Community Alert Research Articles

Pengaruh Media Sosial Instagram Terhadap Kewaspadaan Masyarakat

Over the years, Depok has been negatively portrayed by its many social problems. Undoubtedly, this social problem must be anticipated as a warning to the community. Instagram is a type of social media that has the ability to increase public awareness through the dissemination of content. The purpose of this research is to find out how much influence the social media account Instagram @depok24jam has on people's awareness in Depok City. The design of this study used a quantitative method by collecting data using an online questionnaire (G-Form) on 100 sample respondents following the Instagram account @Depok24Jam. Data were analyzed using the Simple Linear Regression Analysis technique with descriptive testing, validity, reliability, normality, linearity and linear regression lines. The results and conclusions of the study found that Social Media Instagram @depok24jam had a significant influence on Community Alertness with a Sig value. 0.000 <0.05 and Tcount > Ttable 8.436 > 1.661. Researchers provide advice to the Instagram account @depok24jam, any content uploaded by the @depok24jam account is based on verifiable facts and comes from trusted news sources. Avoid spreading false or unverified information, as this can undermine the credibility of the account. And try to be the leading source of information in the Depok area.

Education to raise community awareness in preventing forest and peatland fires

Forest and peatland fires in Jangkang Dua Village, Kubu Raya Regency, pose a recurring issue, transpiring nearly every year. Over the past three years, there have been forest and peatland fires covering an estimated area of approximately 6 hectares. This predicament can lead to various adverse impacts, such as ecological damage, health disturbances, and economic setbacks for the community. Hence, there is a need to enhance the vigilance of the Fire Care Community to preempt future fires. This program is scheduled for implementation from June to December 2022. The approach involves educational activities focusing on forest and peatland fire disaster mitigation, restoration of burnt peatlands, canalization, and peatland vegetation. Additionally, firefighting equipment has undergone renovation. Evaluation results indicate the program's considerable success, achieving a percentage index of 90.88%. Findings from this service activity affirm that PPK Ormawa activities are effective in heightening the Fire Concern Community's alertness.

Estimating Causal Effects of HIV Prevention Interventions with Interference in Network-based Studies among People Who Inject Drugs.

Evaluating causal effects in the presence of interference is challenging in network-based studies of hard-to-reach populations. Like many such populations, people who inject drugs (PWID) are embedded in social networks and often exert influence on others in their network. In our setting, the study design is observational with a non-randomized network-based HIV prevention intervention. Information is available on each participant and their connections that confer possible HIV risk through injection and sexual behaviors. We considered two inverse probability weighted (IPW) estimators to quantify the population-level spillover effects of non-randomized interventions on subsequent health outcomes. We demonstrated that these two IPW estimators are consistent, asymptotically normal, and derived a closed-form estimator for the asymptotic variance, while allowing for overlapping interference sets (groups of individuals in which the interference is assumed possible). A simulation study was conducted to evaluate the finite-sample performance of the estimators. We analyzed data from the Transmission Reduction Intervention Project, which ascertained a network of PWID and their contacts in Athens, Greece, from 2013 to 2015. We evaluated the effects of community alerts on subsequent HIV risk behavior in this observed network, where the connections or links between participants were defined by using substances or having unprotected sex together. In the study, community alerts were distributed to inform people of recent HIV infections among individuals in close proximity in the observed network. The estimates of the risk differences for spillover using either IPW estimator demonstrated a protective effect. The results suggest that HIV risk behavior could be mitigated by exposure to a community alert when an increased risk of HIV is detected in the network.

Smart Monitoring System and Early Warning Water Level ―SMOORTY‖ using Raspberry Pi Technology

The river has become an inseparable part of human life, but river water's excessive overflowing can lead to disaster, namely flooding. Floods are quite common globally, but the people are often not ready to deal with it as there is no early warning to the public about the upcoming flood. The development of a smart monitoring city or referred to as SMOORTY in this study was made to provide a warning of the possibility of a flood disaster. SMOORTY application can help as one solution to improve the community's alertness in dealing with floods by providing an early warning notification through WhatsApp. SMOORTY also provides reports to monitor the river water level. SMOORTY uses a Raspberry Pi microcomputer to run the system and is supported by an ultrasonic sensor to measure the distance between SMOORTY and the measured river water. SMOORTY also has a warning system implanted in the device in the form of a buzzer and an LED that will be active when the water level exceeds the threshold limit. Keywords— Flood, Monitoring, Warning, Raspberry Pi, Water Level Sensor.

