Preventing Degenerative Diseases Through Screening, Education, and Local Fruit and Vegetable Juices among Older Adults in Paya Tampah Village, Aceh Tamiang, Indonesia

Background: Degenerative diseases represent a major non-communicable disease burden and are associated with ageing, physical inactivity, and unhealthy dietary patterns. In Aceh, their prevalence remains substantial, while remote communities often have limited access to health promotion. Paya Tampah Village, Aceh Tamiang, has abundant local fruits and vegetables but limited community awareness of degenerative disease prevention.Objective: To improve older adults’ health status, knowledge, attitudes, and self-management capacity through point-of-care screening, health education, and practical demonstrations of locally sourced fruit and vegetable juice preparation.Methods: A descriptive-analytical community engagement programme using a single-group pre-test/post-test design was conducted on 29–30 April 2026 in Paya Tampah Village and Selele Public Health Center, Aceh Tamiang. Thirty older adults with complaints or histories of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or hyperuricaemia participated. Blood pressure, fasting capillary blood glucose, and serum uric acid were measured, followed by structured education and supervised juice preparation. Knowledge and attitudes were assessed before and after the intervention using a 30-item questionnaire and attitude scale. Data were analysed descriptively using frequencies, percentages, and absolute percentage-point changes.Results: Screening identified elevated blood pressure in 17 participants (56.7%), fasting blood glucose in 18 (60.0%), and serum uric acid in 17 (56.7%). Before intervention, 10 participants (33.3%) had good knowledge and 15 (50.0%) demonstrated positive attitudes. Following the programme, all participants (100%) achieved good knowledge and positive attitudes, representing improvements of 66.7 and 50.0 percentage points, respectively.Conclusion: Integrated screening, structured education, and skills-based demonstrations were feasible and associated with substantial short-term improvements in knowledge and attitudes while identifying considerable cardiometabolic risk. Sustained screening, education, and follow-up by primary healthcare providers are recommended.