Syphilis and HIV prevalence among commercial sex workers in Central Java, Indonesia: risk-taking behavior and attitudes that may potentiate a wider epidemic.

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 commercial sex workers (CSWs) from two brothel communities in Central Java, Indonesia, to determine the seroprevalence of syphilis and HIV and characterize associated knowledge, beliefs, and risk-taking behaviors. A questionnaire was administered and blood drawn for HIV and syphilis serologies. Focus groups with a total of 20 women were also conducted at both communities to supplement survey data.

Lactation and the risk of breast cancer.

Some factors are suggested to have an association with an increased risk of breast cancer, which are called risk factors. Lactation is one of the risk factors that still needs to be studied because of conflicting findings in epidemiological studies and also uncertainty regarding biologic plausibility. Our objective was to study the relationship between lactation and the risk of breast cancer.

Vitamin A supplementation selectively improves the linear growth of indonesian preschool children: results from a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Vitamin A deficiency is associated with stunting and wasting in preschool children, but vitamin A supplementation trials have not shown a consistent effect on growth.

Objective: We examined the effect of vitamin A supplementation on height and weight increments among Indonesian preschool children.

Design: Data were obtained from a randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled trial of rural Javanese children aged 6-48 mo.

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli diarrhea in children less than five years of age in central Java.

A community-based prospective study was performed from December 1993 through March 31, 1994 in Indonesia in children less than five years of age. Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) was identified in diarrheic stool by colony hybridization assay, using toxin probes, and this bacterium was isolated from 19% of 340 episodes of diarrhea. Sixty-one percent of ETEC produced heat-labile toxin (LT) only, 325 LT and heat-stable toxin (ST), and 75 ST only.

Vitamin A supplementation fails to reduce incidence of acute respiratory illness and diarrhea in preschool-age Indonesian children.

Vitamin A supplementation of populations of vitamin A-deficient preschool-age children has been shown to reduce childhood mortality, but the primary preventive effects of such supplements on childhood infectious diseases have not been carefully evaluated. We conducted an individually randomized, placebo-controlled, double-masked trial among 1,407 Indonesian preschool-age children, to measure the effects of high dose vitamin A on acute respiratory and diarrheal illnesses. Signs and symptoms of morbidity were monitored using every other day home surveillance by trained interviewers.