BACKGROUND: Iron plays an essential role in the process of neurotransmitter synthesis and neuron myelination. Iron deficiency impacts low cognitive performance, even involved in long-term effects even though iron deficiency has been overcome. Given the impact caused by iron deficiency, it is necessary to monitor the status of iron in the body. Diagnostic tests carried out so far use blood specimens taken with invasive method. This creates fear for the child because of the pain it causes. AIM: This study aims to obtain a non-invasive alternative diagnostic test in detecting iron deficiency in children using saliva as an examination specimen. METHODS: The design of this study was case control, with a sample of elementary school children aged 9–12 years and for women who had not experienced menstruation. The sample consisted of 40 people who were taken randomly and grouped into iron deficiency and normal. Determine the group of iron deficiency and normal was based on the results of an examination of serum iron levels. Next, saliva samples were taken to determine saliva iron levels. The characteristics of the sample data were obtained through a questionnaire, while the measurement of serum iron levels was carried out by the spectrophotometric method, and the measurement of saliva iron levels was carried out by the ELISA method. Data were analyzed using Spearman’s test. RESULTS: Based on serum iron measurements, it was found that the mean serum iron levels in children with iron deficiency were lower than normal children (38.153 ± 8.99 q/dL vs. 79.198 ± 14.2219 q/dL), on the contrary, on examination of iron levels, it was found that in children with iron deficiency, saliva iron levels were higher than in normal children (5.745 ± 3.04 q/dL vs. 2,576 ± 1.43 q/dL). The correlation test results showed a significant negative correlation between serum iron levels and moderate iron levels (p = 0.000, r = –0.518). CONCLUSION: Saliva iron levels can be used as an alternative non-invasive diagnostic test to assess children’s iron status.

The cultivation of maggot Black Soldier Fly (BSF) is a bioconversion technology of organic matter that can be one solution to the problem of organic waste. This study aims to examine aspects of organic waste management through BSF Medan maggot cultivation, including operational technical, financing, institutional, regulatory and community and government participation aspects. This research is a descriptive observational study with an exploratory study approach using the interview method. Descriptive and quantitative data processing and analysis. Based on operational technical aspects, maggot cultivation has succeeded in converting organic waste into a source of animal feed protein and reducing the amount of organic waste. The amount of organic waste that is managed is 90kg/day with an effectiveness of 0.013% the total domestic waste in Medan. The financing and institutional aspects of waste management are managed in an organized manner through a cooperative body, namely the Primary Waste Management Cooperative (PKPS) Medan. The regulatory aspect that is used as reference is Medan Mayor Regulation No. 26 of 2019. Aspects of community participation directly from members of the cooperative and the Laucih wholesale market trader in Medan City. This bioconversion technology is able to overcome the problem of waste in an effort to reduce organic waste.

Salah satu indikator kesehatan yang dinilai pada Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) di Indonesia adalah mengenai status gizi balita. Berdasarkan hasil Studi Status Gizi Indonesia (SSGI) 2021, diketahui prevalensi stunting menurun dari 27,7% pada tahun 2019 kemudian pada tahun 2021 menjadi 24,4%. Sedangkan prevalensi underweight meningkat pada tahun 2021 menjadi 17% yang sebelumnya pada tahun 2019 adalah 16,3%. Salah satu upaya pemerintah dalam mengatasi masalah kekurangan gizi adalah melalui program Pemberian Makanan Tambahan (PMT). Sasaran dalam pemberian makanan tambahan adalah balita kelompok usia 6-59 bulan. Pengabdian masyarakat ini ingin memantau konsumsi pemberian makanan tambahan pada balita dengan masalah gizi di Kelurahan Kebon Baru, melakukan penyuluhan pada orang tua balita dan melakukan penilaian status gizi dengan indikator keberhasilan yaitu peningkatan berat badan pada balita. Kemudian ditemukan hasil yaitu masih ada balita dengan masalah gizi yang belum mendapatkan makanan tambahan berupa proten, masih ada PMT yang tidak dihabiskan oleh balita selama satu bulan pemberian makanan tambahan, dan ditemukan terdapat PMT yang dikonsumsi tidak hanya oleh balita tapi juga anggota keluarga lainnya. Terdapat peningkatan pengetahuan pada orang tua balita setelah penyuluhan. Ada peningkatan status gizi balita berdasarkan BB/U yaitu dari status kurang (underweight) menjadi normal sebelum dan sesudah pemberian PMT.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis is an infectious disease and global concern today. AIM: This study aims to map the incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis risk factors in Kabanjahe District, Karo Regency. METHOD: This research is an ecological study with a case-control study design. This research was conducted in Kabanjahe District in January - October 2020. All people who checked and declared to have tuberculosis based on clinical symptoms to be the population in this study. The sample size was calculated with a minimum sample size of 58 for the case group and 58 for the control group with a ratio of 1:1. The distribution pattern of pulmonary tuberculosis and environmental risk factors with the incidence of tuberculosis was carried out using a Geographic Information System (GIS) to determine the distribution of cases. Spatial analysis used average nearest neighbor, overlay and buffer followed with logistic regression as multivariate statistical analysis. RESULT:  The distribution pattern of pulmonary tuberculosis in Kabanjahe District tends to group (clusters). GeoDa software found the relationship between population density and tuberculosis incidence in Kabanjahe District with p values 0.04. There is a relationship between income, ventilation, floor conditions, humidity, and lighting with the incidence of tuberculosis. Humidity is the most dominant variable associated with the incidence of tuberculosis.   CONCLUSION: The incidence of tuberculosis cases in Kabanjahe District is dominantly influenced by the humidity factor of the house which is increasingly at risk due to poor ventilation, unstable room temperature, and bad circulation.

Background: Parental education is important in preventing sexual violence against children. Parents need good knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy to educate their children, though their effectiveness is affected by various factors. Objective: This study aimed to predict the knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy of parents in education to prevent sexual violence in children. Methods: A quantitative design with a cross-sectional approach was used. The sample is 400 parents who have children aged 12-17 years. Data was collected through direct interviews and analyzed using univariate and bivariate (Chi-Square test with 95% CI). Results: the experience of parents receiving education on preventing sexual violence against children correlate with knowledge (p-value = 0.012), attitude (p-value = 0.0000) and self-efficacy (p-value = 0.000). Conclusion: The experience of parents helps predict knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy in providing education to prevent sexual violence against children.)