Prevalence of tuberculosis infection and its relationship to stunting in children (under five years) household contact with new tuberculosis cases.

BACKGROUND: Children who inhabit the same house with tuberculosis (TB) patients are at high risk for infection and illness with TB. Nutritional status (stunting) in children is related to the child's ability to withstand MTB (Mycobacterium Tuberculosis). This study aims to estimated the prevalence of tuberculosis infection and its relationship to stunting in children (under five years) with household contact (HHC) with new TB cases. METHODS: A cross-sectional design was implemented. Conducted in July 2018-April 2019 at 13 Public Health Center in Makassar City. The sample size was calculated using one sample situation-about precision formula. Samples were children under five who had contact with new diagnosed TB cases. Tuberculosis infection was measured by TST (tuberculin skin test). Logistic regression with causal model to examine TB infection relationship with stunting and covariate variable, analyzed using Stata/MP 13.0 software. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-six (126) eligible children. Prevalence of tuberculosis infection was 38.10%. Frequency of stunted was 31 children (24.60%). Stunted nutritional status (aPR): 2.36, 95% CI 1.60-3.44), boys (aPR: 1.47, 95% CI 0.96-2.25), not getting BCG immunization (aPR: 1.58, 95%) CI 0.89-2.82), and high contact intensity (aPR: 2.62, 95% CI 1.10-6.22) best predicted the tuberculosis infection in children with TB case household contacts with a model contribution of 64%. CONCLUSION: Stunted nutritional status (moderate and severe), boys, not getting BCG immunization, and high contact intensity are the determinants of TB infection transmission in children HHC with TB. Children under five years of age who have close contact with TB cases should be targeted for priority interventions to prevent the transmission of TB infection and progressing to TB cases.

Kiddie Doctors Education Strategy in Improving the Knowledge, Attitude, and Oral Hygiene Status of Elementary School Children.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the improvement in the knowledge, attitude, and oral hygiene scores of elementary school children after being provided education by kiddie doctors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A quasi-experiment design with pretest-posttest control group model was conducted on 143 students belonging ages 8-12 years old in two selected elementary schools. Kiddie doctors educated their peers three times at four-week intervals. Baseline data were collected a week before the education, and the final data were collected a month after the third education session. Data regarding knowledge and attitude were collected using questionnaires filled in by the respondents. The oral hygiene index simplified (OHIS) and patient hygiene performance (PHP) index data were obtained through intra-oral examinations. Data were analyzed using dependent and independent t tests and multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS: After receiving education, there was a change in the knowledge, attitude, OHIS, and PHP scores (P = 0.005). Kiddie doctors were estimated to decrease the OHIS and PHP scores by 0.312 and 0.579 points, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The education provided by kiddie doctors improved the knowledge, attitude, and oral hygiene status of children. Kiddie doctors could help health workers who are still constrained in routine promotional activities.