Gerakan Siaga Masyarakat Anti-Diabetes Mellitus (SIMANIS) Melalui Kartu SIDIA (Skrining Pre-Diabetes) di Kabupaten Semarang

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a non-communicable disease that contributes to the cause of death. Based on the analysis of the situation in Kawengen Village, Semarang Regency, there were several problems related to the incidence of DM, including the Non-Communicable Disease Integrated Guidance Post Program (Posbindu PTM), which was not running optimally. Based on these problems, it is necessary to form a movement called the Anti-Diabetes Mellitus Community Alert Movement (SIMANIS). Active case finding and detection of pre-DM cases aim to capture people who already have pre-DM symptoms, but they do not know. Furthermore, if caught, they can be followed up so that they are willing to go to the health service unit before complications occur. The implementation of this community service activity is carried out in four stages, namely the formation of SIMANIS cadres, education on prevention and control of DM to SIMANIS cadres and the community, ToT on how to fill in and use the SIDIA Card (pre-diabetes screening) to SIMANIS cadres, and use of the SIDIA Card for early detection active case finding pre-DM. There was an increase in the pre-post education knowledge score from 7.59 + 1.5 to 8.93 + 0.9 and an increase in the pre-post education attitude score from 7.96 + 1.22 to 9.07 + 0.78. SIMANIS through the use of the SIDIA Card can be used to increase public awareness in prevention, early detection, and case finding of DM.

The Pattern of Disaster Communication and Media to Improve Community Alertness in North Aceh Regency

This study aims to analyze the forms of communication carried out and the media used by the North Aceh District Disaster Management Agency in improving community alertness. This research uses descriptive research type, and qualitative research approaches. Research data obtained through interviews, observations, and documentation studies. Research informants, namely the Local Government, the Head of the North Aceh District Disaster Management Agency, the District Head of Langkahan, the Head of North Aceh SAR, the Head of RRI Lhokseumawe. The results showed that the communication carried out by the North Aceh District Disaster Management Agency was interpersonal communication and mass communication through socialization and simulation about disasters. While the communication media used, namely the mass media both print media and radio media to inform disaster management policies. It also used traditional media as local wisdom namely kentongan. Kentongan media are considered effective when communication tools that use technology do not function.

Creating environmental consciousness in underserved communities: Implementation and outcomes of community-based environmental justice and air pollution research

While the literature documents known barriers to research participation in underserved communities, there are still very few evidence-based strategies that have successfully addressed gaps regarding recruitment and retention. To this end, we developed a replicable model designed to establish community-academic partnerships and advance environmental health research in underserved communities. The Environmental Justice Community Alert Matrix (EJCAM) was implemented in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and includes programmatic elements of both citizen science and community engagement: (1) Outreach – Community Action Teams, (2) Involvement – Urban Transition Cities Movement, (3) Participatory Research – Mobile Air Quality Monitoring Bicycle Campaign, and (4) Consultation – Indoor Air Quality Assessments. Resident-led workshops were used to increase environmental consciousness in communities through peer-to-peer education. Adapting citizen science methods, commercially available particle counters were retrofitted to bicycles and the associated data used to develop GIS maps of particulate matter dispersion. Results show spatially-resolved PM2.5 values increase from background levels by an order of magnitude or 1000 counts adjacent to construction sites and public transportation hubs. As distrust in outside institutions has limited the reach of environmental justice research in underserved communities, bottom-up principles that start with individuals are essential, and should be undertaken as a meaningful and ongoing process.

