DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study conducted between August 2008 and August 2009 using three methods: interviews, focus group discussions and analyses of government reports.
SETTING: The study was conducted in rural and urban areas in Manila and Calabanga (Philippines), Selangor and Kuala Selangor (Malaysia), and Padang, Pariaman Tanah Datar and Limapuluh Kota (West Sumatra, Indonesia).
SUBJECTS: Adults aged 18 to 77 years.
RESULTS: The results showed that Filipinos, Malaysians and Indonesians have retained many aspects of their traditional diets. In fact, most participants in the study considered Western-style and franchise fast foods as snack or recreational foods to be consumed once in a while only. However, a significant difference was noted between urban and rural areas in food varieties consumed. Participants in urban areas consumed more varieties of traditional foods owing to their availability and the participants’ food purchasing power. Although traditional food patterns were maintained by most of the participants, more sugar and vegetable oils were consumed and added to the traditional recipes.
CONCLUSIONS: The rapid nutrition transition in this region may be due, instead, to increasing food availability and food purchasing power, rather than to a shift in food preferences towards modern Western foods.
OBJECTIVE: To obtain profile, accuracy and concordance rates of ovarian intraoperative consultation in Dr. Soetomo Hospital Surabaya, a teaching hospital in Indonesia.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Observational retrospective study, using data from archives of intraoperative consultation reports in Dr. Soetomo General Hospital Surabaya within 2012-2016 period. There were 734 cases of ovarian intraoperative consultations, all then proceed to permanent sections. Accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity rates were calculated.
RESULTS: Overall accuracy was 89.5%. Sensitivity for benign, borderline and malignant cases were 98.49%, 71.19% and 84.01%, respectively. Specificity were 90.32%, 95.11% and 98.72%, respectively.
CONCLUSION: Intraoperative consultation for ovarian tumours has a reliable diagnostic value in benign and malignant lesion, but lower value in borderline tumours.
AIM: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between Soil Transmitted Helminth infection on levels of eosinophils among primary school children. In addition, this study also aimed to determine the prevalence of different types of worm infections and the levels of eosinophils in children infected with worms.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study was analytic observational using a cross-sectional method. The sampling technique was consecutive and in total 132 samples was obtained. The study involved primary school children in Amplas Medan and Hamparan Perak, Deli Serdang through May to October 2016. Univariate analysis was performed to determine STH infection prevalence and bivariate analysis was used to find the correlation between STH infection and eosinophil levels through a Chi square (χ2) test.
RESULTS: The results showed that the prevalence of Soil Transmitted Helminth was 7.6%. The most common types of STH infection were 3.8% with Trichuris trichiura and 3% with Ascaris lumbricoides. A significant correlation was found between Parasite infection and eosinophil levels (Contingency Coefficient (C) = 0.2, χ2 = 5.3, p = 0.021) and the risk of STH infection that caused eosinophilia or increased eosinophil levels in the children with a Prevalence Ratio (PR) of 1.56 (Confidence Interval (CI) 95%: 1.10-2.22).
CONCLUSION: It is recommended that schools at similar risk improve and maintain hygiene and healthy behaviour in the school environment and that parents and teachers pay greater attention to the cleanliness of their children.
Objective: The Asian Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Expert Panel on Atopic Dermatitis developed this reference guide to provide a holistic and evidence-based approach in managing AD among Asians.
Methods: Electronic searches were performed to retrieve relevant systematic reviews and guidelines on AD. Recommendations were appraised for level of evidence and strength of recommendation based on the U.K. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network guidelines. These practice points were based on the consensus recommendations discussed during the Asia Pacific Meeting of Experts in Dermatology held in Bali, Indonesia in October 2016 and April 2017.
Results: The Expert Panel recommends an approach to treatment based on disease severity. The use of moisturizers is recommended across all levels of AD severity, while topical steroids are recommended only for flares not controlled by conventional skin care and moisturizers. Causes of waning efficacy must be explored before using topical corticosteroids of higher potency. Topical calcineurin inhibitors are recommended for patients who have become recalcitrant to steroid, in chronic uninterrupted use, and when there is steroid atrophy, or when there is a need to treat sensitive areas and pediatric patients. Systemic steroids have a limited role in AD treatment and should be avoided if possible. Educational programs that allow a patient-centered approach in AD management are recommended as an adjunct to conventional therapies. Recommendations on the use of phototherapy, systemic drugs, and emerging treatments are also included.
Conclusion: The management of AD among Asians requires a holistic approach, integrating evidence-based treatments while considering accessibility and cultural acceptability.
OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the level of the involvement of men in PNC and analyzed the factors that determined this involvement.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted through a survey of 381 males who were selected by multistage random sampling in Muaro Jambi, Indonesia, from April to August 2020. The dependent variable was the involvement of men in PNC, which was constructed from four dichotomous indicators. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed using SPSS 24.0 at a significance level of 0.05.
RESULTS: Over 50% of respondents were highly involved in PNC, with the predicting factors being the number of children (OR = 2.195, 95% CI = 1.096-4.397), the quality of health service (OR = 6.072, 95% CI = 3.324-11.09), communication (OR = 6.908, 95% CI = 3.255-14.66), and culture (OR = 4.031, 95% CI = 2.196-7.399). The communication factor was the main predictor of male involvement in PNC in Muaro Jambi Regency.
CONCLUSION: The involvement of men in PNC in Muaro Jambi Regency was related to the number of children, quality of health service, communication, and culture. Counseling "as a couple" is needed to improve the communication between husband and wife so that they can understand each other's needs in PNC.
METHODS: This study was conducted in December 2017-February 2018 in the dental department of Labuang Baji, which is a government hospital and Ibnu Sina Hospital, which is a private hospital. The samples were all patients who received dental treatment. Patient satisfaction was measured using a questionnaire (PSQ-18). Data were tested using Independent T-Test and ANOVA using SPSS version 24.
RESULTS: There were significant differences in accessibility, comfort, and communication between the public and private hospitals (p<0.05); the average value of patient satisfaction was higher in private hospitals.
CONCLUSION: Patients in private hospitals are more satisfied with the health services provided by health care providers, compared to patients in public hospitals.