Nutrition education in Southeast Sulawesi Province, Indonesia: A cluster randomized controlled study.

This study evaluated the impact of a nutrition education intervention on child feeding practices and children's nutritional status. Using a randomized controlled trial, we conducted an intervention for 6 months among caregivers with children aged 6-17 months in two subdistricts of Kendari, SE Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. In all, 22 integrated health posts were randomly assigned to an educational intervention or control group with 266 participants in both groups. Participants in the intervention group attended four nutrition classes and received a monthly home visit by cadres (community volunteers), whereas participants in the control group only received standard monthly health care at the health post. The primary study outcome was children's dietary diversity scores (DDSs). Mixed model analysis was conducted to examine the intervention effects on DDS and children's growth adjusting for clustering within subvillages. The study showed the educational intervention had a significant effect on children's DDS. Children in the intervention group had a larger DDS compared with children in the control group (Beta [mean difference] = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.02 to 0.66, P = 0.038). The intervention effect on height-for-age z-score (HAZ) could not be shown (Beta = 0.24, 95% CI: -0.06 to 0.56, P = 0.112). However, stunting prevalence remained stable in the intervention group but increased in the control group. These results indicated nutrition education delivered through nutrition classes combined with regular home visits by cadres as influencers provided a great potential to be adopted to complement other nutrition programmes in community health centres.

The association between climate variables and tuberculosis in Kolaka District, Southeast Sulawesi Province, Indonesia, 2013-2020: a Bayesian autoregressive model.

Background: Tuberculosis is one of the diseases that requires comprehensive treatment. This disease is highly contagious and can be transmitted through the air. Climate factors play a role in the increasing cases of tuberculosis. This study aimed to determine the correlation between climatic variables and TB in Kolaka District, Southeast Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. Methods: This research was modeled using an autoregressive (AR) Bayesian model with three possible likelihoods; Gaussian, Poisson and Negative Binomial responses. Results: Minimum temperature and average temperature, a coefficient of 4.234 suggests that for every 1 degree increase in minimum temperature, there is an estimated increase of approximately four cases, assuming other variables remain constant. Maximum temperature, a coefficient of 17.851 suggests that for every 1 degree increase in maximum temperature, there is an estimated increase of around 17-18 cases, assuming other variables remain constant. Humidity, a coefficient of -13.413 suggests that for every 1% increase in humidity, there is an estimated decrease of around 13 cases, assuming other variables remain constant. Rainfall, a coefficient of -0.327 suggests that for every 1 mm increase in rainfall, there is an estimated decrease of around 0.327 cases, assuming other variables remain constant. Light, a coefficient of -4.322 suggests that for every 1-hour increase in light duration, there is an estimated decrease of around four cases, assuming other variables remain constant. Conclusions: Climate change has a significant impact on tuberculosis through temperature-related factors. These factors influence the prevalence, spread, and vulnerability to TB. Addressing these challenges requires a holistic approach involving adaptation planning. Strong public health systems and healthcare infrastructure can help mitigate the risks and impacts of climate change-related tuberculosis.

Experience of healthcare workers in combatting COVID-19 in Indonesia: A descriptive qualitative study.

Background: The number of COVID-19 cases in Indonesia continues to rise. The roles and responsibilities of healthcare workers are crucial in the battle of the COVID-19. Objective: This study aimed to explore the experience of healthcare workers in combatting COVID-19 in some parts of Indonesia. Methods: This study employed a descriptive qualitative study design. Online semi-structured interviews were conducted in April 2020 among thirteen participants who were purposively selected. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Eight themes emerged from data, including lack of personal protective equipment, lack of referral hospitals and limited facilities, dealing with patients with unknown status, feeling worried about getting infected or being a source of viral transmission, being creative, too long shift and fatigue, being surrender to God, and government issues. Conclusion: Findings of this study could be used as the input for the government, healthcare workers, and the general population in combatting COVID-19.

Correlation between weather and Covid-19 pandemic in Jakarta, Indonesia.

