Disease Prevention and Public Health Journal

The Relationship Between Environmental Factors And Acute Respiratory Infections In Rural Areas: A Literature Review

Athiyah Safira Mohd Akhyar — 2025-12-11

Background: The incidence of acute respiratory infections (ARI) is a significant global public health issue. One of the risk factors affecting ARI is the environment. The environment and ARI have a cross relationship. This study was conducted to clearly determine the relationship between the environment and the incidence of ARI in rural areas. Method: The article review was conducted by searching for articles through electronic databases (Google Scholar, PubMed, and Semantic Scholar) using the keywords environment, respiratory tract infection, and environmental factors for acute respiratory infection in rural areas. The inclusion criteria used were original articles in national and international accredited journals, the year of publication of the article between 2019 - 2024, full text, free access, and cross sectional research design. Exclusion criteria in this study were literature review or systematic review meta-analysis, related to covid-19, and urban areas. Five articles were selected for analysis. Articles were analyzed by following the Prisma Guidelines. Results: Poor environmental conditions have been identified as a significant risk factor that contributes to the increased prevalence of acute respiratory infections (ARI), particularly in the context of exposure to air pollutants. Furthermore, inadequate environmental conditions have been demonstrated to exacerbate the severity of acute respiratory infections (ARI), as irritated respiratory tracts become more susceptible to invasion by environmental pathogens. These findings underscore the pivotal role of environmental quality, particularly in rural areas, as a crucial predictor of ARI risk and impact.

Evaluation of Drug Storage at Godean I Health Center

Yuni Andriani — 2026-04-06

Background: The availability of drugs in health centers must be adjusted to the needs for medical services for the community in their work area. Effective storage of drugs in health centers are needed to maintain the availability of drugs in health centers to avoid the accumulation of drug stocks and shortages of drug stocks that can be detrimental to health centers. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the storage of drugs in Godean I Health Center. Method: The research method used is descriptive observational research with a cross-sectional approach. The data collected is secondary data in the form of Drug Usage Report and Request Sheet (LPLPO) and Medication Needs Plan (RKO) documents. The collected data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel Results: The results of the drug storage evaluation on the indicator dead stock of drugs 26.58%, average drug empty time 46.12% which is drug shortage day 168,35 days, expired drugs 11.39%, damaged drugs 0%, TOR value 4.81 times/year. Conclusion: The result of evaluating drug storage in Godean I Health Center that meets standards is the percentage of damaged drugs.

From Issues to Mitigation of Arsenic Contamination: A Ranking-Based Assessment Using the Garett Ranking Approach

Kismode Doha — 2026-04-06

Background: Groundwater arsenic contamination is not simply a water quality concern rather it creates a range of debilitating problems from health issues to socioeconomic and Infrastructure. Therefore, this study systematically evaluated the challenges of arsenic contamination and community-priority interventions using a ranking-based analytical approach. Method: This study was conducted in two phases: an initial pilot survey in 2022, followed by a final questionnaire survey in 2023. Data on arsenic contamination and mitigation strategies were collected using a combination of simple random and purposive sampling techniques. Among the 780 surveyed households, 196 were identified as affected by arsenicosis. To prioritize challenges, 10 key issues were ranked, and five mitigation technologies were evaluated based on associated risks. The Garrett Ranking Method was applied to systematically analyze these challenges and mitigation preferences. Results: Physical health problems (68.90) ranked as the topmost concern for arsenicosis patients, followed by economic hardships (61.73). Provisions of safe water make people less concerned about safe water accessibility (55.08) compared to healthcare facilities (59.06). Different misconceptions and myths about the disease among locals lead to social vulnerability in terms of social isolation and problematic family and relationship issues. In terms of mitigation preferences, Public Water Supply Schemes (PWSS) ranked as the most preferred solution (67.41), followed by Swajaldhara schemes (54.45) and deep tube wells (50.20). At the same time, arsenic treatment units (ATUs) and dug wells were the least favoured (42.92 & 34.03 respectively) due to maintenance and quality concerns. Conclusion: Arsenicosis is a multi-dimensional crisis requiring improved healthcare access, financial support, and sustainable water solutions. State and Local governments, healthcare providers, and communities must collaborate to support affected individuals and improve the quality of life in arsenic-contaminated areas.

An Overview of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Test Outcomes in Public Health Center Services

Tetrina Purtaria — 2026-04-13

Background : Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) remains a significant global health challenge, with Indonesia identified as a high-vulnerability nation. This study describes HIV testing services and outcomes at community health center (PHCs) in Sleman District, Indonesia, as part of a national policy to eliminate HIV. Method : A descriptive study was conducted using data from the SIHA 2.1 system for all 941 patients who underwent HIV testing at Gamping Two PHC from January to December 2024. The analysis focused on testing volume, demographic characteristics, and positivity rates across different key populations and age groups. Results : Pregnant women constituted the largest group tested (514), largely due to mandatory antenatal screening, followed by the general population (124). The most frequently tested age group was 21-35 years (688 patients). Overall, 941 individuals were tested, with 8 new positive HIV diagnoses recorded. Notably, males accounted for 6 of the positive cases, primarily within the Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) population (aged 21-35 and 36-50 years), while two females tested positive, one from the pregnant women group (<20 years) and another from the Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) group (21-35 years). Conclusion : These findings highlight the continued importance of PHC-based testing services in identifying HIV cases, particularly among key populations like MSM and pregnant women, underscoring the need for targeted prevention and intervention strategies.