asymptomatic. Duodenal diverticula can cause combined pancreaticobiliary obstruction through multiple mechanisms such as stasis-induced primary choledocholithiasis, stasis-induced intradiverticular enterolith, or longstanding diverticulitis, causing stenosing fibrosing papillitis or a combination of more than one of these mechanisms. Herein, I report a case of Lemmel syndrome due to a combination of multiple mechanisms and review the available literature on the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnostic work-up, and management of juxtapapillary duodenal diverticulum. PATIENT CONCERNS: Multiple episodes of abdominal pain, jaundice, anorexia, fever, and significant unintentional weight loss. DIAGNOSES AND INTERVENTIONS: Primary choledocholithiasis, recurrent ascending cholangitis, recurrent acute pancreatitis, and pancreatic atrophy due to giant juxtapapillary duodenal diverticulum, with unsuccessful endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography that was completely resolved after open transduodenal sphincteroplasty and septoplasty, transampullary and transcystic common bile duct exploration and stone extraction, and duodenal diverticular inversion. OUTCOME: Complete resolution of combined pancreaticobiliary obstruction without recurrence for 2 years after surgery. LESSONS: Surgeons should be aware of such rare syndromes to avoid misdiagnosis and delayed or inappropriate management. Furthermore, they should understand the different available operative options for cases that are refractory to endoscopic approach.

Can Development Programs Shape Cooperation? : Results from a Framed Field Experiment in Indonesia.

Empirical studies among small-scale societies show that participation in national development programs impact traditional norms of community cooperation. We explore the extent to which varying levels of village and individual involvement in development policies relate to voluntary cooperation within community settings. We used a field experiment conducted in seven villages (208 participants) from an indigenous society in Indonesia known for their strong traditional cooperative norms, the Punan Tubu. We framed the experiment in terms of an ongoing government house-building program. The results indicate that there were synergistic and antagonistic interactions between existing cooperative norms and government development policies. Participants' cooperation in the experimental setting was low, probably because the Punan Tubu are used to cooperating and sharing both under demand and in a context in which uncooperative behavior is largely unpunished. Variation in experimental behavior was related to both village- and individual-level variables, with participants living in resettlement villages and participants living in a house constructed under the government program displaying more cooperative behavior. The cooperation evident in resettled villages may indicate that people in these villages are more comfortable interacting in anonymous settings and less committed to the demand-sharing norms still prevalent in the upstream villages. The more cooperative behavior among villagers who have previously received a house might indicate that they recognize that they are now better off than others and feel more obliged to cooperate. Policies aiming to capitalize on existing cooperative behavior to stimulate community collective action should consider the specific conditions under which cooperation occurs in real settings since traditional norms that regulate cooperative behavior might not translate well to cooperation in government-led programs.

Potential forensic implications of kerokan therapy - a traditional Indonesian therapy associated with neck bruising.

Kerokan is a traditional Indonesian treatment involving abrading the skin over various parts of the body with a blunt object such as a coin or a piece of ginger which may create suspicious injuries. Here, the case of a 30-year-old woman who had undergone kerokan therapy is reported. She was complaining of retro-sternal pain and epigastric discomfort and subsequently became markedly short of breath and died. The observation of injuries predominantly located around the neck initiated a police investigation and forensic autopsy. Scattered abrasions, blisters and bruises were present on the forehead, the bridge of the nose extending to the ala, the upper and anterior aspect of the chin and the sternal notch, with discrete fresh and scabbed abrasions around the neck, over the sternum and on the backs of both hands. There were, however, no facial or conjunctival petechiae and no bruising of the underlying strap muscles, or fractures of the hyoid bone or thyroid cartilage. Histology revealed that myocarditis was the cause of death. Traditional practices may cause unusual bruises, abrasions, blisters and burns that may raise suspicion of inflicted injury from an assault. Knowledge of the manifestations of socio-ethnic practices such as kerokan is important in the evaluation of trauma in specific cultural groups.

Gastric microbiota and Helicobacter pylori in Indonesian population.

