Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs), caused by helminths and/or protozoa, continue to be a significant public health concern in Indonesia. Water access, sanitation, and hygiene practices (WASH) are influential factors for IPIs, especially among children. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between WASH and IPIs among school-aged children. A cross-sectional study involving 338 school-age children in an urban slum area in North Jakarta, Indonesia, was conducted using stool specimens subjected to microscopic and real-time polymerase chain reaction (rt-PCR) examination. The children underwent a finger-prick blood test and anthropometric measurements to determine anemia and nutritional status. Parents whose children participated in stool and blood examinations were interviewed using a modified WASH questionnaire. Helminth infections were not found in this study, whereas the overall prevalence of intestinal protozoa parasitic infection (IPPI) was 18.3% and 52.4% by microscopy and rt-PCR, respectively. Blastocystis spp. was found to have the highest prevalence (microscopy: 12%; rt-PCR: 48.6%), followed by Giardia intestinalis (microscopy: 0.6%; rt-PCR: 6.7%), Cryptosporidium spp. (microscopy: 5.1%; rt-PCR: 1.6%), and Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (microscopy: 0.6%; rt-PCR: 3.2%). Additionally, Dientamoeba fragilis was detected by rt-PCR at 4.1%. Furthermore, the discrepancies between microscopy and rt-PCR were observed in 8.9% (n=28) of the examined specimens. The majority of the respondents had a low-risk category of WASH profile. School children aged 5–10 years old (OR=2.06; 95%CI=1.27–3.33) and those who drank unprocessed cooking water (OR=1.95; 95%CI=1.07–3.57) were significantly associated with IPPI. The present study demonstrated that rt-PCR provides a better understanding of IPI epidemiology and has potential as a monitoring strategy for managing IPIs. Even though this population exhibits an adequate WASH profile and is not directly associated with IPIs, conducting a more in-depth observation of WASH facilities and practices is recommended to ensure a comprehensive assessment of the WASH profile. Additionally, engaging stakeholders in health promotion programs to ensure the sustainability of a good WASH profile and awareness of parasitic infections will be advantageous in achieving optimal urban health.

Urbanization in Jakarta has led to the development of slum settlements characterized by poor sanitation and limited access to clean water. This environment significantly increases the risk of intestinal protozoan parasitic infections (IPPIs), which are known to cause diarrhea and adversely affect the growth and development of children—key factors in the success of Indonesia's Emas 2045 initiative. To address this, the community service team from FKIK UNIKA Atma Jaya conducted a free fecal examination program for students at a public school in the Penjaringan District, a slum area in North Jakarta. The program included several phases: preparation, education, microscopic examination, and evaluation, involving both the school and the students' parents or guardians. Diagnostic methods utilized were direct examination and a modified Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) staining technique. Out of 223 participants, 16.6% were found to be infected with IPPIs. The analysis revealed no significant correlation between infection rates and grade levels (p=0.106). This initiative is expected to enhance awareness among parents and students about IPPIs, leading to improved personal hygiene and sanitation practices. It also provides valuable data to authorities for assessing and formulating preventive policies against IPPIs

Air pollution poses a considerable threat to lung health worldwide, particularly in Jakarta, Indonesia’s largest urban center. Factors such as the extensive use of fossil-fueled vehicles, industrialization, and smoking contribute to poor air quality and affect children’s respiratory development and health. Therefore, this community service program aimed to educate elementary schoolchildren in Pejagalan, North Jakarta, about preventing the harmful effects of air pollution through comprehensive yet engaging learning methods. Pretests and posttests were used to evaluate students’ understanding and improvement in knowledge of the topic after the activity. This program integrated lecture-based education, an audiovisual approach through a visit to the Anatomy Museum, and game-based learning to enhance awareness. A total of 81 sixth-grade students participated in this activity under the supervision of the principal and seven teachers. A modest improvement was observed in several aspects of respiratory health, with female students demonstrating a marginally greater increase in knowledge, whereas male students exhibited a slight decrease. However, no significant difference was observed between pretest and posttest scores, either collectively (p = 0.756) or by gender (p = 0.243 for males and p = 0.196 for females), and knowledge remained within the moderate category. The findings suggested that students already had sufficient understanding of the topic at pretest; therefore, the increase in knowledge at posttest was not significant. Nevertheless, knowledge acquisition may be enhanced by optimizing content delivery and integrating diverse educational strategies, such as group-based simulations demonstrating the effects of smoking on lung color. Recognizing that early learning is essential for acquiring knowledge and fostering positive behaviors, this study underscores the importance of direct respiratory health education at an early age. This need was supported by favorable feedback from both students and teachers, indicating the value of this enjoyable learning activity. Therefore, continuous and sustainable respiratory health education through interactive approaches is essential for enhancing students’ knowledge acquisition and retention.

Dengue infection, transmitted by Aedes spp. mosquitoes, is an endemic disease that burdens Indonesia. Aedes spp. mosquitoes and larvae density are correlated with the presence of unmanaged water storage containers. One of the efforts to reduce Dengue infections is the eradication of mosquito nests (Pemberantasan Sarang Nyamuk/PSN) at the community level through 3M Plus and one house one larval surveyor movement (Gerakan 1 Rumah 1 Jumantik/G1R1J). A community service in RW 08 and RW 15 Penjaringan Sub-district, done by the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, aimed to re-evaluate the effectiveness of the 3M Plus and G1R1J activities that are routinely conducted in both areas using the larval counting result as indicators. Health cadres from both RWs routinely urge the residents to implement the PSN program. At the same time, the residents also implement the movements positively. Although in general, the program is being well implemented, during this activity, we still found larvae in 7.20% of water containers of some houses, thus suggesting that continuing both communication and education on 3M plus and G1RIJ is still needed.