Empowering adolescents as peer-educators for early prevention of non-communicable diseases

Abstract

Background: Human lifestyles, including sedentary activities, obesity, and smoking, are associated with a high risk of non-communicable diseases that are a leading cause of death globally. Accordingly, health promotion should be done as early as possible in the adolescent period. Aims: This study explores the efficacy of a peer-educator program in promoting the healthy habits of adolescents, via an existing Indonesian community initiative program called ‘POSBINDU’ (Integrated Counseling Post), led by the general practitioners. Methods: Twenty-week ‘experiential learning’ approach with mixed-method was designed to: 1) Train 10 GP trainers, 2) Recruit and observe the 10 group-1 and 50 group-2 peer-educators in a high school; 3) Develop modules on health lifestyles by the GPS and peer-educators, and 4) Implement the POSBINDU program at the high school. Results: Both GPs and students’ perceptions significantly increased before to after the intervention ( p > 0.05). The participants also expressed they experienced increased comprehension of NCDs and the importance of healthy habits. Conclusions: The existing POSBINDU community's initiative program can potentially be improved by appropriate interventions to empower school students towards better healthy habits to prevent the early progression of NCDs.

Differences in knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding hypertension by access to a community-based screening program (POSBINDU): A cross-sectional study from four districts in Indonesia

“…Almost half of the respondents answered that maintaining a healthy lifestyle becomes less important when they are already on medication. This finding is in contrast with another study that most of the population prefers a healthy lifestyle rather than medication [39][40][41] Our findings align with another study's results, which indicated that individuals diagnosed with lifestyle-related diseases often neglect their dietary and exercise habits. This behavior might come from their perception that medication therapy holds greater significance than diet and exercise that they may believe for relying on medications can make up for their unhealthy lifestyle choices [42].…”

“…Health education strategies that can be implemented are counseling sessions and interactive workshops, increasing self-care skills for blood pressure control action for the hypertensive patient [ 38 ]. Healthy lifestyle education and consultation can be improved and maximized by using various media and ensuring easy access to information and education in POSBINDU [ 41 , 54 ]. Improving the attitude and practice aspect of regular physical exercise can be conducted by including physical programs such as aerobic training, or cooking sessions in the POSBINDU activities.…”

Rural Indonesian adolescents’ smoking behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic: rapid survey and cotinine test of school-attend adolescents in Gunung Kidul, Yogyakarta

“…Explanations of the cotinine test also faced challenges for their acceptance at school due to concerns about the results being reported to the school. Therefore, we collaborated with the representatives of the students and the student council, who were recruited as cadres of Posbindu (Pos Binaan Terpadu/Eng: empowerment program to provide screenings for school communities), to ensure the important information related to the tests reached all students in each class 24 . The cadres were then trained once in each school to provide necessary information regarding the survey and the details of the cotinine test to their classmates.…”

Determinants of the Incidence of Hypertension in Indonesia

“…One effort to prevent hypertension complications, especially heart and blood vessel disease at PHC, is through integrated services (Pelayanan Terpadu or PANDU), such as empowering the community in early detection and monitoring of hypertension risk factors held in the community. Such as implementing a healthy lifestyle starting from the family, controlling hypertension risk factors with early detection and modification of lifestyle, and participating in and supporting efforts to prevent and control hypertension [2].…”