Althea Medical Journal
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Rural and Urban Differences in the Eye Health of High School Students
Get PDFBackground: Visual impairment is a serious health problem. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 80% of the incidence of visual impairment occurring globally could be prevented or treated. Several factors responsible for high rates of uncorrected refractive errors are the lack of awareness about the early detection on the unequal distribution regarding health services and a culture of compliance. This study was aimed to identify the differences of the level of visual acuity and self-perception of the visual functions between high school students in the urban and rural areas.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 94 high school students in two different schools, urban and rural areas during November 2012, using the simple random sampling technique. The study was performed through interviews and examination of visual acuity using Rapid Assessments of Avoidable Blindness. The collected data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney test.Results: A total of 93.6% of respondents had good visual acuity. Self-perception of the visual functioning test showed that most respondents gave good answer. The statistical test using Mann-Whitney showed that there was no difference in level of visual acuity and self-perception of visual function between urban and rural students (p>0.05).Conclusions: Most of the high school students have good visual acuity and good self-perception of their visual function but there is no difference between rural and urban areas. DOI: 10.15850/amj.v2n3.50
Relationship between Body Mass Index with Menstrual Cycle in Senior High School Students
Get PDFBackground: In recent years, there is an escalation of menstrual disorders in both developing and developed countries. One of the important factors that contribute to menstrual disorders is body fat content. In developing countries like Indonesia, young women in certain cultures get married at average age of 16 years. At the same time, the number of malnourishment among adolescent is increasing. This study was conducted to analyze the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and menstrual cycle in senior high school students.Methods: This study included 330 girls ages 15−17. This study was conducted in Jatinangor, Sumedang from the period of August–October 2013 using a cross-sectional study. Questionnaires assessing their menstruation and their weight and height were collected after obtaining the respondents consent.The collected data were analyzed using the independent T-test.Results: Most of the respondents had normal BMI, menstrual interval, amount and duration. There was no relationship between BMI and menstrual interval and menstrual amount (0.74 and 0.878 respectively), however there was relationship between BMI and menstrual period (p= 0.036).Conclusions: Menstrual abnormalities among female adolescents are common. Based on this study, BMI seems to be moderately associated with menstrual cycle, especially with menstrual period, although a possibility still remains that body fat affects the menstruation superiorly. [AMJ.2015;2(4):555–60] DOI: 10.15850/amj.v2n4.64
Detection of Fungi in Hair-brushes in Beauty Salons at Jatinangor
Get PDFBackground: Various beauty tools are used in beauty salons, among those is the hair-brush. The hair-brush can conceal various human skin pathogens although under harsh environmental conditions, most pathogens are killed; nevertheless, few microorganisms, such as the fungi can adapt and survive. Moreover, the moist conditions of the hair-brush predisposes the growth of fungi however the ability of these fungi to instigate disease in an individual is dependent on the portal of entry and the host immunological status. This study was conducted to determine the fungus that is present in the beauty salon’s hair-brushes.Methods: This study was conducted in beauty salons located in Jatinangor area during September–October 2013 using the descriptive laboratory method. Fifteen beauty salons were included in this study based on sample size calculation for dichotomous variable. The specimens from all the hair-brushes were collected after the owner’s informed consent, then cultured onto 30 sabouraud agar, two for each beauty salon (dermatophyte and non-dermatophyte agar). The fungi were detected macroscopically and microscopically.Results: Overall, 93% revealed to be culture positive, with 90% of them were found to be non-dermatophytes, most of which are saprophytic fungi. The remaining 3% were dermatophytes.Conclusions: Beauty salon’s hair-brushes contain a wide range of fungi distribution which may be a source of fungal colonization. However, most of the fungi found in the beauty salons are saprophytic fungi, therefore it is unnecessary to be anxious about a small amount of pathogenic fungi are found in humans. [AMJ.2015;2(4):516–20] DOI: 10.15850/amj.v2n4.63
Detection of Dermatophyte between Toes of Medical Students Wearing and not Wearing Socks in Universitas Padjadjaran using Direct Microscopic Examination
