The midwifery practice challenges in the rural populations of Indonesia
Research Journal of Medical Sciences
Volume 11 (1), 2017,
page 40-45
Research Report
Indrayani1§, Farid Husin2, Amida S. Sarbini3, Ari Andriyani4, Dewi N. Sari5, Fitrina Bachtar6, Mardiani Bebasari6, Meilinda Agus6, Sitti Mukarramah7, Mutiara R. Suseno8, Raihanna Norfitri9, Yunita Marliana8
1Akademi Kebidanan Husada Tangerang; 2Postgraduate Study of Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas
Padjadjaran; 3Public
Health Office in Bandung City; 4Yogyakarta Midwifery Academy; 5Bhakti Kencana School of
Health Profession, Bandung; 6Midwifery Studi Program Bukittinggi’s Poltekkes; 7Midwifery Studi
Program Makassar’s Poltekkes; 8Midwifery Studi Program Mataram’s Poltekkes; 9Intan Martapura
Nursing Academy
Abstract
Background. The increasing rate of infant and
maternal mortality has required that the government put specific measures in
place to decrease it. Placing midwives in villages with the aim of raising the
quality of health care, distributing health services more effectively, and to
attempt to reduce infant and maternal mortality rates. Many problems were faced
by village midwives impact to the non-optimal performance of them. This study
is aimed at identifying the obstacles faced by midwives in villages as
practitioners and the basis in the revision of village midwives program, in the
hopes that midwives in villages would be able to contribute more effectively to
reducing maternal mortality rates in the future.
Methods. Twenty-two individual in-depth
interviews were conducted in villages across six provinces in Indonesia from
November to December 2013. The study explored the obstacles faced by village
midwives in midwifery practice.
Results. There are many problems faced by
village midwives inrural Indonesia, such as autonomous midwifery skills, age
and appearance, language and communication, licensing practice management,
understanding of promotion, authority, workload, facilities and infrastructure,
geographical factors, compensation and reward, traditional birth attendant and
social tradition.
Conclusion.The village midwife program is an
effective strategy in reducing infant and maternal mortality rate, but not the
optimal role of educating and producing graduates and healthcare professionals.
In making appropriate regulation, the government’s placement and monitoring of
the performances of village midwives has had an impact on a previously non
optimal role of village midwifery.
Keywords: Village
midwives, obstacles, rural area.
Cited:
Indrayani, Husin F, Sarbini
AS, Andriyani A, Sari DN, Bachtar F, Bebasari M, Agus M, Mukarramah S, Suseno
MR, Norfitri R, Marliana Y. The midwifery practice challenges in the rural
populations of Indonesia. Res J Med Sci. 2017;11(1): 40-45.
