Non-dirt house floor and the stimulant of environmental health decreased the risk Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI).

The risk factors related to acute respiratory infection (ARI), among others, is house floor. The aim of this research was to identify the influence of the Family Health and Nutrition program (FHN) and other risk factors related to ARI. Data was obtained from a survey conducted in 5 provinces in Indonesia, which received the project of Family Health and Nutrition (FHN) in 2003. The number of subjects was 1,500 families, selected by stratified random sampling method. The questionnaire completion and the observation were done on the spot in the subject’s house by special trained interviewers. The use of non-dirt house floor built prior to the project of FHN decreased the risk of ARI cases of 51% than the use of dirt house floor [Odds Ratio (OR) = 0.49; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 0.25-0.96]. The risk of ARI decreased of 52% among those who received than those which never received the stimulant of environmental health Family Health and Nutrition program (OR = 0.48; 95% CI =0.33-0.70). To decrease the risks of ARI cases, the program of environmental health is necessarily continued.

Potable water source and the method of garbage disposal in lowering the risk of diarrhea.

The problem of diarrhea can be controlled through environmental factors and good habits. The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia has designed a simple indicator to evaluate the family health potential, the Family Health Potential Index (FHPI). This study aims to evaluate the effect of FHPI and other indicators on the risk of diarrhea. The data were obtained through a survey carried out by a team from the Family Physician Studies, Graduate Program of the Universitas Sebelas Maret. The survey was held from August to September 2003 in 5 provinces receiving the Family Health and Nutrition (FHN) project. The subjects were 1500 heads of poor families chosen by stratified random sampling. Interviews and observations were carried out by special trained interviewers and held in the subjects’ homes. The use of potable water from the water system and well source built during the FHN project lowered the risk of diarrhea by 66% compared to the use of water from other sources (adjusted odds ratio= 0.34; 95% confidence interval = 0.16 - 0.70). Disposing of garbage using pits, sewers, rivers, or simply burying in the ground, increased the risk of diarrhea by twice compared with the specific method. Providing potable water from the water system or well and proving special tank for garbage disposal were important in order to lower the risk of occurrence diarrhea in a family. The use of non-dirt floors of houses as an FHPI specifically for diarrhea should be studied further.