Sungkai (Peronema canescens) leaves are traditionally used in Indonesia to support general health and immune function; however, information on community perceptions and patterns of use remains limited. This study aimed to assess community perceptions of sungkai leaves as a traditional preparation for supporting immune health and to identify sociodemographic factors associated with regular use. An analytical cross-sectional survey was conducted from April to June 2025 among 240 adults in Banyumas, Cilacap, Purbalingga, and Banjarnegara Regencies, Central Java. Participants were recruited using purposive sampling. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews and Google Forms using a validated structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multivariable binary logistic regression. Overall, 62.9% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that sungkai leaf preparations may help support immune health, while 24.6% were neutral and 12.5% disagreed or strongly disagreed. A total of 136 respondents (56.7%) had used sungkai leaves, and 81 (59.6%) reported regular use in the previous month. Age, educational attainment, and domicile were significantly associated with regular use. Respondents aged >55 years had higher odds of regular use than those aged 18–35 years (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=2.61, 95% CI=1.38–4.92). Rural residents (aOR=2.13, 95% CI=1.22–3.71) and respondents with primary or junior high school education (aOR=1.84, 95% CI=1.07–3.14) also had higher odds of regular use. In conclusion, communities generally view sungkai leaves positively as a traditional preparation that supports immune health. These findings reflect perceptions and reported use rather than clinical efficacy. Further pharmacological, toxicological, and clinical studies are needed to establish their safety and potential health effects.
Stunting is a chronic nutritional issue and serves as a key indicator for assessing child health. Tangse Subdistrict, located in a highland area of Pidie Regency, shows a concerning prevalence of stunting among children. This study analyzed the spatial distribution of stunting cases in Tangse using GIS-based mapping technology. It was a descriptive observational study that utilized secondary data from the Tangse Health Center and was conducted from May to June 2025. The number of stunting cases per village was analyzed and mapped using ArcGIS (ArcMap v10.8) to visualize the spatial distribution by gender and age group. Stunting was found in twenty out of the twenty-eight villages in Tangse, with the highest incidence occurring in Gampong Pulo Baro at 10%. Furthermore, the prevalence was higher among boys (58%) than girls (42%). The age group most affected by stunting was children aged 12 to 23 months. The widespread occurrence of stunting across most villages may be linked to geographical barriers, limited access to health services, and differences in socio-economic and nutritional practices prevalent in highland areas. This study concludes that ArcGIS-based spatial analysis is effective in identifying high-risk areas and distribution patterns of stunting, which can support more targeted and evidence-based interventions at the community level. Further analysis of region-specific risk factors is needed to enhance targeted interventions in Tangse.
Meropenem is a beta-lactam antimicrobial agent used to treat broad-spectrum bacterial infections and is classified as a reserve antibiotic. The Antimicrobial Resistance Control Program (PPRA) at the hospital monitors the use of meropenem to ensure it is used appropriately and in accordance with antimicrobial stewardship principles. This study aims to determine the preliminary pattern of meropenem antibiotic use at the hospital, Bandung, during 2019–2020. It is an observational descriptive study using secondary medical record data with a total sampling method. A total of 182 study subjects were all patients treated with meropenem from various departments, and the diagnoses met the criteria for culture results. Data analysis included the distribution proportion of the observed variables. This study shows that the pattern of meropenem use over two years is characteristic of patient age with the most similar patterns in the age categories under 0–10 years, 51–60 years, and 61–70 years (21–26%), however, there were differences in gender in 2019, female patients were more numerous than male patients, while in 2020 were the opposite. Other results show similar diagnostic patterns in both years, with the most common diagnoses being respiratory tract infections, which continued to increase in the following years (27% and 35%). Conversely, the majority of culture results in the two years were negative (58% and 72%). The possibilities here relate to specimen preparation or to prior antimicrobial use before hospital admission. In conclusion, the pattern of meropenem antibiotic use at the hospital is similar in characteristics, diagnostics, and culture results. The PPRA Committee is expected to improve the policy on meropenem use in accordance with government regulations and prevent antimicrobial resistance.
Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a major cause of disability among older adults. Yet, qualitative evidence on the experience of medical rehabilitation within hospital-based, nationally insured health systems such as Indonesia's remains limited. This study aims to explore how older adults with KOA described their experience of undergoing medical rehabilitation at a hospital-based outpatient clinic in Indonesia. A qualitative exploratory-interpretive design was used. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 older adults (6 women, 4 men; median age 68 years, range 61–84) undergoing medical rehabilitation for KOA at a teaching hospital rehabilitation clinic in Bandung, Indonesia. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Three themes were generated: (1) navigating uncertainty toward controlled self-management of pain and procedures, including initial apprehension toward unfamiliar or invasive modalities such as dry needling; (2) restoring functional roles in daily and religious life, particularly movements associated with prayer and agricultural work; and (3) support networks and systemic barriers, including family and peer support alongside administrative barriers related to insurance referral renewal and cross-clinic scheduling conflicts. These barriers recurred across participants but were not universal. In conclusion, older adults' experience of KOA rehabilitation extended beyond pain relief to the restoration of culturally and religiously meaningful roles, supported by family, peer, and clinical relationships within a system shaped by administrative constraints specific to the Indonesian insurance context. These findings may inform more individualized, patient-centered rehabilitation planning in similar hospital-based settings.
The prolonged economic downturn at both national and household levels has significantly disrupted food access, altered dietary patterns, and increased the risk of nutrition-related health problems. This study aimed to identify household nutrition coping strategies during economic hardship and examine their association with family health outcomes, particularly among vulnerable groups such as women and young children. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from February to April 2025 involving 210 households in Denpasar (Bali) and Mataram (West Nusa Tenggara). A purposive sampling technique was applied to select households experiencing income decline and changes in food consumption. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire assessing food security status, dietary patterns, and coping behaviors, complemented by basic health indicators. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and Spearman correlation analysis. The results indicate that 68% of households reduced meal portions, 63% substituted nutritious foods with cheaper alternatives, and 47% reduced meal frequency. A significant association was found between coping strategy categories and household health symptoms (p<0.05). Furthermore, a moderate positive correlation was observed between coping intensity and family health symptom scores (r=0.482, p<0.01), indicating that households employing more coping strategies tended to report higher levels of health-related complaints. Approximately 36% of households reported weight loss among children, and 29% reported decreased appetite. These findings suggest that while coping strategies serve as short-term adaptive mechanisms, their frequent use is associated with declining dietary quality and increased health vulnerability among family members. Strengthening community-based nutrition resilience programs and integrating responsive social protection policies are essential to mitigate the long-term health impacts of economic crises. This study provides empirical evidence on the relationship between coping behavior and household health outcomes in vulnerable urban and semi-urban populations.