BACKGROUND: The profile of gastric mucosal microbiota has not yet been described in the Indonesian population where the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori is low. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study analyzing 16S rRNA of 137 gastric biopsy specimens. We analyzed the association between gastric microbiota, H. pylori infection, and gastric mucosal damage. RESULT: Among 137 analyzed samples, 27 were H. pylori-positive and 110 were H. pylori -negative based on culture, histology, and 16S rRNA gene analysis. Significantly lower α-diversity parameters, including Pielou's index, was observed in H. pylori-infected individuals compared with noninfected individuals (all P < .001). Among H. pylori-negative individuals, the permutational analysis of variance of Bray-Curtis dissimilarity distances showed a significant association with different ethnicities, suggesting some ethnic groups had specific microbiota profiles based on the presence of different operational taxonomic units. The linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) of the H. pylori-negative group showed significant associations between the presence of Micrococcus luteus and Sphingomonas yabuuchiae with Timor and Papuan ethnicities, respectively. The presence of Bulledia sp and Atopobium sp was associated with the Javanese ethnicity. We observed lower α-diversity scores in individuals with gastric mucosal damage and profiles with high abundances of Paludibacter sp and Dialister sp based on LEfSe analysis. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest the presence of H. pylori is more correlated with a distinct microbiome profile than ethnic precedence.

Outbreak investigation in cargo ship in times of COVID-19 crisis, Port of Santos, Brazil.

In February 2020, a Chinese cargo ship docked at the Port of Santos with reports of crew members with a feverish and respiratory condition. A team was gathered to verify the existence of suspected cases of COVID-19 inside the vessel and define its clearance. All 25 crew members were interviewed, and no suspected cases were found. The vessel was then cleared for port activities. The investigation resulted from the implementation of the contingency plan to face a public health emergency of international importance and several surveillance entities cooperated.

Classification of induced malaria case in an elimination setting: investigation of transfusion-transmitted malaria cases.

BACKGROUND: Since the National Malaria Elimination Action Plan was launched in China in 2010, local malaria transmission has decreased rapidly. Zero indigenous cases were reported since 2017. However, after 2010, the proportion of imported cases in China increased from 45.7% in 2010 to 99.9% in 2016, and almost all provinces of China have reported imported cases in recent years. Prevention of the reintroduction of malaria into China is crucial for the maintenance of its malaria-free status. Hence, it is of utmost importance to correctly identify the source of malaria infections within the country. CASE INTRODUCTION AND RESPONSE: In 2016 and 2017, three laboratory-confirmed cases of malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum were identified in patients with no previous travel history to endemic areas were reported in Jiangsu Province, China, where malaria due to P. falciparum was eliminated about 30 years ago. These were diagnosed after 41, 31 and 39 days of seeking treatment, respectively, and all of them had received blood transfusions. Further investigations indicated that two of the cases had received blood from foreign students (from Indonesia and Ghana), and the other had received blood from an individual who had worked in Equatorial Guinea. All three blood donors were traced, and found to be carrying asymptomatic P. falciparum infections by microscopic examination and PCR. Furthermore, five polymorphic microsatellite markers (C1M4, C4M62, C13M13, C14M17, and C13M63) were typed and used to link parasites from the donors with those of the transfusion-receiving patients. CONCLUSIONS: Three transfusion-transmitted malaria cases were identified in China, all of which were due to the transfusion of blood donated by individuals who had contracted malaria outside the country. These cases can provide a reference for those faced with similar challenges in malaria case identification and classification in other regions. In addition, a stricter screening policy including the use of appropriate detection methods for malaria parasites should be developed and adopted for blood donation in regions undergoing malaria elimination.

Global HIV Interventions and Technocratic Racism in a West Papuan NGO.

In the era of scale up, global donor-driven HIV activities are transforming NGO work by demanding administrative, technical, and data-oriented activities. Drawing on interviews and participant observation in an NGO in the West Papuan city of Manokwari between 2011 and 2014, I attempt to understand why Indigenous Papuan NGO employees were steadily replaced by non-Indigenous migrant settlers, mainly of Javanese heritage, to deliver HIV services. I show that new rivalries, technical roles, performance targets and efficiency rhetoric intersected with existing racialization to produce a preference for Javanese employees, who were assumed to be more compliant and professional than their Papuan counterparts and to operate more easily within the technocratic regime imposed by donor expectations. I use the term technocratic racism to describe the way that global HIV rationalities intersect with ethnic stereotypes and gendered racial ideas to make possible certain HIV workers and not others. I contribute to anthropological literature on the delivery of HIV services by showing how a technocratic approach to HIV/AIDS intervention intersects with a settler-colonial context to gradually exclude Indigenous employees. Approaches that allow for relational, independent and flexible services would assist to decolonize HIV responses in West Papua.

