Jurnal Ilmiah Kesehatan Masyarakat : Media Komunikasi Komunitas Kesehatan Masyarakat

Health-Related Quality of Life and Associated Factors Among COVID-19 Survivors in Padang, Indonesia

Arinil Haq — 2026-08-31

Background: COVID-19 may affect the quality of life of survivors beyond the acute phase of infection. Understanding its long-term and multifaceted effects is important, particularly among individuals who have recovered from COVID-19. This study aimed to identify determinants of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among COVID-19 survivors in Padang, Indonesia.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in July 2022 among 84 adults who had recovered from COVID-19 and were listed in the Padang City Health Office database. Participants were selected using simple random sampling and completed an online questionnaire. HRQoL was assessed using the WHOQOL-BREF, while mental health was screened using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). Associations were examined using the chi-square test for bivariate analysis and multiple logistic regression for multivariate analysis.

Results: Mental health was significantly associated with HRQoL (p = 0.010; PR = 3.40; 95% CI: 1.40–8.40). In the multivariate analysis, mental health (p = 0.015; OR = 3.23; 95% CI: 1.26–8.30) and marital status (p = 0.038; OR = 2.86; 95% CI: 1.06–7.73) were independently associated with HRQoL.

Conclusion: Mental health problems and marital status were independently associated with HRQoL among COVID-19 survivors in Padang. These findings highlight the importance of integrating mental health screening and psychosocial support into post-COVID-19 services. Longitudinal studies are needed to clarify the temporal relationships between mental health, marital status, and HRQoL.

Delivery Complications and Factors Associated with Maternal Death in Central Lampung Regency, Indonesia: A Case-Control Study

Nova Muhani — 2026-08-31

Background: Maternal mortality is an important indicator of population health. The maternal mortality rate (MMR) in Indonesia was 189 per 100,000 live births, compared with 192 per 100,000 live births in Lampung. Several efforts have been implemented to reduce maternal mortality by improving access to and the quality of maternal health services. This study aimed to identify risk factors associated with maternal death in Central Lampung Regency.

Method: A case-control design was conducted at hospitals located in Central Lampung Regency, Lampung Province. The cases comprised women who died during pregnancy, childbirth, or the postpartum period, while the controls comprised women who survived childbirth and had live births. A total of 71 cases and 142 controls were included. Data were collected retrospectively from hospital medical records from 2019 to 2021 using a data extraction form. The data were analyzed using logistic regression.

Result: Pregnancy complications (B=1,859; OR=6,414; 95% CI 2,784-14,777), delivery complications (B=2,835; OR=17,026; 95% CI 6,544-44,302), parity (B=1,596; OR=4,931; 95% CI 2,167-11,218), maternal medical history (B=1,401; OR=4,061; 95% CI 1,663-9,916) were significantly associated with maternal death. Among the variables included in the model, delivery complications showed the strongest association with maternal death, with an odds ratio (OR) of 17.0.

Conclusion: Delivery complications showed the strongest association with maternal death in this study. Strengthening healthcare providers’ capacity to recognize and manage pregnancy and childbirth complications, together with comprehensive counseling on safe pregnancy and childbirth practices, may help reduce maternal mortality.

Low Plasma Rifampicin and Isoniazid Concentration in Pulmonary TB Converters: The Importance of Antibacterial Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (A Preliminary Study)

Dedi Suyanto — 2026-08-31

Background: Low plasma drug concentrations in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) may contribute to sputum conversion failure. However, previous studies have reported inconsistent findings, possibly due to regional differences in the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of rifampicin and isoniazid against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). This study assessed the association between plasma drug concentrations and sputum conversion by considering regional MIC values.

