Village midwives’ experiences in rural area


Journal Ilmiah Permata Medika
Volume 4 (1), July 2015, page 1-24

Research Report

Indrayani, Gustina Mulyawati1

Corespondence address
Akademi Kebidanan Dewi Sartika, Jl. Terusan Kopo KM 12,8 Katapang, Bandung

Abstract
Background: Village midwife is the spearhead of health service to mother and child. In 1989, the government established a program to assign midwife in every village to ensure a safe pregnancy and birth process of women. In fact, a midwife is expected to do her job according to not only her authority but also jobs instructed to her. This research aims to describe the implementation of already established village midwife program.
Research method: This qualitative research employed method of oral thematic history. Data collection was conducted in February 2015 at two sub-districts in Bandung Regency through in-depth interviews. Sampling technique used in this research was snowball sampling. Total participants involved are 36, specifically14 village midwives, 3 cadres, 5 patients, 2 traditional birth attendants (paraji), 2 staffs of sub-district office, 2 community office staffs, 6 public health center staffs, and 2 regional health department staffs. Data triangulation was conducted to verify data validity of this research.
Results: Findings of this research are divided into three parts, specifically recruitment of village midwife, jobs of village midwife, and obstacles encountered by village midwife. Recruitment of village midwife includes registration information, requirements, selection, approval pronouncement, inauguration and information of village midwife, appointment of village midwife, and description of village midwife jobs. The jobs include orientation/ introduction, services of village midwife, documentation process, and reporting of village midwife. Obstacles encountered by participants being village midwives include many documentation and reporting to do, education level of society, tradition and culture in society, births at health facilities, unsuccessful partnership with paraji, ratio of areal width and populations with numbers of village midwives, facilities and infrastructures, the lack of training given to village midwives, and inactive cadres.
Conclusion: Village midwife program is one of alternative solutions to decrease mother and infant mortality rates especially at peripheral regions. However, the program has not yet overcome some problems because many weaknesses including the input, process, or output have not met the expectation. The government is expected to make some improvements to the program.

Keywords: Program, village midwife, experience

Cited:
Indrayani I, Mulyawati G. Village midwives’ experiences in rural area. J Ilmiah Permata Med. 2015;4(1):1-24.