Articles

The Relationship Between Worm Infection and Nutritional Status of Elementary School Students in the Working Area of the Nulle Public Health Center

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Background: Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections remain a neglected public health problem in tropical regions, particularly in areas with poor sanitation and hygiene. These infections predominantly affect school-aged children and may contribute to impaired nutritional status. The working area of the Nulle Public Health Center is located in South Central Timor Regency, an area known to have a high prevalence of chronic malnutrition, highlighting the need to evaluate factors associated with nutritional problems.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of worm infection, nutritional status, and the association between worm infection and nutritional status among elementary school students in the working area of the Nulle Public Health Center.

Methods: This study employed a descriptive-analytic design with a cross-sectional approach. A total of 263 elementary school students were selected using cluster random sampling. Data collection included a risk-factor questionnaire, microscopic stool examination using 1% Lugol solution and eosin, and anthropometric assessment for nutritional status. Data were analyzed using univariate and bivariate methods. Fisher’s exact test was applied with a significance level of p<0.05.

Results: The prevalence of worm infection was 4.6% (12 out of 263 students). The most common helminth species identified was Ascaris lumbricoides (83.3%), followed by Trichuris trichiura and mixed infections (8.3% each). Nutritional status was predominantly normal (61.6%), followed by undernutrition (21.3%), severe malnutrition (13.3%), and overnutrition (3.8%). Among students with positive worm infection, the majority were classified as severely malnourished. Statistical analysis demonstrated a significant association between worm infection and nutritional status (p<0.05).

Conclusion: There is a significant relationship between worm infection and nutritional status among elementary school students in the working area of the Nulle Public Health Center.

Analysis of Factors in Reducing the Incidence of Anemia in Adolescent Girls at Ummi Kulsum Banjaran SMP Bandung District

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Adolescence is a transition period from childhood to adulthood. In Indonesia, around 90% of women menstruate every month, but the onset of menstruation can cause anemia for teenagers who experience it. This is caused by several things, of course because there is irregular bleeding, this is caused by the teenager’s age itself. , parental factors, including education and work, each person’s food intake/nutritional status, and also the menstrual cycle/length of menstruation experienced each month. This research aims to determine the factors associated with the occurrence of anemia in adolescent girls at Umi Kulsum Banjaran Middle School in 2022. The research method used is a quantitative analytical approach research design with a cross sectional research design. The research population was all 120 female students and the sample used was 55 people using the random sampling technique. Data collection was carried out by means of interviews and direct examination of respondents. Data analysis went through three stages, univariate (frequency distribution), bivariate (chi square) and multivariate analysis (Logistic Regression). The results of the research show that there are factors that are associated with the incidence of anemia in adolescent girls, including age, nutritional status and length of menstruation with a p-value <0.05. It is recommended that students increase their knowledge about reproductive health, especially those related to enstruation, educational institutions can optimize education about adolescent reproductive health by collaborating with health workers in the surrounding environment.

Nutritional Status and Dietary Profile of College Students – A Cross Sectional Study from South India

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Background: Undernutrition is most critical health challenges facing society today, not just in terms of health, but also health care expense. Several studies have revealed that college students often have bad eating habits. Students typically consume less fruits and vegetables per day and report a high intake of high-fat, high-calorie items.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to assess nutritional status and dietary habits of students studying in university.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among a sample of post graduate students with the sample size of 57. A well-structured interview schedule was used for data collection regarding socio demographic data, nutritional status and dietary profile. Results and Discussion: Outcome of the results indicated that majority of them were belonged to the age category of 21-25 years, stayed in hostel, had one sibling and were middle class families. Around 50.6 % of college students were within the healthy Body Mass Index range. Most students showed ‘satisfactory’ dietary habits. Almost more than half of the students reported consuming good amounts of fruits, vegetables, milk and nuts daily. Only 8.8 % of students were eating non-vegetarian daily.

Conclusion: Around 50% of college students, particularly females, were within the range of good nutritional status. Students’ dietary habits were satisfactory. However, students’ knowledge of good diet habits, and nutritional knowledge needs to be improvement. This study offers new insight for formulating policies and intervention programs among college students in the future.

Feeding Patterns and Food Waste Behavior on the Nutritional Status of Toddlers

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Food Waste is a growing problem. In household scale, Food Waste often considered as a normal thing. Food composition and less variant (quality) is one of factor who can affect to nutritional status of toddlers and Food Waste, if the more Food Waste produced by toddlers, the more nutrients are wasted in vain, so that the food intake eaten by children does not match the required needs. Toddlers who do not get the food intake that should be, able to affect the nutritional status and result in stunted growth and development of children. This research aims to determine the relationship between Food Waste Behavior and Feeding Patterns on the Nutritional Status of Toddlers in Tanah Sareal District, Bogor City. This type of research is cross sectional with purposive sampling data collection technique with 100 respondents. The statistical test used is Chi-Square. Based on the results of the research, it was found that in Tanah Sareal Subdistrict had a high Food Waste behavior of 69%. While the results of the feeding pattern in Tanah Sareal District have an inappropriate feeding pattern of 52%. There is a significant relationship between Food Waste behavior on the nutritional status of toddlers (p-value of 0.000) and there is a significant relationship between feeding patterns and nutritional status of toddlers (p-value of 0.000).