NERS NEWS – Students of the Nursing Profession Education Program, Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Airlangga, Group 1 Batch B27 of the Pediatric Nursing Rotation, conducted a Hospital Health Promotion (PKRS) activity on Thursday, May 7, 2026. The activity was held directly at the Pediatric Outpatient Installation of dr. Soetomo Regional General Hospital.
This PKRS activity was part of the Nursing Profession practice series aimed at fulfilling students’ competencies. In addition, the activity aimed to help parents better understand tuberculosis (TB) in children, including its definition, modes of transmission, signs and symptoms, prevention, treatment, as well as the importance of proper cough and sneeze etiquette.
Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major challenge in global health, especially among children who are highly vulnerable to developing severe forms of the disease. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2023, there were 10.6 million TB cases worldwide in 2022, with around 12% occurring in children under 15 years old. In Indonesia, it is estimated that there are 134,000 pediatric TB cases, yet only around 56% are detected and reported. The Indonesian government aims to eliminate TB by 2030 through strengthening TB control efforts, including those targeting children.
Cases of pediatric TB in Indonesia continue to increase every year. Data from the Indonesia Health Profile 2023 showed that the 0–14-year age group contributed 16.70% of TB cases, an increase compared to 15.30% in 2022. The number of pediatric TB cases also increased from 42,187 cases in 2021 to 100,726 cases in 2022. Furthermore, from January to March 2023, there were 118,438 TB cases recorded in Indonesia, indicating a significant rise.
One effort in controlling TB, especially in children, is improving families’ understanding of pediatric TB through education on early recognition and prevention of tuberculosis. Educational materials were delivered using leaflets to make the information easier for parents to understand, with the expectation of increasing awareness regarding transmission prevention and the importance of proper cough and sneeze etiquette. During the educational session, students explained several topics, including the definition of tuberculosis, modes of transmission, signs and symptoms, prevention, treatment, and the importance of proper cough and sneeze etiquette.
This activity also aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. One of the targets under this goal is ending the epidemic of communicable diseases, including tuberculosis.
One group member, Ana, emphasized the importance of educating parents about pediatric TB. “Children are a highly vulnerable group to tuberculosis (TB) transmission, so early prevention efforts are essential. These can include screening children who have close contact with TB patients as well as providing BCG immunization. Through this educational activity, we hope parents will better understand the importance of early detection, transmission prevention, and adherence to TB treatment,” she explained.
The parents attending the session appeared attentive and enthusiastic throughout the activity. This was evident from their active participation in asking questions during the discussion session and their ability to demonstrate proper cough and sneeze etiquette. Through this activity, it is hoped that parents will gain a better understanding of the importance of preventing and managing TB in children and be able to apply this knowledge in their daily lives.
Writer: Luluk Mursidah Mukhofi
