Jurnal EDUNursing

APPLICATION OF LABORATORY TECHNOLOGY IN THE DETECTION AND PREVENTION OF INFECTION IN BLOOD TRANSFUSION IN TIMOR LESTE: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW

2025-11-03T05:24:30+00:00

Introduction: Blood transfusion is a vital medical procedure but carries a high risk when the transfused blood contains infectious agents. In developing countries such as Timor Leste, the main challenges include limited laboratory infrastructure and inadequate infection detection technology. This study aims to explore the application of laboratory technologies in detecting and preventing infections during blood transfusions in Timor Leste, as well as to improve the overall safety of transfusion practices. Methods: This study employed a Systematic Literature Review approach to examine various studies related to the implementation of laboratory technologies in blood transfusion. The analysis focused on articles discussing technologies such as Point-of-Care Testing (POCT), Sigma Metrics, and Raman Spectroscopy, as well as the evaluation of their effectiveness in reducing the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections in developing countries. Results: The results indicate that advanced laboratory technologies can enhance infection detection and improve the efficiency of blood transfusion management. The use of POCT allows for rapid detection of infections such as HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C, thereby reducing the risk of transmission. In addition, the application of Sigma Metrics in blood quality testing improves testing accuracy and process efficiency. Raman Spectroscopy also offers a non-invasive alternative to monitor blood quality without damaging samples. However, the implementation of these technologies in Timor Leste faces challenges, including limited infrastructure and high operational costs. Discussion: Technologies such as POCT and Sigma Metrics show great potential to improve blood transfusion safety; however, challenges related to cost and limited availability of technology in remote areas remain significant barriers. The implementation of these technologies requires adequate training of medical personnel and infrastructure improvement to support their use in developing countries. Therefore, beyond the adoption of new technologies, international collaboration and external funding are essential to support the acquisition and maintenance of laboratory devices in Timor Leste.

Keywords: Blood Transfusion, Infection Detection, Laboratory Technology

THE EFFECT OF NUTRITION ON THE IMMUNE SYSTEM OF CHILDREN IN TIMOR LESTE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND IMMUNE RESPONSE

2025-11-03T05:28:06+00:00

Introduction: Malnutrition among children, particularly in developing countries such as Timor Leste, represents a major public health issue. The prevalence of malnutrition—including stunting, wasting, and micronutrient deficiencies—remains high and significantly affects the immune system of children. Impairment of the immune system due to malnutrition increases vulnerability to infections and diseases. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the relationship between nutritional status and immune responses among children in Timor Leste. Methods: This study employed a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) approach to collect, evaluate, and analyze data from relevant studies examining the impact of nutritional status on the immune system of children. Data were gathered from major scientific databases, including Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar, using keywords related to nutrition, malnutrition, and immune response in children. Results: The findings identified several factors influencing the immune system of children in Timor Leste, particularly deficiencies in micronutrients such as zinc, vitamin A, and vitamin D. Poor nutritional status was associated with a decrease in white blood cell counts and a weakened ability of the body to fight infections. Furthermore, studies revealed that micronutrient supplementation and exclusive breastfeeding could improve nutritional status and strengthen the immune system of malnourished children. Increasing dietary diversity was also found to have a positive impact on the immune health of children. Discussion: The results of this study indicate that poor nutritional status—especially micronutrient deficiencies—has a direct effect on the decline of immune function in children. Therefore, appropriate nutritional interventions, such as supplementation with zinc and vitamin A and the promotion of exclusive breastfeeding, hold great potential to improve nutritional status and enhance immune resilience among children in Timor Leste. This study also emphasizes the need for more effective, evidence-based health policies to address malnutrition in developing countries.

Keywords: Nutritional Status, Stunting, Wasting, Micronutrients, Immune System, Nutritional Intervention, Immune Response

THE EFFECT OF BLOOD GLUCOSE AND CHOLESTEROL MEASUREMENTS IN DETECTING CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE IN TIMOR LESTE: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE STUDY

2025-11-03T07:47:31+00:00

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, especially in developing countries such as Timor-Leste. The prevalence of this disease continues to increase, but early detection remains limited due to inadequate medical facilities. Blood glucose and HDL cholesterol, together with the FBG/HDL-C ratio, have been shown to be important indicators in detecting the risk of CVD. This study aims to explore the effect of blood glucose and cholesterol measurements in detecting cardiovascular disease risk in Timor-Leste. This study used the Systematic Literature Review (SLR) method, which collected and analyzed various relevant studies on blood glucose and HDL cholesterol measurements in detecting CVD risk. The literature search was conducted through the Scopus database using keywords related to blood glucose measurement, cholesterol, and FBG/HDL-C ratio in the context of CVD detection. The results showed that blood glucose and HDL cholesterol measurements were significantly correlated with an increased risk of CVD. The FBG/HDL-C ratio proved to be more effective in predicting cardiovascular disease risk than separate measurements of glucose or cholesterol. The study also highlighted the importance of applying this ratio in developing countries, including Timor-Leste, given the limited medical resources available. The use of the FBG/HDL-C ratio can strengthen the early detection of cardiovascular disease, especially in countries with limited medical facilities such as Timor-Leste. Although blood glucose and cholesterol measurements are already widely performed, combining the two in a single ratio provides a more accurate picture of heart disease risk. This ratio can be applied practically and affordably, enabling earlier detection and prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Keywords: Blood glucose, HDL cholesterol, FBG/HDL-C ratio, cardiovascular disease, early detection, Timor-Leste

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE COMBINATION OF HB, MCV, AND RDW IN SCREENING FOR ANEMIA IN MOTHERS AND CHILDREN: A CONTEXTUAL SYSTEMATIC REVIEW IN TIMOR LESTE

2025-11-03T08:01:39+00:00

Introduction: Anemia in pregnant women and children is an important global health issue, with a high prevalence in developing countries such as Timor-Leste. Early detection of anemia is crucial to reduce the risk of complications. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a combination of classic hematological parameters, namely hemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and red cell distribution width (RDW), in detecting anemia in mothers and children in Timor-Leste, taking into account geographical, socioeconomic, and local health service capacity factors. Methods: This study used a systematic review method to analyze various studies related to the effectiveness of classic hematological parameters in detecting anemia. Data were collected from studies that tested these parameters in populations of mothers and children and compared the results with non-invasive technologies such as SpHb, Ret-He, and artificial intelligence (AI)-based applications. The study also examined the influence of geographical and socioeconomic factors on the validity of using classic hematological parameters in anemia screening. Results: The results showed that the combination of Hb, MCV, and RDW had higher sensitivity and specificity in detecting anemia in mothers and children compared to using a single parameter. MCV and RDW provide significant added value in distinguishing types of anemia, such as iron deficiency anemia and anemia due to chronic disease. SpHb and AI-based applications show good results, but both have lower sensitivity compared to the combination of classic hematology parameters, especially in certain clinical conditions. Discussion: This study confirms that the combination of Hb, MCV, and RDW is a more effective and practical approach for screening anemia in pregnant women and children, especially in Timor-Leste, with limited medical resources. The use of non-invasive technologies such as SpHb and AI applications can be complementary, but their validity depends on patient conditions and medical infrastructure. In addition, geographical factors such as altitude and socioeconomic factors such as nutritional status need to be taken into account to adjust Hb cut-offs to improve the accuracy of anemia detection.

Keywords: Anemia, Hemoglobin, MCV, RDW, Screening, Mother-Child, Non-Invasive Technology, Timor-Leste, Systematic Evaluation