Improving the utilization of health services among high-risk pregnant women through community health nurse assistance

Objective: The objective of this study was to identify the impact of implementing community health nurse assistance for high-risk pregnant women on utilization of health services. Method: The study was quasi experimental with a control group design. The sample included high-risk pregnant women in 10 community health centers in Indonesia who were selected by consecutive sampling. The total sample included 66 women in both the intervention and the control groups. The high-risk pregnant women in the intervention group received nurses' assistance during the third trimester and until giving birth. Before and after the intervention, the knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of the women were measured. Results: The average scores for the knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of women in the intervention group increased. Differences were found in health care utilization between the two groups. All women in the intervention group received antenatal care during the third trimester more than once and were assisted by skilled health personnel during childbirth, while in the control group 10.6% of respondents were assisted by a paraji shaman (traditional birth attendant). All women in the intervention group accepted family planning, and the contraceptive choice varied. Conclusions: The assistance of community health nurses improves the knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of high-risk pregnant women and positively impacts the rate of health care utilization

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Latex allergen sensitization due to glove use among hospital staff in Jakarta and related factors.

AIM: To know whether latex sensitization risk among nurses is higher than among administration staff and whether latex sensitization risk among operating room nurses is higher than among ward room nurses and also whether there is a correlation between sensitization and sex, age, duration-frequency of exposure, smoking, or atopic status. METHODS: A cross-sectional study has been conducted in 830 persons from 6 hospitals in Jakarta consisting of 271 operating room nurses, 287 ward room nurses, and 272 administration staff. Subjects completed a guided questionnaire to determine the subject's age, sex, work setting, duration and frequency of exposure or smoking habits and then the subjects underwent an allergy skin prick test with allergens Der p, Der f, Fel d and latex to determine atopic status and latex sensitization. RESULTS: The proportion of latex sensitization among nurses was 6.1% and among administration staff 1.5%; there was a significant difference (p=0.002). The proportion between operating room nurses was 6.3% and among ward room nurses 5.9%; there was no significant difference (p=0.974). There was a significant correlation between sensitization and mild or severe exposure or atopic status, but no significant correlation between sensitization and sex, age, duration of exposure, or smoking. CONCLUSION: The risk of latex sensitization among nurses is higher than among administration staff, but the risk among operating room nurses was similar to ward room nurses. Atopic status and frequency of exposure were both associated with latex sensitization.