Get PDFBackground: Dermatophytes thrive in warm, humid, and moist areas. Wearing the same socks more than A day is one predisposing factor. The aim of this study is to detect the dermatophyte between the fourth and fifth toes of medical students of Universitas Padjadjaran, who wear and do not wear socks.Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study performed in Microbiology Laboratory of Faculty of Medicine Universitas Padjadjaran from September to October 2013. Direct microscopic examination using 10% Potassium Hydroxide (KOH) was performed on 50 medical students, 25 students who wear socks and 25 students who do not wear socks. The samples were taken from scraped skin between the fourth and fifth toes using the cellophane tape method. The sample size is obtained via stratified random sampling.Results: From all participants, two students (4%) showed positive result of dermatophyte hyphae and 1 student (2%) showed positive result of dermatophyte hyphae and arthrospore. Of these three students, two students wear socks and one student does not wear socks. The two students who wear socks changed their socks more than a day.Conclusions: Dermatophyte was detected in only a few medical students of Universitas Padjadjaran, who wear and do not wear socks. [AMJ.2015;2(4):480–4] DOI: 10.15850/amj.v2n4.63
Physical Performance of West Java Soccer Athletes during February to December 2012
Get PDF Background: Soccer is one of the sports included in the 18th National Sports Week (Pekan Olahraga Nasional, (PON) 2012, in Riau. Soccer requires a good physical condition to perform various football techniques such as running, shooting, dribbling, tackling, sliding, throw-in and heading. A good physical component can be achieved through a well-rounded program in accordance to the periodization training program. This study was conducted to describe the physical performance of the West Java’s football athletes in order to develop periodization training program and to predict the athletes’ performance.Methods: A descriptive study was carried out on 23 West Java’s football athletes using secondary data from West Java’s KONI sports medicine team test reports during the period of February to December 2012. The variables in this study were 7 predominant physical components in football as follows: muscle strength, muscle endurance, speed, agility, flexibility, explosive leg muscle power, and general endurance (VO2 max). All components were categorized asInsufficient, Fair, Good, Excellent, and Perfect compared to the central KONI standards.Results: The leg muscle strength, abdominal muscle endurance, speed, agility of all athletes were not considered perfect. Not one of the components was above 50% which was the excellent category. Only Arm and shoulder endurance (56.5%), speed (68.18%), and leg muscle power (52.17%) were in good category. The most of the results regarding the athletes’ leg muscle strength was categorized as fair. All results in the abdominal endurance were in insufficient category.Conclusion: Not all physical performance components are achieved perfectly by all of the football athletes.Keywords: Athletes, football, physical performance DOI: 10.15850/amj.v2n1.442
Knowledge Level of Pregnant Women in Cipacing Village on Nutrition and Benefits of Colostrums
Get PDF Background: Colostrums are the only natural food that is healthy for newborn infants since colostrums contain proper nutrition needed for infants’ growth. This study aimed to reveal the knowledge level of pregnant women on nutrition and benefits of colostrums. Methods: This study used descriptive cross-sectional method on 73 pregnant women in Cipacing village, Jatinangor district, Sumedang Regency, West Java, from October 18 to November 14, 2012. A questionnaire was used. Results: The results showed that the characteristics of these pregnant women were as follows: 20-35 years old (53.4%), most were middle school graduates (42.5%), most were unemployed (72.6%), and some claimed to have never given birth before (37,0%). Mostly, the knowledge level of these pregnant women was in the category of “favorable” (84.9 %). The knowledge level with the highest percentage (100%) came from pregnant women aged above 35 years old, college graduates, employed as private employees, civil servants, or self-employed, as well as having three biological children or more. Conclusions: Sustained health promotion and counseling programs are needed to maintain already-favorable knowledge level; thus pregnant women’s knowledge on nutrition and benefits of colostrums can be applied and can also encourage these women themselves to provide colostrums for their newborn infants.Keywords: Benefits of colostrums, Jatinangor, nutrition, women’s knowledge level DOI: 10.15850/amj.v2n1.422
Profile of Hand Compartment Syndrome in Dr. Hasan Sadikin General Hospital, West Java, 2008−2012
Get PDFBackground: Compartment syndrome is a serious disorder caused by elevated pressure in a muscle compartment that can progress to muscle and nerve damage. This disorder can happen to anyone but more frequently in young adults. The occurrence frequency of hand compartment syndrome is relatively low. The aim of this study is to identify the profile of compartment syndrome in patients handMethods: A descriptive study was perfomed to 15 cases that were collected from medical records from 2008-2012, in Dr. Hasan Sadikin General Hospital. The profile of the case consisted of age, sex, symptoms and signs, etiology, facsiotomy schedule after admission, length of stay and patient’s outcome. The collected data were presented using tables.Results: The study showed that 12 out of 15 cases were males and 7 out of 15 cases were 20−39 years oldpatients. The common clinical findings were swelling, pain, limited range of motion and normal sensibility. The faciotomy procedure was conducted 1 day after the admission with length of stay more than 1 week. The patients condition were improved after operation. Conclusions: Hand compartment syndrome is a rare case, mostly affects younger adults and male. Most of the symptoms and signs are swelling, limitation of movement, pain in the location area with normal sensibility. The faciotomy procedure is conducted 1 day after admission. The length of stay is more than 1 week with an improved outcome. [AMJ.2015;2(4):497–501] DOI: 10.15850/amj.v2n4.63