This study aims to analyze the correlation between weather and covid-19 pandemic in Jakarta Indonesia. This study employed a secondary data analysis of surveillance data of covid-19 from the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia and weather from the Meteorological Department of the Republic of Indonesia. The components of weather include minimum temperature (°C), maximum temperature (°C), temperature average (°C), humidity (%), and amount of rainfall (mm). Spearman-rank correlation test was used for data analysis. Among the components of the weather, only temperature average (°C) was significantly correlated with covid-19 pandemic (r = 0.392; p < .01). The finding serves as an input to reduce the incidence rate of covid-19 in Indonesia.

The outbreak of diphtheria in Indonesia.

Diptheria is commonly caused by the aerobic gram-positive bacteria, corynebacterium diphtheria. We herein report an unusual case of diphtheria outbreak in Indonesia in 2017 and its possible causes and current management.

The influence of supplementary feeding by local food and 123 milk toward increasing the nutritional status of 12-24 months children with undernutrition status in southeast Sulawesi province, Indonesia.

Background: Until now, the case of energy protein malnutrition in children is still high in Indonesia. Kendari city, one of the areas in Indonesia with high prevalent of this disease, has a significant increase which risen from 9.2% in 2006 to 15.1% in 2007. Methods: This was an experimental study that was under taken for 30 days. Sample of research was undernutrition children 12-24 months age that came from Puskesmas Puuwatu area and Perumnas in Kendari City that collected by simple random sampling technique. 16 children under five in the Puskesmas Puuwatu area received local food intervention and 16 children in the area of Puskesmas Perumnas received 123 Milk intervention. Results: There was significant difference in the Mean of body weight differences before and after intervention between children group that was given Local food and 123 Milk (p=0,032. Analysis with using paired t test indicated the differences between Z-Score value with BW/A and BW/H index before and after treatment in the children group that received local food intervention (p=0,000). In the children group that received 123 Milk intervention, the analysis result of Z-Score value with BW/A index before and after intervention indicated that there was not any significant difference (p=0,084), while the analysis of Z-Score value of BW/H index before and after intervention indicated the existence of significant different (p=0,000). The analysis that used independent t test did not indicated the significant difference of Z-Score value with BW/A and BW/H index after the intervention between children group that received Local food and 123 Milk intervention. Independent t-test analysis toward difference Mean of Z-score value with BW/A index indicated that there was significant difference between children group that received Local food and 123 Milk intervention (p=0,025). Analysis result toward difference Mean of Z-Score value with BW/H indicated the existence of significant difference between two group of intervention (p=0,028). Conclusions: Supplementary feeding by local food has better result in the increasing of body weight and Z-Score value than the giving of 123 Milk.

Indonesian strategy in reducing Aedes aegypty diseases in ASEAN economic community era.

Indonesia is one of the countries that has a very strategic role in the ASEAN region. The state of readiness of Indonesia in ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) 2015 will involve all elements of the society due to very large population. Economically, Indonesia should be able to compete with ASEAN countries, and human resources should also be prepared. On the other hand, shifts and movements of the people between countries will be increased, this could be a threat for the country. However, those who are ready with the human resources, it might be a positive value, otherwise, it might be a weakness for unprepared countries. AEC era is not only economic power that should be concerned, but also health problems that should be a priority. Nowadays, the Aedes aegypti cases are still high in Indonesia. This paper aims to describe the strategies to reduce the disease, which also be a focus of government.

Epidemiology study of leprosy patients in the district of Bombana Southeast Sulawesi Province, Indonesia.

Background: Leprosy remains a public health problem in Bombana. In 2011 cases of leprosy were recorded for 34 cases or 2.4 per 10.000 population. In January 2012, the number of patients with infectious diseases is increased to 53 cases. Methods: The method used is a survey method with cross sectional approach, with a total sample of 34 people. The epidemiological characteristics of respondents surveyed consisted of the characteristics (gender, knowledge, and personal hygiene), the characteristics of the place (population density), and the characteristic time diagnosed (months). Results: The results showed that the characteristics of lepers many male sex (55.9%), elementary education (58.8%), had less knowledge about the disease (76.5%), did not work (52.9%), personal hygiene enough (85.3%), residential density has not qualified (88.2%) and most likely to be diagnosed in the period January to March (41.2%). Conclusion: The incidence of leprosy in Bombana is still very high and therefore required a treatment in patients on a regular basis and it takes effort to prevent the spread of the disease that can be restricted.