Jurnal Health Sains

Analysis of Factors Influencing waste Management in The Dom Aleixo Administrative Post, Dili Municipality, in 2022

2026-09-16T02:31:11+00:00

Countries worldwide face complex challenges, with waste management remaining a major concern, particularly in rapidly growing urban areas of developing countries. Waste management involves waste reduction, reuse, processing, collection, and disposal activities. Effective waste management and disposal require the optimal utilization of available technologies to support sustainable practices and environmental protection. This study aimed to identify the factors influencing waste management in the Dom Aleixo Administrative Post, Dili Municipality, during 2022. It employed an analytical observational design with a cross-sectional approach. The results showed no significant relationship between community knowledge (X1) and waste management (Y) (RP = 0.954; 95% CI: 0.181–4.606). However, significant relationships were found between waste management (Y) and community attitudes (X2) (RP = 1.515; 95% CI: 1.019–4.066), local leader support (X3) (RP = 1.558; 95% CI: 1.293–3.762), political factors (X5) (RP = 2.043; 95% CI: 1.948–5.982), and facilities and infrastructure (X6) (RP = 1.572; 95% CI: 1.443–3.644). No significant relationship was identified between family support (X4) and waste management (RP = 1.225; 95% CI: 0.753–2.644). In conclusion, community knowledge (X1) and family support (X4) were not significantly associated with waste management, whereas community attitudes (X2), local leader support (X3), political factors (X5), and facilities and infrastructure (X6) demonstrated significant associations with waste management practices.

Problematic Smartphone Use and Sleep Disturbance in Adolescents and Young Adults: A Systematic Review of Longitudinal and Experimental Evidence

2026-09-16T02:41:00+00:00

Problematic smartphone use (PSU) refers to excessive or poorly regulated smartphone use associated with functional impairment. Adolescents and young adults are vulnerable to both PSU and sleep disturbances; however, existing evidence has been predominantly cross-sectional and limited in determining temporal relationships. This review aimed to synthesize longitudinal and experimental evidence regarding the association between PSU and sleep disturbances among adolescents and young adults. PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched from inception to January 2026. Eligible studies included prospective cohort studies and randomized controlled trials involving adolescents or young adults that assessed PSU or related smartphone behaviors and reported at least one sleep-related outcome or a relevant mental health pathway associated with PSU and sleep disturbances. Nine studies were included, comprising six prospective cohort studies and three randomized controlled trials, with a total of 11,857 participants. The mean age of participants ranged from 12.5 to 22.7 years, and follow-up or intervention durations ranged from 4 weeks to 2 years. Longitudinal evidence showed that nocturnal mobile phone-related awakenings were associated with restless sleep (aOR 5.39, 95% CI: 2.13–13.65) and difficulty falling asleep (aOR 3.44, 95% CI: 1.03–11.54). High screen time was associated with difficulty falling asleep (aOR 2.41, 95% CI: 1.41–4.13). Cross-lagged analyses suggested bidirectional associations between PSU and sleep problems. Experimental studies indicated that mindfulness-based interventions, screen-time reduction, and bedtime phone restriction improved several sleep outcomes. Overall, longitudinal and experimental evidence suggests a bidirectional association between PSU and sleep disturbances among adolescents and young adults.

Leprosy Reactions and Nerve Damage in Children and Adolescents: A Pediatric Evidence Synthesis with Verified Cohort Findings

2026-09-16T02:35:12+00:00

Leprosy in childhood is an indicator of ongoing transmission and may be complicated by inflammatory reactions, neuritis, and disability. Antimicrobial treatment is essential; however, completion of therapy alone does not guarantee the preservation of nerve function. Pediatric evidence remains dispersed across small observational cohorts, with inconsistencies in denominators and outcome definitions. This study prepared a pediatric evidence synthesis using publicly accessible full-text cohort reports that provided verifiable numerators and denominators for reactions, neuritis, nerve damage, or disability outcomes. The synthesis was structured according to PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Studies were eligible if they included children younger than 15 years with leprosy and reported clinically defined outcomes during diagnosis, multidrug therapy, or follow-up. Two Brazilian prospective cohorts from referral units were verified through full-text review. In a 2019 cohort, 18 of 34 children (52.9%) experienced a leprosy reaction and/or isolated neuritis; among these, 14 of 18 (77.8%) had type 1 reactions, 14 of 18 (77.8%) experienced two or more episodes, and 6 of 18 (33.3%) developed complications. In a 2024 two-year cohort, 38 of 77 children (49.3%) experienced reactions; among these 38 children, 16 (42.1%) showed progression with worsening nerve damage. At diagnosis, 29 of 38 children (76.3%) had nerve damage, 20 (52.6%) had physical disability, and 11 (28.9%) had grade 2 disability. The verified cohorts indicate a substantial burden of leprosy reactions and nerve impairment among children treated in referral settings. Reactions occurred both during and after multidrug therapy, highlighting the importance of continued neurological surveillance beyond the completion of antimicrobial treatment.

The Effectiveness of Self-Help Cognitive Behavioural Treatment (SHCBT) in Reducing Social Media Addiction Among Young Adults

2026-09-15T02:27:28+00:00

Social media addiction is increasingly prevalent among young adults and may disrupt psychological well-being, emotional regulation, productivity, and daily functioning. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of Self-Help Cognitive Behavioral Treatment (SHCBT) in reducing social media addiction among young adults. A quasi-experimental two-group pretest–posttest design was employed with eight participants aged 25–29 years who were selected through purposive sampling and assigned to guided and non-guided SHCBT groups. Social media addiction was measured using the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale, while data were analyzed using paired-samples and independent-samples t-tests in SPSS. The guided group demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in social media addiction scores between the pretest and posttest (p = 0.016). The most consistent improvements occurred in salience and withdrawal symptoms, indicating reduced cognitive preoccupation and psychological discomfort when social media access was limited. However, the mean N-Gain score was 0.19, indicating a low magnitude of improvement, and the posttest difference between the guided and non-guided groups was not statistically significant. These findings suggest that SHCBT has preliminary potential to improve awareness of maladaptive thoughts and support greater control over social media use. Nevertheless, its comparative effectiveness remains inconclusive because of the small sample size, short intervention period, and absence of follow-up assessments.