Is It Important to Increase Physical Activity Among University Students During the Second-Wave COVID-19 Pandemic in Asian Countries? A Cross-Sectional Study of the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices in Asian Countries.

Background: Difficulties in exercising have occurred for the entire world's population during this COVID-19 pandemic, especially in the second wave at the end of 2021. Most worrying is the lack of physical activity in young adults, as lack of exercise will increase the risk of noncommunicable diseases in the future. The youth such as university student can be agents of change, to increase physical activity, from sedentary to sport life. This study aimed to determine the relationship between knowledge, attitudes, and actions of university students and the correlation between the related variables. Methods: This study is a cross-sectional observational study involving 458 Asian university students based on Asian and African nationalities. This research was conducted from December 2021 to January 2022, during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Asia. The variables studied were the knowledge, attitudes, and actions of university students with regard to sports, and the statistical test used was the Chi-squared test. Results: The results showed that the research subjects were mainly from Indonesia and India (95.8%), there were more women than men (69.9% vs 30.1%), the most common age range was 18-20 years (61.4%), and 45.4% had a normal body mass index. In total, 48.3% had high knowledge, 93.4% had a positive attitude, and 34.7% had good practice. There was a significant relationship between knowledge and attitude (p=0.002) but not with action. Conclusion: This study found that good knowledge was associated with a good attitude, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic with activity restrictions on university students, there was no relationship with action.

Modelling of Risk Factors Associated with Foodborne Disease among School-Aged Children in Medan, Indonesia.

BACKGROUND: Foodborne disease (FBD) contributes several outbreaks worsening health quality of world population. Many risk factors associated with FBD are related to its processing, preparation, and storage as well as handling practice. AIM: The study aimed to evaluate several proposed risk factors of foodborne disease existed among school-aged children and food-handlers in the school environment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The descriptive cross-sectional study enrolled 124 students consisting of 64 females and 60 males in two different public schools, 064024 and 066656, Medan, Indonesia, between April and August 2018. The bacterial and parasitological examination was carried out in Microbiology and Parasitology Department. Food-handlers were assessed their appropriateness using standardised questionnaire merit to the guidelines enacted by the Ministry of Health, Indonesia (Kepmenkes RI No.942 / Menkes / SK / VII / 2003 adapted from WHO guidelines) entitled food-handlers sanitation-hygiene requirement guidelines. Data analysis was conducted using logistic regression. RESULTS: The study obtained that there were no food-handlers performed basic principles rules producing high-risk environment and posing a threat to children. Suspected-FBD also found in 55 or 44.4% students, and it was significantly related to several risk factors such as nail hygiene, knowledge level, nail-trimming behaviour, and hand-washing behaviour among students. Data analysis revealed modeling risk factor, Y = 23.440 + 2.003 (Nail hygiene) + 1.294 (Knowledge level) + 5.025 (Nail trimming behavior) + 7.007 (Hand-washing behavior) from logistic regression equation. CONCLUSION: Poor hygiene and sanitation of food-handlers and children per se provide a supportive environment in producing FBDs.

Vitamin A Supplementation in Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients on Acceleration of Sputum Conversion in Medan City.

BACKGROUND: Indonesia is in the second rank for the most TB (Tuberculosis) cases in the world after India. It is estimated that there are 1 million cases per year in Indonesia. AIM: To find out the influence of Vitamin A supplementation in the medication of pulmonary TB on the acceleration of sputum conversion time at an intensive phase in the Working Area of Puskesmas in Medan Kota Subdistrict. METHODS: This research was Quasi Experiment method. With two groups. The samples were 30 newly diagnosed pulmonary TB patients consisting of of15 patients in the treatment group and 15 patients in the control group. The statistical data were analysed with t independent test, significance 95% (p < 0.05). RESULTS: The treatment group discovered that they were mostly 18-27 years old 40.0%, male 73.3%, mostly university students 26.7%, had BTA conversion in the second week 80.0%; and the sputum conversion time was 2.4 weeks in average. The results of the research on the control group demonstrated that they were mostly 18-27 years old 33.3%, male 80.0%, mostly university students and entrepreneurs 20.0%, had BTA conversion in the second week 80%; and the sputum conversion time was 4.1 weeks in average. Vitamin A supplementation in the medication of pulmonary TB patients had some influence on the acceleration of sputum conversion at the intensive phase (p ≤ 0.001). CONCLUSION: We concluded that Vitamin A in the medication of pulmonary TB patients had some influence on the acceleration of sputum conversion at the intensive phase in the Medan Kota.

Epidemiological Characteristics of Work-Related Ocular Trauma among the Carpenters in Medan, Indonesia.

BACKGROUND: Medan is the capital of North Sumatera Province and the most industrialised area of North Sumatera. One of the largest industries in Medan is the wooden industry. Ocular trauma is often happened in Medan and causes a serious problem. AIM: This study aimed to analyse the correlation between ocular trauma among the carpenters and the using of eye protection during work and educational level. METHODS: This study is conducted among the carpenters that work in the wooden industry. There were 30 carpenters that being observed about age, educational level and working hours and the using of eye protection during work that might be related to ocular trauma. All carpenters completed a comprehensive examination and interview. RESULTS: The most common age range of ocular trauma was between 26-45 years (56.7%), and all were male. Most of the traumatised carpenters educational level had a higher educational level (50%), and workers that had traumatised works more than 8 hours a day (66.7%). From this study, there was a significant correlation between ocular trauma among the carpenters and age (p = 0.047), and working hours (p = 0.039). CONCLUSION: No significant correlation between ocular trauma among the carpenters and the using of eye protection during work (p = 0.464), and educational level (0.925) was found. Furthermore to anticipate the high rate of worked-related ocular trauma required labour regulations that cover the age of recruitment workers and working hours a day. Work safety regulation protects the workers from work-related ocular trauma.