Knowledge/understanding, perception and attitude towards attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among community members and healthcare professionals in Indonesia.

BACKGROUND: Collaboration between community and healthcare professionals plays an essential role in ADHD care. Therefore, this study aims to identify the level of knowledge/understanding, perception and attitude among community members, primary school teachers, medical students, general practitioners, pediatricians and psychologists in Indonesia regarding ADHD and its association with several related factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study utilizing valid questionnaires to assess the level of knowledge/understanding, perception and attitude regarding ADHD among each respondent group was employed. 1,536 subjects participated in this study. Data was gathered and analyzed using the SPSS version 20.0 for Mac. A chi-square test was used to establish the associations. The value of p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant in this study. RESULTS: Most of the participants showed poor to very poor levels of knowledge/understanding (community members = 56.8%, teachers = 58.9%, medical students = 60.4%, general practitioners = 54.9%, pediatricians = 65.6%, psychologists = 52.1%). The similar results were also found for perception and attitude levels. Several associations were found between practice experience and the level of knowledge/understanding, perception and attitude towards ADHD among general practitioners and psychologists (p < 0.05); educational level and level of attitude among community members and medical students (p < 0.05); practice experience and the knowledge/understanding level in the teachers group (p < 0.05); practice experience and the perception level among pediatricians (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Further education regarding ADHD should be considered either through online media or formal education in order to achieve a better management of ADHD.

Indonesian Public Attitudes Toward Epilepsy (PATE) scale: Translation and psychometric evaluation.

INTRODUCTION: Epilepsy stigma has been associated with poor quality of life among people with epilepsy (PWE). It is important to understand the variation and degree of epilepsy stigma in one of the most populous and culturally diverse nations in the world, Indonesia. Hence, this study aimed to test the validity and reliability of the Indonesian version of the Public Attitudes Toward Epilepsy (PATE) scale. METHOD: The translation was performed according to standard principles and tested in 200 native Indonesian speakers who were aged above 18-year-old for psychometric validation. RESULTS: The items in each domain had similar means and standard deviations (equal item variance), means ranging from 2.17 to 2.86 in general domain and 2.75 to 3.56 in personal domain and, standard deviations ranging from 0.87 to 1.05 and 0.88 to 1.01 in general and personal domain, respectively. Item-domain correlations were more than 0.5 for all items, and they correlate higher within their own domain compare with the other domain (convergent and divergent validity). Multitrait analysis showed similar variance, floor, and ceiling patterns to a great extent compared with the initial study. The Indonesian PATE scale also showed mostly similar correlation with demographic characteristics except monthly income. Principle axis analysis revealed strong factor loading (>0.3) in their hypothesized domain, except item 14. The Cronbach's α values for general and personal domains were 0.836 and 0.765, which were within the accepted range of 0.7 to 0.9. CONCLUSION: The Indonesian PATE scale is a validated and reliable translation for measuring public attitudes toward epilepsy.

Beliefs about medicines in pregnancy: a survey using the beliefs about medicines questionnaire in Indonesia.