Method: A case-control study involving 40 patients was conducted at four pulmonary TB facilities in Bandung, Indonesia, from January to September 2021. Participants were divided into a non-conversion group (cases, n = 20) and a conversion group (controls, n = 20). Peak plasma concentrations of rifampicin and isoniazid were measured two hours after oral administration at the end of the intensive phase using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

Results: In the non-conversion group, the mean rifampicin concentration was 5.30 ± 1.71 mg/L, and the median isoniazid concentration was 1.18 mg/L (0.51–3.71). In the conversion group, the mean rifampicin concentration was 5.85 ± 2.97 mg/L, and the median isoniazid concentration was 1.81 mg/L (0.40–6.10). Isoniazid concentrations differed significantly between groups, although both drugs showed below-reference concentrations in both groups.

Conclusion: Based on conventional reference concentrations, plasma rifampicin and isoniazid concentrations were not significantly associated with sputum conversion. However, when regional MIC values were considered, the conversion group tended to have higher Cmax/MIC ratios for both drugs than the non-conversion group.

Locally Produced Soy Milk for Maternal Nutrition in Rural Grobogan, Indonesia: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Sri Untari — 2026-08-31

Background: Maternal undernutrition remains an important public health issue in rural Indonesia, with limited access to commercial maternal milk potentially contributing to chronic energy deficiency during pregnancy. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of locally produced soy milk in improving maternal nutritional status compared with commercial maternal milk.

Method: A quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test parallel-group design was used among 66 pregnant women in Grobogan, Central Java from July to August 2025, who were equally allocated to intervention and control groups. The intervention group received 200 mL/day of soy milk, whereas the control group received an equal amount of commercial maternal milk for four weeks. Nutritional status was assessed using body mass index (BMI) and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC). Data were analysed using paired t-tests.

Results: Both groups showed significant improvements in BMI and MUAC (p < 0.05). BMI increased by 0.63 ± 1.54 kg/m² in the intervention group and 0.81 ± 1.04 kg/m² in the control group, while MUAC increased by 0.92 ± 0.49 cm and 0.94 ± 0.58 cm, respectively. Although the control group showed slightly greater increases, the improvements in BMI and MUAC were comparable between the two groups.

Conclusion: Overall, the study demonstrates that locally produced soy milk improves maternal nutritional status comparably to commercial maternal milk. Qualitative observations further highlight the importance of adherence, family support, and community health worker involvement in supporting the effectiveness of the intervention. Adherence exceeded 80%, mild nausea was reported by a small number of participants, and no participants withdrew because of side effects.

Age-Group Differences in Blood Pressure, Hemoglobin Levels, Cognitive Function, and Sleep Quality among Older Adults in Makassar, Indonesia

Yessy Kurniati — 2026-08-31

Background: Population aging in Indonesia presents increasing challenges due to the growing burden of chronic conditions among older adults. This study aimed to assess differences in blood pressure, hemoglobin levels, cognitive function, and sleep quality among older adults in Makassar, Indonesia, according to WHO age classifications (young-old, old, and oldest-old).

Method : A cross-sectional study was conducted between June and September 2023 among 259 older adults, categorized into young-old, old, and oldest-old groups according to WHO criteria. Participants were recruited using purposive sampling through community health centers and community-based health services. Data were collected on blood pressure, hemoglobin levels, cognitive function using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Statistical analyses included ANOVA and chi-square tests, with a statistical significance set at p < 0.05.

Results : Significant differences were found in hemoglobin levels (p = 0.034) and cognitive function (p = 0.001) across age groups, with cognitive impairment affecting more than 60% of participants in the oldest-old group. In contrast, no significant differences were observed in blood pressure (p = 0.192) or sleep quality (p = 0.332). Nevertheless, hypertension and poor sleep quality were prevalent across all age groups.

Conclusion : Older age was characterized by lower hemoglobin levels and poorer cognitive function, particularly among the olders-old group. Although hypertension and poor sleep quality were prevalent across all age groups, their lack of significant differences suggests that these conditions represent a substantial health burden among older adults generally. Integrated geriatric care, including community-based screening and management of multiple health conditions, may be warranted to address the complex health needs of older adults.