BKM Public Health and Community Medicine

Community-based cognitive and language stimulation through therapeutic group therapy for toddlers in an urban low-income area: a case report

2025-06-15T11:35:06+07:00

Purpose: Early childhood development is crucial for psychosocial growth, particularly in cognitive and language domains. In resource-limited areas, health promotion through community-based stimulation can bridge service gaps. A community-based approach involving parents and community health workers (CHWs) can effectively promote and prevent health issues in the community.

Program description: A structured intervention using therapeutic group therapy (TGT) was implemented for toddlers aged 1–2 years in Batu Tulis Village, South Bogor, in December 2024.

Implementation process: The program involved collaboration among mental health nursing students, mothers, health cadres, and local health workers. Activities focused on enhancing cognitive and language abilities. The intervention consisted of 30 to 45-minute stimulation sessions facilitated by mental health nursing students.

Outcomes and observations: Improvements were observed in children's vocabulary, understanding of basic concepts, and social interaction. The evaluation was conducted through qualitative observation, structured interviews with parents, and the use of child development indicators based on the standards of the Indonesian Ministry of Health. Parents reported that their children's communication and independence in daily routines had increased.

Implications for health workers: The case highlights the vital role of community health actors and mental health professionals in promoting early childhood development through straightforward and replicable interventions. This program is relevant for integration into primary health services and posyandu activities as part of the community's promotive and preventive strategy.

Conclusion: Community-based cognitive and language stimulation intervention can potentially support young children's psychosocial development.

The effect of e-waste in urban health: a systematic review

2025-06-25T09:45:31+07:00

Purpose: E-waste is among the most rapidly increasing types of waste worldwide. This paper aims to systematise the existing literature and explore future research prospects on the effect of e-waste on urban health.

Methods: This systematic review follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) guidelines. This literature search utilized articles available in the ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases, published within the last ten years (2014-2024), to explore the relationship between e-waste and urban health.

Results: E-Waste poses serious environmental and health risks, especially in areas with weak regulations and poor waste management. Exposure to hazardous substances through air, soil, and water, such as lead, mercury, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), can lead to respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurodevelopmental issues. Informal recycling worsens these risks, particularly for workers and nearby communities. Weak enforcement, economic barriers, and low public awareness further exacerbate the problem. Effective mitigation includes extended producer responsibility (EPR), formal recycling systems, and a circular economy. Urgent action is needed through stronger policies, enforcement, and awareness; future research should focus on developing sustainable e-waste solutions.

Conclusion: Our findings underscore the urgent need for integrated e-waste management policies and practices to safeguard urban public health and mitigate the adverse effects of e-waste exposure. This review lays the groundwork for future research aimed at understanding and addressing the complex health challenges posed by e-waste in urban environments.

Sanitation factors and environmentally-based diseases in slum areas of Padang

2025-06-25T09:59:56+07:00

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the relationship between sanitation factors and the incidence of environmentally based diseases in the slum areas of Padang.

Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted involving 373 households selected through proportional random sampling from 11 sub-districts categorized as slum areas. Data were collected using structured interviews and environmental assessments. Statistical analysis was performed to examine the association between sanitation factors and disease incidence using chi-square tests.

Results: Among the total respondents, 74.8% reported experiencing environmentally related diseases. A significant association was found between the source of clean water and disease incidence (p=0.035), with individuals using unprotected water sources being more likely to experience illness. Toilet conditions were also significantly associated (p=0.042), with households having poor toilet facilities exhibiting a higher incidence of disease. Waste management practices and wastewater drainage were associated with disease incidence (p=0.042), suggesting that inadequate disposal methods may contribute to health risks. The presence of mosquito larvae around households was significantly correlated with higher disease rates (p=0.010), indicating the role of vector-borne transmission. Furthermore, healthy home conditions were significantly related to disease incidence (p=0.046), highlighting the importance of proper housing infrastructure in disease prevention.

Conclusion: Sanitation factors, including access to clean water, proper toilet facilities, effective waste management, control of mosquito breeding sites, and healthy housing conditions, play a crucial role in reducing environmentally based diseases in slum communities. Public health interventions focusing on improving sanitation infrastructure and promoting hygiene practices are urgently needed.

Psychosocial factors and work stress in civil servants: a scoping review

2025-06-25T10:08:02+07:00

Purpose: Occupational stress is a challenge in occupational health that can affect worker and company productivity. Government employees often face a high workload, but research on work stress among them is limited. Therefore, through a scoping review, this study examined the psychosocial factors influencing workload among civil servants.

Methods: Following JBI Scoping Review guidelines, literature was retrieved from PubMed, ScienceDirect, ProQuest, and Google Scholar. Screening and full-text reviews were conducted using Rayyan, with descriptive synthesis applied. Studies on medical and security personnel and COVID-19-specific stress were excluded.

Results: Of the 970 articles identified, 11 studies met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed in this scoping review. The most dominant psychosocial factors influencing civil servants' work stress were their relationship with the organization and work environment (45.5%), followed by job demands (36.4%) and work-family balance (36.4%). Other factors contributing to job stress included job control, career prospects, supervisor support, and job dissatisfaction, while public motivation and social support were found in 1 study.

Conclusion: Civil servants’ work stress is shaped by multiple psychosocial factors, particularly organizational dynamics, workload, and family demands. Strengthening workplace support systems and promoting work-life balance are critical to reducing stress in this sector.