Introduction: Globally, hypertension continues to impose a substantial burden on older populations, and suboptimal medication adherence further compromises blood pressure control while elevating the risk of adverse outcomes. This study set out to determine whether family support is associated with medication adherence among older adults with hypertension receiving primary healthcare. Research Methodology: Fifty older adults with hypertension were enrolled through consecutive sampling in this cross-sectional analytical study. Structured face-to-face interviews captured data on family support (20 items) and medication adherence (8 items); because the resulting scores departed from a normal distribution, Spearman’s rho was used to test their association. Results: Most participants reported moderate family support (60%) and high medication adherence (68%). A moderate, statistically significant positive correlation emerged between the two variables (ρ = 0.569, p < 0.001): participants reporting stronger family support tended toward more consistent medication-taking. Conclusion: Family support emerges as a meaningful psychosocial correlate of medication adherence among older adults with hypertension, suggesting that primary healthcare programs stand to gain from embedding family-based strategies that sustain adherence and improve long-term clinical outcomes.
Introduction: Several studies report a persistently high rate of non-adherent patients globally, with tuberculosis patients failing to comply with prescribed regimens. Adherence rates often decline during advanced treatment phases due to patients feeling cured, treatment fatigue, or obstacles related to access and employment. The aim of the study was to compare TB patient’s adherence to treatment using two instruments: the researchers AMI-TB and the MMAS-8 questionnaire. Research Methodology: This study employed a cross-sectional observational design with descriptive assessments using two adherence-related instruments. No intervention or repeated measurement was performed. The study population consisted of all registered patients diagnosed with tuberculosis undergoing anti-tuberculosis treatment, totaling 489 patients. A total of 148 respondents participated in this study using simple random sampling. Data were collected using the MMAS-8 and AMI-TB questionnaire. Data analysis included univariate and bivariate analyses using an independent t-test with a significance level of p < 0.05. Results: The average treatment status measured using MMAS-8 was 6.48 (standard deviation = 1.48), and using AMI-TB was 59.13 (standard deviation = 4.13). A previously reported p value of 0.005 resulted from a raw-score comparison; this does not constitute a valid test of comparative adherence because the instruments have different score ranges and conceptual targets. Conclusion: The findings describe adherence-related scores obtained using two conceptually different instruments in the participating tuberculosis services. MMAS-8 assesses self-reported medication-taking behavior, whereas AMI-TB addresses selected Health Belief Model perceptions. These results do not demonstrate superior validity, accuracy, or interchangeability of either instrument. Further study-specific reliability, construct validity, criterion validity, and clinical outcome analyses are needed before recommending routine comparative use. Questionnaires based on the health belief model can be used to measure TB patients' adherence to anti-tuberculosis treatment.
Introduction: Social and cultural barriers may limit adolescents’ access to reproductive health information. This study examined changes in reproductive health literacy following social media-based education and explored adolescents’ experiences in Bone Regency, Indonesia. Research Methodology: An explanatory sequential mixed-methods study was conducted in four schools. Two schools were allocated to the intervention and two to the control condition. The analysis included 114 adolescents (57 per group). The intervention lasted four weeks. Qualitative findings were obtained through focus group discussions (12 participants) and in-depth interviews (6 participants). Quantitative comparisons used nonparametric tests, and qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Cluster-adjusted estimates were not reported and require reanalysis. Results: Mean literacy scores increased from 52.4 to 78.6 in the intervention group (a 26.2-point change) and from 51.8 to 55.2 in the control group (a 3.4-point change). The unadjusted difference in changes was 22.8 points. Exploratory platform subgroups showed mean changes of 27.8 points for TikTok (n = 38), 23.4 for Instagram (n = 13), and 29.6 for multiplatform use (n = 6). Qualitative themes concerned privacy, contextual relevance, cultural norms, peer dissemination, and culturally sensitive content. Statistical significance and effect sizes must be reassessed with clustering accounted for. Conclusion: Social media-based reproductive health education was associated with improved measured literacy in the participating schools. Platform comparisons are exploratory, and the proposed Digital Contextual Education Model (DiCEM) requires independent validation. The design does not establish changes in actual reproductive health behavior.
Introduction: Stroke is a leading cause of disability and mortality worldwide and is frequently associated with sleep disturbances that may hinder recovery. Non-pharmacological interventions such as Qur’anic murottal therapy have been shown to induce relaxation and potentially improve sleep quality. This study aimed to examine the effect of Qur’anic murottal therapy on sleep quality among stroke patients at RSKD Dadi Makassar. Research Methodology: This study employed a pre-experimental design with a one-group pretest–posttest. A total of 37 respondents were selected through purposive sampling. The intervention consisted of listening to Qur’anic murottal therapy for three consecutive days. Sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test due to non-normal data distribution. Results: Before the intervention, all respondents (100%) had poor sleep quality. After the intervention, 86.5% of respondents demonstrated good sleep quality. The mean PSQI score decreased from 8.49±2.13 to 4.57±0.93. Statistical analysis showed a significant difference between pretest and posttest scores (p<0.001), indicating a meaningful improvement in sleep quality following the intervention. Conclusion: Qur’anic murottal therapy significantly improves sleep quality in stroke patients. This intervention can be recommended as a complementary nursing strategy to support holistic recovery in stroke care.
Introduction: Child stunting remains a major public health concern in low- and middle-income countries, reflecting not only nutritional deficiencies but also broader social and structural inequalities. This study aimed to analyze child stunting as a socially constructed phenomenon shaped by hegemonic processes, focusing on how power relations, knowledge systems, and structural constraints contribute to its persistence in a local Indonesian context. Research Methodology: This study employed an interpretive qualitative design within a health sociology framework. Data were collected in Jeneponto Regency, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, between February and March 2026. A total of 18 participants were recruited using purposive and snowball sampling, including mothers of stunted children, healthcare workers, and community leaders. Data collection involved in-depth interviews, participant observation, and document analysis. Thematic analysis was conducted using NVivo software, following iterative coding and theme development procedures. Results: Five major themes emerged: (1) normalization of stunting as a non-pathological condition, (2) dominance of biomedical knowledge alongside partial adherence to local practices, (3) unequal access to nutritional and health resources, (4) top-down implementation of health programs limiting community agency, and (5) reproduction of caregiving practices under structural constraints. Data saturation was achieved at the 16th interview and confirmed with 18 participants. These findings indicate that stunting is maintained through interconnected social, economic, and ideological processes. Conclusion: Child stunting is sustained not only by material deprivation but also by hegemonic processes that normalize inequality and shape health practices. Effective interventions should move beyond technical solutions by incorporating community participation, addressing structural inequities, and integrating local knowledge into health strategies. Such approaches are essential to achieve more equitable and sustainable outcomes.
