BKM Public Health and Community Medicine

Household food security and WASH practices in children with undernutrition: a case study in low middle income area in Semarang, Indonesia

Hema Dewi Anggraheny, M. Riza Setiawan, Esti Widiasih, Ernanda Candra Dewi — Mon, 27 May 2024 13:35:35 +0700

Purpose: This study analyzed the correlation between household food security (HFS) and WASH practices toward nutritional status in children with undernutrition.

Methods: This type of research was analytically observational with a cross-sectional design. The sample in this study was 55 mothers with children with a history of undernutrition aged 6 to 23 months. The Rank Spearman test was conducted to analyze this study.

Results: The prevalence of stunted and severely stunted was 34.55%, respectively; underweight and severely underweight were 36.36%, respectively; and wasted and severely wasted were 30.91 and 16.36% respectively. The percentage of respondents with mild, moderate, and severe food insecurity were 23.6, 7.3, and 12.7% respectively. The average value of WASH practices was rated as good among all respondents. Household food security score was associated with WAZ (p=0.008 and r=0.352) and HAZ (p=0.027 and r=0.299) but was not associated with WHZ (p=0.067; r=0.248). WASH practice was associated with WAZ (p=0.000; r=0.504), HAZ (p=0.000; r=0.455), and WHZ (p=0.000; r=0.334).

Conclusion: There were still conditions of severe food insecurity and undernutrition problems that need the focus of attention. There is a need for monitoring by looking at certain aspects, such as HFS and WASH practices in reducing undernutrition.

Prevalence and health-seeking behavior of leprosy patients at Universitas Mataram Hospital

Wayan Julita Krisnanti Putri, Yunita Hapsari, Dinie Ramdhani Kusuma — Thu, 30 May 2024 12:52:29 +0700

Purpose: This study aims to acknowledge leprosy patients' prevalence and health-seeking behavior at the outpatient clinic of UNRAM Hospital.

Methods: This study used a retrospective cohort design of leprosy patients from January 2021 to April 2023.

Results: There were 40 leprosy patients, including 35 patients (87.5%) with multibacillary type, and five patients (12.5%) were identified as paucibacillary type. This study included 21 men (52.5%) and 19 women (47.5%). Based on age, the most frequent group came from people aged around 26-45 years old (45%). There were 16 unemployed patients (40%) and 14 (35%) senior high school graduates. Mataram had the most leprosy cases (52.2%) in UNRAM hospital. There were 20 cases (50%) of Type 1 reaction and 32 patients (80%) who received multidrug therapy. There were 21 patients (52.5%) who developed a disability. Most patients (45%) came to the clinic several times yearly. They were mostly female (56%), while men went to the clinic at least once yearly (67%). Patients under 45 (67%) and those with lower educational levels (78%) came more frequently than other groups.

Conclusion: The prevalence of the study is important for realizing the burden of the disease and establishing a preventive approach towards leprosy. The role of health providers is important in engaging the awareness of leprosy patients’ self-care because it is important to prevent serious disabilities.