Peer facilitators's role to support pregnant women in utilizing HIV services during the COVID-19 pandemic

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence on pregnant women in Indonesia is estimated around 0.3%. The prevention of mother-to-child disease transmission (PMTCT) program has been implemented nationally since 2008, though, less than 50% of the total pregnant women each year get an HIV test and only 18% of those who are HIV positive get antiretroviral (ARV) treatment until now. COVID-19 pandemic, occurred since 2019, has brought significant changes to public health aspects including the utilization of HIV services. This study is aimed to determine factors influencing the PMTCT program services utilization during pandemic. This study used mix method approach with quantitative approach using a cross-sectional study design (174 HIV mothers from six provinces in Indonesia) and qualitative approach with in-depth interviews of 13 informants consisting of HIV mothers, health workers, program holders and peer facilitators. The results showed the HIV services utilization during pandemic was 52.3%. The most influenced factor was peer facilitators support (POR 2.96;95% CI=1.45-6.03), HIV mothers who did not receive assistance from peer facilitators had 2.96 times chance of not utilizing the services compared to them who received. It requires to strengthen cooperation between health services and peer facilitators to support HIV mothers in accessing HIV services. © 2023, Intelektual Pustaka Media Utama. All rights reserved.

Behavioral Problems among Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Children with Good and Poor Metabolic Control During COVID-19 Pandemic

Background: Children with type-1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) often experience emotional and behavioral problems such as anxiety and depression. Social restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic caused social restrictions and limited access to healthcare facili-ties, which may have worsened the metabolic control. Objective(s): This study aimed to analyze the behavioral problems among type 1 diabetes mellitus children with good and poor metabolic control during COVID-19 pandemic. Method(s): This cross-sectional study was conducted in January-August 2021 in the Endocrine Outpatient Clinic of General Hospital Dr. Soetomo Surabaya. Type-1-DM children who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were divided into two groups based on metabolic control, including good (HbA1C <= 8) and poor (HbA1C > 8). The Pediatric Symptom Checklist-17 (PSC-17) was used as a screening tool with the domain internalizing problems (IP), externalizing problems (EP), and attention problems (AP). The data were analyzed using Pearson or Spearman test with Statistical Product and Service Solution (SPSS) version 18.0. Result(s): In this study, 27 subjects (17 boys and 10 girls, aged 12.63 +/- 3.39 years) were investigated. Of all subjects, only 8 subjects had good metabolic control during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, 33.3% of the participants had behavioral problems (14.8% IP;18.5% EP). The frequencies of IP, EP, and AP in the good metabolic control group were 12.5%, 37.5%, and 0%, respectively;while those in the poor metabolic group were 15.8%, 10.5%, and 0%, respectively. There was no significant difference between the good and poor metabolic control groups in terms of behavior problems (P = 1.00, IP;P = 0.14, EP). Conclusion(s): No significant difference was found between good and poor metabolic control groups (P = 1.00, IP;P = 0.14, EP). How-ever, the frequency of EP was higher in good metabolic control, and the frequency of IP was higher in poor metabolic control. Copyright © 2022, Author(s).

IMPROVING STUDENTS’ SELF-REGULATION USING ONLINE SELFREGULATED LEARNING IN CHEMISTRY

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, there has been a significant increase in the use of online technology at all levels of education. This study was intended to investigate how online self-regulated learning (SRL) effectively promotes students’ self-regulation in chemistry. The respondents in this study were 36 eleventh-grade students (15 males and 21 females) at a public high school in Indonesia in the 2020/2021 school year. In this quasi-experimental study, Online Self-regulated Learning Questionnaire (OSLQ) and semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. The results showed that students showed slightly higher self-regulation than the neutral point after the intervention. There was no significant difference between male and female students concerning self-regulation scores. The results of this study indicate that there is good interaction between students and between students and teachers during the learning process. This learning environment creates an interesting and fun atmosphere for students during the learning process. In the online SRL setting, students can design learning activities, set learning objectives and learn strategies that will be utilized. In addition, information obtained from various sources can help students construct their conceptual understanding. Thus, chemistry learning that involves students taking greater roles and responsibilities in the learning process can provide great opportunities for active participation. In short, students’ self-regulation improves with the teacher’s support as a facilitator in the online SRL setting. © Penerbit UMT

Improving pre-service chemistry teachers’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills using project-based learning