Background Many studies examine the use of medicines among pregnant women, however few studies report the pregnant women's belief for taking medication during pregnancy. Individual factors such as patients' beliefs about their medications have been known to influence medication adherence. Objective This study aimed to examine beliefs about medicines among pregnant women in Indonesia and how these varied across pregnancy trimesters. Setting We conducted a cross-sectional survey of pregnant women who had regular visits at 63 community health centres in Surabaya, Indonesia. Methods Participants were approached while they were in the waiting room and were asked to complete the questionnaire. The survey package contained information about the study, an informed consent form, and the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ). Main outcome measure Beliefs about medicines were assessed using the BMQ, which comprises four subscales: general-overuse, general-harm, specific-necessity, and specific-concern. Differences in medication beliefs between pregnancy trimesters were assessed using suitable statistical tests according to data normality. Results A total of 492 pregnant women completed the survey. The majority were aged 21-30 years (57.1%), housemakers (68.7%), and educated to high-school level (51.4%); 92.9% did not have any chronic diseases, and more than 90% took vitamins and/or supplements. The difference between Specific-Concern and Specific-Necessity scores was calculated for each participant, and more than half of the participants (59.6%) were thus classified as having negative beliefs about medications. In the first trimester of pregnancy, women's beliefs about medication necessity were stronger than in the third trimester (p = 0.033). Conclusion Medication beliefs of pregnant women regarding their concerns and the necessity of medication taken in different trimesters of pregnancy were varied. The results of this study highlight the difference in medication beliefs during trimesters in pregnancy.

The Lived Experiences of Indonesian Nurses Who Worked as Care Workers in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Despite the large number of Indonesian nurses currently working as migrant care workers in Taiwan, no studies in the literature have been found that explore this phenomenon or assess the working situation of Indonesian nurses working in care facilities in Taiwan. PURPOSE: This study aimed to elicit and describe the lived experiences of Indonesian nurses serving as care workers in Taiwan. METHODS: Phenomenological research was used to explore the experiences of Indonesian nurses working in long-term care facilities. The participants were recruited from care facilities in Taiwan. This study utilized semistructured interviews conducted with 16 Indonesian nurses in a suitable setting. All of the interviews were transcribed, and the work of Van Manen was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Four main themes were identified, including motives for working abroad, feelings of being trapped, experiencing a difficult journey, and the feeling of being supported. These themes reflect the lived experiences of Indonesian nurses who work in Taiwan's long-term care industry. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses from Indonesia choose to who work as nurses in Taiwan because of poor financial background and the chance of gaining a better life. However, the participants in this study felt stressed, challenged, and disappointed when faced with the unmet expectations of being employed as care workers without a clear career path. Furthermore, the need to communicate in an unfamiliar language was mentioned as a significant barrier to fulfilling their role. Better policies should be put in place to achieve improved outcomes for both countries.

Determinants of age-appropriate breastfeeding, dietary diversity, and consumption of animal source foods among Indonesian children.

Global child feeding practices remain suboptimal. In this study, we assess the determinants of age-inappropriate breastfeeding, dietary diversity, and consumption of 3+ types of animal source foods (ASFs) using 11,687 observations from combined data from the Indonesian Demographic Health Survey of 2012 and 2017. We used linear and logistic regression after adjusting for the complex sampling design. Child's age and quality of antenatal care (ANC) were associated with all outcomes. Socio-economic status and labour force participation were positively associated with higher dietary diversity score, ASF consumption, and age-inappropriate breastfeeding. More ANC visits and having consultation at ANC were associated with more dietary diversity. Higher women's knowledge level was associated with more dietary diversity and consuming more ASF. Compared with western Indonesia, more children in eastern Indonesia were age-inappropriately breastfed and had lower dietary diversity. The Indonesian government needs to develop programmes to improve child feeding particularly in eastern Indonesia, focusing on improving dietary diversity and ASF consumption in poorer households and on prolonging breastfeeding in richer households. Women's labour force participation should be encouraged, but programmes for working mothers are also needed to support continued breastfeeding and to express breast milk. ANC and postnatal programmes need improved consultation sessions for child feeding.

Precarity, Assemblages, and Indonesian Elder Care.

The provision (or failure) of care reflects and produces vulnerability in old age. Reliable and appropriate care widely affects the imagination of "good care" of older Indonesians in North Sulawesi. Yet, their striving for better life goes with the growing chronification of conditions and processes with unpredictable endings. Three factors shape such uncertainty in elder care in North Sulawesi: (1) unsustainable, fragile care arrangements; (2) progressive-degenerative non-communicable diseases and aging impairments; and (3) structural insecurity in elder care and health-care institutions. Older persons mitigate the degree of chronifying care uncertainty by expanding social spaces, but often in normatively less accepted ways.