An adaptive IoT platform on budgeted 3G data plans

Abstract In this paper, we design and implement an Internet-of-Things (IoT) based platform for developing cities using environmental sensing as a driving application. Since ubiquitous and free WiFi access is not available in most developing cities, IoT deployments must leverage 3G cellular connections that are metered and expensive. In order to best utilize the limited 3G data plan, we propose two adaptation strategies to drive sensing and data collection. The first technique is an infrastructure-level adaptation approach where we adjust sensing intervals of periodic sensors so that the data volume remains bounded within the allocated data budget. The second approach is at the information-level where application-specific analytics are deployed on-board devices. This use case focuses on multimedia sensors that process captured raw media data to lower volume semantic data that is communicated. We implement the two adaptation strategies on the EnviroSCALE (Environmental Sensing and Community Alert Network) platform, which is an inexpensive Raspberry Pi based environmental sensing system that employs air quality sensors and periodically publishes sensor data over a 3G connection with a limited data plan. We outline our deployment experience of EnviroSCALE in Dhaka city, the capital of Bangladesh, particularly in the direction of infrastructure-level adaptation. For information-level adaptation, our testbed experiment results demonstrate the practicality of adaptive sensing and triggering rich sensing analytics via user-specified criteria over budgeted 3G connections.

What Causes Late-Life Depression? A Qualitative Study of Depressed Iranian Older People

Background: Depression is a major health problem in old age that is closely related to cultural and social contexts. Studies have shown a higher prevalence of geriatric depression in Iran. Objectives: This qualitative content analysis study aimed to explore the psychosocial factors related to the experience of late life depression in older people in Iran. Methods: This qualitative study with a directed content analysis approach was conducted in Tehran in 2015. First, a systematic search in major English and Persian data banks was carried out to develop an analysis matrix. The participants with maximum variations in demographic characteristics were recruited from psychiatric clinics, if they met inclusion criteria, which included: 1) age of 60 years and, and 2) diagnosis above of depression by a psychiatrist in the last six months. Semi-structured interviews were conducted up to reaching data saturation. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and transformed into meaning units and codes. The codes were then analyzing matrix and reviewed again to form new subcategories and categories. Results: Twelve old people participated in this study. Analyzing the data, 534 codes in 42 subcategories and 17categories led to six main themes which included: 1) transition of value system, 2) role changes, 3) life concerns, 4) inadequacy of social relations, 5) regrets, and 6) impaired health and function. Discussion: From the perspective of the depressed old people, recent changes in values and impaired social relations, made them feel lonely confronting life struggles and inevitable changes of roles, health status and function. Some context-based interventions such as community alertness and providing more formal support may be helpful in preventing late life depression.

Fenethylline (Captagon) Abuse - Local Problems from an Old Drug Become Universal.

Fenethylline is a theophylline derivative of amphetamine having stimulant effects similar to those of other amphetamine-type derivatives. Fenethylline was used as medicament for hyperactivity disorders in children, narcolepsy and depression, but it has also been used as a drug of abuse under the common name of 'captagon'. Unlike other drugs of abuse, the clandestine synthesis of fenethylline is simple, using inexpensive laboratory instrumentation and raw materials legal to obtain. A review of all the existing knowledge of fenethylline is reported, concerning its chemistry, synthesis, pharmacology and toxicology, legislation, its prevalence and use as drug of abuse, as well as its analysis in biological or seized samples. Published or reported captagon-related cases and seizures are also presented. All the reviewed information was gathered through a detailed search of PubMed and the Internet. The primary drug market for fenethylline (as captagon) has traditionally been countries located on the Arabian Peninsula but also North Africa since 2013. In Arab countries, millions of captagon tablets are seized every year which represents one-third of global amphetamines seizures within a year. Furthermore, three of four patients treated for drug problems in Saudi Arabia are addicted to amphetamines, almost exclusively in the form of captagon. Significant information on fenethylline is provided for pharmacologists, toxicologists and forensic pathologists. Fenethylline, although old, has recently been introduced to the drug market, especially in Arab countries. Continuous community alertness is needed to tackle this current growing phenomenon.

AH-7921: the list of new psychoactive opioids is expanded.