Basic Training of Student’s Outdoor Club Increases Muscle Mass after Five Weeks of Exercise in Males
Get PDF Background: Aerobic and anaerobic exercises, may lead to increase muscle mass. The aim of this study was to determine the change in muscle mass during basic training of students’ outdoor club.Methods: This was an observational analytic study to college students who joined basic training of students’ outdoor club for 19 weeks. Subjects consisted of 17 male and 15 female students, measured five times consecutively by using Body Fat/Hydration monitor scale, with Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis principle. Data collection was performed five times, from February to July 2012 in Bandung. Statistical analysis was processed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA).Results: The result in males showed the mean 43.35±3.15 on the initial measurement. The muscle mass further increased significantly after five, ten, fifteen, and nineteen weeks of exercise (43.73±3.18 (p0.05); 38.08±1.67 (p>0.05) ; 38.23±1.52 (p>0.05) ; 38.61±1.52 (p<0.05) vs 37.77±2.00) respectively.Conclusion: Basic training of student’s outdoor club increases muscle mass significantly after five weeks of exercise in males, but not in femalesKeywords: Basic training, Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis, hypertrophy, muscle mass, students outdoor clubDOI: 10.15850/amj.v2n1.445
Prevalence of Allergic Rhinitis based on World Health Organization (ARIA-WHO) questionnaire among Batch 2010 Students of the Faculty of Medicine Universitas Padjadjaran
Get PDFBackground: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common disease affecting 5–45% of Asian population. Although it is not a life-threatening disease, AR significantly hampers the quality of life of the sufferers. The prevalence of AR among adults in Indonesia is still unknown. This study aimed to measure the prevalence of AR among batch 2010 students of the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Padjadjaran.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted during June–October 2013 involving Indonesian class batch 2010 students of the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Padjadjaran. The sampling was performed usingtotal sampling approach. The measurement tool used in this study was the Indonesian translation of the Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma-World Health Organization (ARIA-WHO) questionnairee. Thosewho were aware of being diagnosed with AR or had two/more AR defining symptoms in the questionnaire form were considered to have AR. The statistical analysis was conducted by calculating frequencies.Results: A total of 207 questionnaire forms were adequately filled out and returned. Based on the questionnaire, the prevalence rate of AR was 38.2%. Of the 79 AR cases, 66% cases involved females. In addition, 54% of the the AR cases have a parental history of allergic diseases. Nasal obstruction and itchy nose were the most frequent symptoms (90%), followed by rhinorrhea (89%), sneezing (82%), and eye symptoms (62%). Based on the duration, the majority fell into the intermittent group (91%); whereas basedon severity, the majority was in the moderate-severe group (71%).Conclusions: The prevalence rate of AR obtained in this study is within the estimated range of Asian population. [AMJ.2015;2(4):620–5] DOI: 10.15850/amj.v2n4.65
Correlation between Postural Stability and Functional Mobility in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis
Get PDFBackground: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disorder caused by progressive erosion of articular cartilage. The joint which is commonly affected is theknee joint. Patient with knee OA has increasing pain with decreasing postural stability, and may cause decrease infunctional mobility of the body. The aim of this study was to analyze the correlation between stability and mobility in patients with knee OA.Methods: A cross sectional study was performed to 43 patients from the Rheumatology Clinic of Dr. HasanSadikin General Hospital, Bandung, during September−October 2013. The ‘Timed Up and Go’ (TUG) test and stabillometric platform examination were performed to analyze the mobility and stability in subjects. The data were analyzed with Spearman’s Correlation.Results: Four subjects (9.30%) had normal functional mobility, 31 subjects (72.09%) had good mobility and need no help of others in their activities, and 8 subjects (18.60%) had problems and could not stand and walk without help. This study also found 39 subjects (90.69%) had high risk of fall. The p value were 0.005 for correlation between knee OA and lateral static postural stability, 0.138 with anteroposterior static stability, 0.067 with dynamic to position of top right stability, 0.344 with dynamic to position of top left stability, 0.384 with dynamic to position of bottom left stability and 0.357 with dynamic to position of bottom right stability.Conclusions: There is a strong correlation between functional mobility with static postural stability, especially to the lateral position. [AMJ.2015;2(4):550–4] DOI: 10.15850/amj.v2n4.63