NERS NEWS — Nursing Professional students from the Faculty of Nursing at Universitas Airlangga conducted a health education activity themed “Prevention of Constipation in Children” in the Pediatric Outpatient Installation (IRJ Anak) waiting area at RSUD Dr. Soetomo on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, from 06.30–07.00 WIB. This activity was intended for pediatric patients and their families in the waiting area as an effort to increase public knowledge regarding the importance of early constipation prevention in children.
The educational activity was carried out through lectures, discussions, and question-and-answer sessions supported by leaflets as educational media. The materials presented included the definition of constipation, signs and symptoms of constipation in children, causes of constipation, the impacts of constipation, and preventive measures through healthy lifestyle practices. This education is important considering that constipation remains one of the most common digestive health problems among children and may affect comfort, appetite, and children’s growth and development if not managed properly.
Throughout the activity, participants showed strong enthusiasm by actively following the educational session and participating in discussions and question-and-answer sessions. Several parents also shared experiences regarding their children having difficulty with bowel movements and wanted to know about management and prevention methods at home. This demonstrated a high need for information regarding children’s digestive health, particularly constipation prevention.
This activity was conducted by Nursing Professional students from Group 6_A2 under the supervision of academic and clinical supervisors. The entire series of activities was carried out according to the planned schedule, starting from the opening session, material presentation, evaluation session, and closing. The education session lasted for 30 minutes with a systematic flow from material introduction to leaflet distribution as follow-up educational media. Documentation of the activity was also completed as part of the activity report.
This educational activity was motivated by the still high incidence of constipation in children, which is often influenced by low fiber intake, inadequate water consumption, habits of delaying bowel movements, and unhealthy eating patterns. Through this health education activity, it is hoped that parents will be able to understand the signs and symptoms of constipation, implement high-fiber diets, encourage children to drink sufficient water, increase children’s physical activity, and establish regular bowel movement habits.
This educational activity also supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) concerning healthy and prosperous lives, SDG 4 (Quality Education) regarding quality education through health education, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through collaboration between educational institutions and hospitals in improving public health status.
Overall, this activity provided positive impacts for participants and is expected to continue sustainably as a form of contribution from educational institutions in improving public knowledge and awareness regarding children’s health.
Writer: Jannahtul Choiriah
