Asian Journal of Healthy and Science

Factors Contributing to Delayed Diagnosis and Use of Complementary Therapies in Breast Cancer Patients in Asia: a Systematic Literature Review

Hendra Augustian Obert — 2025-12-15

Background: Breast cancer and the high use of complementary therapies that are often not based on medical evidence. Delayed diagnosis is influenced by various factors such as low public knowledge, stigma is one of the leading causes of women's deaths around the world, including in Indonesia. The high morbidity and mortality rates are not only due to the high incidence, but also due to delayed diagnosis, limited access to health services, socio-cultural factors, and delays in referrals from primary health facilities. Methods: This study uses the Systematic Literature Review (SLR) method by examining 11 relevant research articles in the period 2017–2025. The analysis was carried out based on the PRISMA criteria by filtering literature from various databases, including PubMed. The selected articles met the inclusion criteria, namely discussing delayed diagnosis or the use of complementary therapies in breast cancer patients. Results: The synthesis showed that the delay in diagnosis was largely influenced by the patient's internal factors (knowledge, perception, trust, and fear), as well as external factors (family support, socio-economic conditions, health care system, and culture). The use of complementary therapies is generally related to the belief in effectiveness, availability, lower prices, and the influence of the social environment. Conclusion: delayed diagnosis and use of complementary therapies in breast cancer patients is an important issue that needs serious attention. Health education strategies, increased early detection, strengthening referral systems, and integrating evidence-based complementary therapies are needed to improve the quality of services and safety of breast cancer patients.

Difference Influence of Exercise (Lumbo-Pelvic and Yoga) on Menstrual Low Back Pain in Cases of Early and Late Menarche

Kholashoturrubah Kholashoturrubah — 2025-12-05

Menstrual low back pain (MLBP) can lead to functional limitations, including decreased flexibility and reduced range of motion. The age of menarche (early or late menarche) is suspected to influence this condition. Exercise interventions such as lumbo-pelvic exercises and yoga are known to improve flexibility and reduce muscle stiffness; however, their effectiveness based on menarche categories has not been widely studied. This study aimed to analyze the effect of lumbo-pelvic exercises and yoga on improving the range of motion in cases of menstrual low back pain, considering early and late menarche categories. This study was an experimental research with a 2x2 factorial design. The subjects were 20 female students from Respati University Yogyakarta with a history of primary dysmenorrhea and low back pain during menstruation, divided into four groups: A1B1 (early menarche + lumbo-pelvic exercise); A1B2 (late menarche + lumbo-pelvic exercise); A2B1 (early menarche + yoga); and A2B2 (late menarche + yoga). The interventions were conducted five times per week for six weeks. Pain intensity was measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using the Shapiro–Wilk normality test, Levene’s test for homogeneity, and the Kruskal–Wallis test for hypothesis testing. The Kruskal–Wallis test showed a statistically significant difference in pain reduction among the treatment groups (p = 0.011). The group with the combination of late menarche and lumbo-pelvic exercise (A1B2) showed the highest pain reduction (Mean Rank = 18.00), while the group with late menarche and yoga (A2B2) had the lowest (Mean Rank = 7.50). These findings indicate that the effectiveness of the intervention on menstrual low back pain is influenced by the combination of menarche age and the type of exercise given. There was a significant difference in the effect of lumbo-pelvic exercises and yoga on reducing menstrual low back pain. Participants with late menarche experienced greater pain reduction compared to those with early menarche. Moreover, lumbo-pelvic exercises were proven to be more effective than yoga in reducing pain.

Health Literacy in Medical Decision Making

Harpandi Rahim — 2025-12-19

An individual's health literacy skills are crucial for healthcare-related decisions. In medical decision-making, health literacy is essential because patients' ability to understand information simultaneously improves patient satisfaction, comprehension of therapy, and the overall quality of medical services. This research aims to identify and deeply understand the relationship between health literacy and an individual's ability to make appropriate medical decisions. It employs a Systematic Literature Review following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, using secondary data from journals sourced via Google Scholar (2020–2025). The retrieved journals underwent selection based on inclusion criteria during research coding and quality assessment stages. Those passing selection were analyzed descriptively, yielding 11 qualifying journals. The findings indicate that health literacy empowers patients by enabling them to access, understand, and use health information for better decisions, thereby shifting power dynamics away from providers. Strong health literacy fosters active patient participation in medical decisions, enhancing satisfaction and reducing conflicts. However, health literacy is not the sole determinant of positive health outcomes; factors such as economic conditions, environment, education, and emotions also play significant roles. Recommendations for future research include exploring the relationship between health literacy and power dynamics, incorporating demographic variables, as well as ethical and legal considerations in Indonesia.

Cultural Transformation and HIV Stigma among Adolescents: Exploring the Role of Social Support in a Multilevel Context (A Systematic Review)

Bidasari Jamil — 2025-12-13

This study aims to examine the relationship between cultural transformation and social stigma among adolescents living with HIV through a systematic review of recent international literature. The main focus includes the various forms of stigma experienced by adolescents, the role of social support from family, peers, and schools, and the effectiveness of multilevel interventions in mitigating the impact of stigma on adolescent well-being. Literature searches were conducted in the Scopus database using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) approach, with inclusion criteria covering English-language publications from 2019 to 2025. A total of 40 articles met the eligibility criteria and were analyzed using a narrative–thematic approach. The synthesis reveals that cultural transformation influences a shift in stigma from overt to internalized forms, with shame and social withdrawal emerging as dominant expressions. Social support plays a crucial role in reducing internalized stigma and improving adherence to antiretroviral therapy. Meanwhile, multilevel interventions integrating psychosocial therapy, peer support, and inclusive school policies are identified as the most effective strategies for enhancing adolescent well-being. The study concludes that efforts to reduce stigma among adolescents living with HIV must consider the dynamic cultural contexts and involve cross-level support from families, schools, and communities.

Mapping Global Research Trends on Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Fishermen: A Bibliometric Analysis from a Behavioral Perspective

Iin Fatimah Hanis — 2025-12-27

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) represents a critical occupational health challenge globally, affecting millions of workers across diverse sectors, yet it remains inadequately studied within maritime fishing communities. Despite extensive research in industrial and military contexts, the behavioral dimensions of NIHL among fishermen remain substantially underexplored in the scientific literature. This study aims to map the development of scientific trends on noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) among fishermen, with a particular focus on behavioral perspectives, using a bibliometric analysis approach. The analysis was conducted on 1,000 scientific publications indexed between 2021 and 2025, sourced from Crossref and Publish or Perish. Bibliometric methods were employed to identify publication trends, prolific authors, leading journals, major publishers, document types, thematic keywords, and patterns of author collaboration. The findings indicate that although NIHL has been widely studied, research has predominantly concentrated on medical approaches and formal sector contexts such as industry and the military. In contrast, behavioral dimensions and occupational contexts specific to fishermen remain underexplored. The study also found that most publications appeared in specialist audiology journals managed by major publishers such as Elsevier and Springer. This study concludes that a significant gap exists in the global literature regarding NIHL in fishermen, underscoring the need for interdisciplinary approaches that integrate behavioral work perspectives. The findings serve as an initial contribution toward strengthening context-specific and community-based approaches in the study of hearing disorders caused by occupational noise exposure.