Factors Associated Mosquito Larvae Eradication and Early Management of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever among Poor Community in Lokapaksa Village, Buleleng, Bali

BACKGROUND: Dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) remains a public health importance in the world. It causes hospitalization, death of patients, and high healthcare costs. This study aimed to describe factors associated mosquito larvae eradication and early management of DHF among poor community in Lokapaksa village, Buleleng, Bali. SUBJECT AND METHODS: This was a qualitative study carried out in poor community in Lokapaksa village, Buleleng, Bali. The study subjects included 30 household heads and village heads. The data were colected by focus group discussion, indepth interview, and direct observation. RESULTS: Outbreak of DHF occurred in Bali. In January 2016, 4 patients died from DHF. In 2015, according to the Provincial Health Office, there were 910 DHF cases, of which 262 cases occured in Buleleng, 245 cases occured in Gianyar districts. The response to new cases by clinics and community health centers was often late. Most of the villagers had low level of knowledge in mosquito larva eradication and early mana-gement of DHF. Mosquito larvae were found in about half of the houses surveyed. All of the household studied threw garbage in the backyard of houses. Health personnels had ever implemented fogging. CONCLUSIONS: The villagers had low level of knowledge and poor practice in mosquito larva eradication and early management of DHF. Environment sanitation was poor. Health care system had late response in the incidence of new cases. Keywords: Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever, mosquito larvae, larva eradication, early case managemen

Qualitative Study on Pet-Related Human Behaviour and Other Risk Factors of Rabies in Buleleng, Bali

BACKGROUND: Bali has been an endemic province since 2008. Rabies cause specific death was 8, 1, and 2, respectively, in 2012, 2013, and 2014. Number of dog or cat bites was 55836, 44690, and 46877, respectively, in 2012, 2013, and 2014. The study aimed to explore pet-related human behavior and other risk factors of rabies in Buleleng, Bali. SUBJECT AND METHODS: This was a qualitative study conducted in poor communities living in Bulian village, Kubutambahan sub-district, Buleleng district, Bali. Twenty households were purposively selected for this study. The key informants included household members, heads of hamlet, and head of village. The data were collected by in-depth interview, direct observation, and document review. RESULTS: House condition and sanitation were acceptable, despite low socio-economic position of community members. Dog population was high. Most of them lived wild, unattended, or did not have identity neck-lace. Ten out of 20 household interviewed reported that their members were bitten by dog over the past year. Most of the dogs had never been vaccinated. Most of the villagers had poor knowledge and practice on how to treat wounds. Villagers usually let the dogs that had bitten human to live free or killed them immediately. CONCLUSION: Uncontrolled of dog population, widespread unvacci-nated dogs, uncontrolled dog mobility, lack of proper knowledge and practice on wound treatment, were the main risk factors of rabies incidence. Keywords: rabies, dog bite, pet-related human behavior, risk facto

Health-Related Sexual Behavior among Transgenders in Singaraja, Bali

BACKGROUND: The existence of persons with trans-genders orienta-tion (waria) is undeniable. Usually trans-genders are at risk for sexual transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS do to their sexual behavior. This study aimed to describe health related sexual behavior among persons with trans-gender orientation in Singaraja, Bali. SUBJECT AND METHODS: This was a qualitative study conducted in Singaraja, Bali. The data was obtained from the trans-genders by in-depth interview and observation. RESULTS: The trans-genders participated actively in social event and campaign related to HIV/AIDS prevention and control. However, they had high-risk sexual behavior, such as doing oral sex, anal sex, and squeeze sex. Only 80% used condoms during sexual intercourse. The trans-genders rarely checked up for reproductive health provided by the District Health Office in Singaraja, Bali. They were reluctant to be examined by female doctors. CONCLUCION: The trans-genders in Singaraja, Bali, still have high-risk sexual behavior. The rarely use reproduction health services provided by the government, among others because they are not comfortable to be examine by female doctors. Keywords: waria, trans-genders, sexual behavior, reproduction healt

DNA methylation signatures of aggression and closely related constructs : A meta-analysis of epigenome-wide studies across the lifespan

DNA methylation profiles of aggressive behavior may capture lifetime cumulative effects of genetic, stochastic, and environmental influences associated with aggression. Here, we report the first large meta-analysis of epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) of aggressive behavior (N = 15,324 participants). In peripheral blood samples of 14,434 participants from 18 cohorts with mean ages ranging from 7 to 68 years, 13 methylation sites were significantly associated with aggression (alpha = 1.2 x 10(-7); Bonferroni correction). In cord blood samples of 2425 children from five cohorts with aggression assessed at mean ages ranging from 4 to 7 years, 83% of these sites showed the same direction of association with childhood aggression (r = 0.74, p = 0.006) but no epigenome-wide significant sites were found. Top-sites (48 at a false discovery rate of 5% in the peripheral blood meta-analysis or in a combined meta-analysis of peripheral blood and cord blood) have been associated with chemical exposures, smoking, cognition, metabolic traits, and genetic variation (mQTLs). Three genes whose expression levels were associated with top-sites were previously linked to schizophrenia and general risk tolerance. At six CpGs, DNA methylation variation in blood mirrors variation in the brain. On average 44% (range = 3-82%) of the aggression-methylation association was explained by current and former smoking and BMI. These findings point at loci that are sensitive to chemical exposures with potential implications for neuronal functions. We hope these results to be a starting point for studies leading to applications as peripheral biomarkers and to reveal causal relationships with aggression and related traits.Peer reviewe