AH-7921 is a structurally unique synthetic opioid analgesic that has recently entered the drug arena in Europe, the USA, and Japan. Although it was synthesized and patented in the mid-1970s, it was first identified in a seized sample purchased via the Internet in July 2012 and formally brought to the attention of the European Union early warning system in August 2012 by the United Kingdom. Several in vitro experiments and animal model studies established the morphine-like analgesic action of AH-7921 as a μ-opioid receptor agonist that has been found to be several times more potent than codeine and at least as potent as morphine. This novel psychoactive substance has already led to eight non-fatal intoxications and 16 deaths in Sweden, the United Kingdom, Norway, and the USA. Thus, AH-7921 is a current public health risk, and better international collaboration, effective legislation and continuous community alertness are needed to tackle this current growing problem. The aim of this review is to summarize the current knowledge about this drug concerning its chemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology, as well as its international legal status. The limited existing analytical methodologies for the determination of AH-7921 in biological samples are also presented. Published or reported AH-7921-related cases, fatalities, or intoxications, and self reports from drug users are reviewed.

Averting MERS-Cov Emerging Threat and Epidemics: The Importance of Community Alertness and Preparedness Policies and Programs

Africa being part of the global village is challenged by unprecedented and persistent emerging infectious diseases threats and outbreaks. Recent memories of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) outbreaks in Saudi Arabia (2012) and South Korea (2015), West Africa Ebola viral disease outbreak and public health humanitarian crisis (2014) and China’s SARS outbreaks. Various differences and similarities between these diseases have triggered serious concerns and magnified that similar outbreaks could occur anywhere in the world with lingering health complications, socio-political and economic crises. Yet, there is dearth of knowledge on MERS-CoV reservoirs, risk factors of emergence, infectivity and transmissibility in Africa and globally. This paper highlights forward approaches and key activities to the African Union, governments and institutions and all stakeholders including public-private partnership. These play paramount roles in providing information and support to address MERS-CoV and other emerging infectious diseases research gaps, (2) promoting community alertness and resilience in preparedness, (3) fostering effective and coordinated logistics in risk communication, planning and response in MERS-CoV public mobilization literacy and awareness, advocacy and mitigation. There is an urgent need to establish an integrated and strategic evidence-based local and nationwide surveillance and response capacity, (5) better understand the MERS-CoV animal reservoir(s) and human-human infectivity and transmissibility, and (6) implement informed community-based or national threat and epidemics actionable emergency insurance facility and compensation schemes. Conclusively, improved early warning, active and integrated epidemiological and genomic surveillance indicators data gathering to inform and guide effective and community resilience capability in consolidating and upholding knowledge gains from “One Health Surveillance Network” and best practices in achieving “One Health” and global health security.

5‐(2‐aminopropyl)indole: A new player in the drama of ‘legal highs’ alerts the community

5-(2-aminopropyl)indole (5-IT) is a new psychoactive substance, a 'legal high', that recently invaded the drug arena in Europe and has already led to numerous intoxications and fatalities. Knowledge upon its pharmacology and toxicity is non-existent or restricted; the only available information involves very few published scientific articles, official reports from the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction and drug abusers' experiences expressed in online drug forums. A review of the existing knowledge on 5-IT is reported, concerning its chemistry and synthesis, its pharmacological and toxicological aspects, as well as information concerning the fatal and toxic consequences of its use. The existing methodologies for the determination of 5-IT in biological and seized samples as well as its legal status are also presented. All the relative data were gathered through a detailed search of PubMed and the Internet. No original studies have investigated and/or confirmed its pharmacological properties, acute and chronic toxicity, physiological and behavioural effects or the dependence potential of the drug. Thus, it is difficult to specify the physical effects of 5-IT in humans. This drug is a phenomenon with global significance for public health as its use can lead to intoxication and fatalities. Significant information on 5-IT is provided for pharmacologists, toxicologists, forensic pathologists and regulatory authorities. 5-IT is a current public health challenge. Better international collaboration, effective legislation and continuous community alertness are needed to tackle this current growing phenomenon.