Studies confirmed that students’ critical thinking skills (CTS) and their problem-solving skills (PSS) tend to be low. Thus, this quantitative study aims to improve students’ CTS and PSS using Project-Based Learning (PjBL). In a quasi-experimental design, a total of 50 pre-service chemistry teachers from a public university in Indonesia were recruited as participants. To collect data, the Critical Thinking Skills Test (CTST) and the Problem-Solving Skills Test (PSST) were pre-and post-tested. Paired and independent samples t-tests and Cohen’s d were executed to explain the difference in CTS and PSS scores before and after treatment. The results indicated that there was a significant increase from pre-to post-test in terms of CTS and PSS scores. In addition, there is a significant difference in the CTS and PSS scores between the two groups in favor of the experimental group. It can be concluded that PjBL is an effective method to promote CTS and PSS in the General Chemistry course. As a powerful method, we recommend that lecturers implement PjBL to promote CTS and PSS as an alternative to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. © 2022, Birlesik Dunya Yenilik Arastirma ve Yayincilik Merkezi. All rights reserved.

Determinant Factors of the Quality of Life in Children with Osteogenesis Imperfecta during the COVID-19 Pandemic

BACKGROUND: Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a common chronic illness with increasing prevalence. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and large society restriction policies in Indonesia cause problems and might affect the quality of life (QoL) of children with OI. AIM: The objective of the study was to evaluate determinant factors (such as number of hospital visits per year, calcium and/or Vitamin D consumption, fear and obstacles of visiting the hospital, and parent’s layoff) of OI children’s QoL pre and during the 1st year of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study design conducted in the Pediatric Endocrinology Outpatient Clinic, Dr. Soetomo Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia, during the 1st year of COVID-19 pandemic to assess the patient’s QoL. This study used a diagnostic group with questionnaires. The instrument included the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 Generic Score, a standardized interview questionnaire comprising questions on the participant characteristics and determinant factors pre and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Analysis of determinant factors pre and during the pandemic used McNemar. Correlation between determinant factors and QoL used linear regression for physical and emotional dimensions and logistic regression for social, school, and total score. RESULTS: Of the 22 children with OI, 19 had fear of visiting the hospital (p < 0.001), and 16 had obstacles to visiting the hospital (p < 0.01). Taking calcium and/or Vitamin D supplementation pre and during the COVID-19 pandemic affected school functioning (p = 0.015) and the total score (p = 0.027). CONCLUSION: The significant risk factors pre and during COVID-19 were fear of and obstacles to visiting the hospital. Supplementation of calcium and/or Vitamin D pre and during the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted school functioning and the total score.

Risk Factors for Psychosocial Disorders in Children with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia during the COVID-19 Pandemic

BACKGROUND: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is a chronic disease that requires lifelong medical therapy;thus, it has become a psychosocial stressor associated with mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders in children and adolescents. The COVID-19 pandemic is also an additional stressor in addition to chronic physical illness, biological factors, cognitive factors, environment, age, parental education, parents’ occupations, and family income. AIM: Thus, in this study, we aim to analyze the risk factors for psychosocial disorders among children with CAH. METHODS: This research was a cross-sectional study conducted from January to April 2021 at the Pediatric Endocrinology Outpatient Clinic in Dr. Soetomo General Hospital in Surabaya. Data were collected through interviews, questionnaires, and medical records and then analyzed through univariate and bivariate analyzes using Chi-square test (Fisher’s exact test). RESULTS: In total, 30 children were enrolled in this study, among which 8 (26.7%) had emotional disorders, 5 (16.7%) had behavioral disorders, and most (83.3%) did not have hyperactivity/attention disorders. It was found that 8 children (26.7%) had problems with peer relationships, whereas most (83.3%) did not experience prosocial disorders. Family income (p = 0.032, CI = 95%) and hyperactivity (p = 0.019, CI = 95%) were found to be significantly correlated to conduct problems. CONCLUSIONS: Family income, behavioral disorders, and hyperactivity/attention disorders were identified as risk factors for psychosocial disorders in children with CAH during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vocational skills learning model strategies during covid-19

The focus of this research is the skills learning model used by teachers, especially those who teach practical subjects. In accordance with the purpose of vocational education which says that graduates from vocational high schools are graduates who are ready to work in the industrial and business world. The purpose of this study is to describe the skills learning model strategy used by teachers when Covid-19 hit Indonesia. The research method used is a qualitative research method with a descriptive approach. Collecting data using observation, interviews, and documentation. The results obtained are: (1) teachers who teach subjects related to the practice of getting obstacles and difficulties because online learning is very influential on internet networks, (2) teachers only use online learning models using video learning media, so that the teacher only sends a learning link to students via WhatsApp Class group, (3) some students experience difficulties in learning online because the internet signal or network is not always good. (4) with the covid-19 all learning in schools is required online, so that teachers must be proficient in using technology. © 2020 Institute of Physics Publishing. All rights reserved.