International Journal of Health Sciences

Toward an Integrated Digital Monitoring System for Children with Down Syndrome: Therapists' Perspectives

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Children with Down syndrome (DS) require continuous multidisciplinary rehabilitation to address delays in cognitive, motor, language, and adaptive development. However, conventional monitoring methods remain fragmented, limiting communication among therapists, parents, and teachers and reducing the continuity of care. This study explored therapists' perspectives on the development of an integrated digital monitoring system for children with DS.A descriptive qualitative study was conducted between May and June 2026 in Pontianak City and Kubu Raya Regency, West Kalimantan, Indonesia. Nine therapists representing speech therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, and behavioral therapy were purposively recruited. Data were collected through semi structured in depth interviews and analyzed using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis.Six major themes emerged: (1) developmental challenges faced by children with DS, (2) barriers to home based therapy, (3) the need for an integrated digital monitoring system, (4) essential system features, (5) collaboration among therapists, parents, and teachers, and (6) limitations of current monitoring practices. Therapists emphasized that an integrated digital platform should support real time developmental tracking, home therapy monitoring, video based documentation, automated progress reports, and secure communication among stakeholders. Such a system was perceived as essential for strengthening multidisciplinary collaboration, improving continuity of rehabilitation, and supporting individualized interventions.Therapists recognized the urgent need for an integrated digital monitoring system to overcome the limitations of conventional monitoring. The proposed system has the potential to enhance family centered rehabilitation, facilitate evidence based clinical decision making, and improve developmental outcomes for children with DS.

Keywords: Children Down syndrome, Digital Health, Digital Monitoring System, Family Centered Care, Therapists' Perspectives

The Relationship Between Mothers' Knowledge About Family Planning And Participation In Family Planning Programs

Cakrawati Cakrawati; Salsa Putri Aulia — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Family planning (FP) is one of the government's strategic programs to improve maternal and child health , regulate birth spacing , and enhance family welfare . Mothers ' participation in the family planning program is influenced by various factors , one of which is their level of knowledge regarding family planning . This study aimed to determine the relationship between mothers ' knowledge of family planning and their participation in the family planning program. This study employed a quantitative analytical design with a cross-sectional approach . The population consisted of women of reproductive age in the study area, and respondents were selected using a purposive sampling technique . Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using univariate and bivariate analyses with the Chi- square test at a significance level of 0.05. The findings indicated that most respondents had good knowledge of family planning and actively participated in the family planning program. The Chi- square test showed a statistically significant relationship between mothers ' knowledge and participation in the family planning program (p < 0.05). It can be concluded that better knowledge is associated with higher participation in family Continuous planning health education and counseling is recommended to improve mothers ' knowledge and increase participation in the family planning program.

Keywords : Knowledge , Mother , Family Planning , Participation , Contraception

The Effect Of Infant Massage On Infant Sleep Quality

Lumastari Ajeng Wijayanti, Rezqiqah Aulia Rahmat — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Good sleep quality is essential for infant growth and development. Adequate sleep supports neurological maturation, physical growth, and cognitive development. Infant massage is a widely used non- pharmacologically intervention that provides relaxation and improves sleep quality.

Objective: To determine the effect of infant massage on infant sleep quality.

Methods: This quantitative study employed a pre-experimental one group pretest-posttest design. Thirty infants aged 1–6 months were selected using purposive sampling. Infant massage was performed for four weeks. Sleep quality was assessed before and after the intervention using an observation checklist and infant sleep diary. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Shapiro – Wilk normality test, and the Paired Sample t- Test .

Results : The mean sleep quality score increased from 6.45 ± 1.18 before the intervention to 8.63 ± 0.97 afterward . The Paired Sample t- Test showed a statistically significant improvement ( p = 0.001 ).

Conclusion : Infant massage effectively improves infant sleep quality and can be used as a complementary intervention to optimal infant support development .

Keywords : infant massage , sleep quality , infant , tactile stimulation , growth and development .

The Relationship Between Nutritional Status And Toddler Motor Development

Lumastari Ajeng Wijayanti, Rezqiqah Aulia Rahmat — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background : Nutritional status plays an essential role in children's growth and development . Adequate nutrition supports brain development , muscle growth , and motor development , whereas poor nutritional status may delay motor milestones .

Objective : To determine the relationship between nutritional status and motor development among toddlers .

Methods : A quantitative study using an analytical cross-sectional design was conducted among 60 toddlers aged 12–59 months selected through purposive sampling. Nutritional status was assessed using weight-for-age (WAZ) based on WHO standards , while motor development was evaluated using the Pre-Screening Developmental Questionnaire (KPSP) . Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Chi- Square test .

Results : Most toddlers had good nutritional status ( 70.0% ) and age-appropriate motor development ( 73.3% ). Statistics analysis showed a significant relationship between nutritional status and motor development ( p = 0.002 ).

Conclusion : Nutritional status is significantly associated with motor development among toddlers . Children with good nutritional status are more likely to achieve appropriate motor development .

Keywords : nutritional status, motor development , toddler , growth , KPSP

Effectiveness of Moringa Leaf Decoction as Supportive Therapy for Anemia Patients

Rezqiqah Aulia Rahmat, Reffi Dhamayanti — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Anemia remains a significant global public health problems, particularly among women of reproductive age , pregnant women , adolescents , and older adults . It is characterized by low hemoglobin levels , resulting in reduced oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood . Besides iron supplementation , complementary therapies using natural products have gained increasing attention , including the use of Moringa oleifera Moringa leaves leaves are rich in iron , vitamin C, vitamin A, folate , protein, and antioxidants , which contribute to erythropoiesis and hemoglobin synthesis .

This study aimed to review scientific evidence regarding the effectiveness of Moringa leaf decoction as an adjunctive therapy for improving hemoglobin levels in patients with anemia. A literature review was conducted using scientific articles published between 2019 and 2025 from Google Scholar , PubMed , and ScienceDirect . Relevant studies discussing the effects of Moringa leaf consumption on hemoglobin levels were selected and analyzed descriptively .

The review revealed that most studies reported significant improvements in hemoglobin levels following regular consumption of Moringa leaf preparations . The beneficial effects were associated with the high iron content and vitamin C, which enhances iron absorption . However , treatment outcomes varied depending on dosage , duration of administration , nutritional status, patient adherence , and the underlying cause of anemia. Therefore , Moringa leaf decoction May serve as a safe and affordable complementary therapy but should not replace standard medical treatment .