Nutrition Services in the Integrated Health Service Point: Qualitative Study in Rajeg, Banten

摘要

The participation and community involvement in solving health problems is needed. One of the health problems facing is malnutrition. In Indonesia, Posyandu is an Integrated Health Service Point that are organized from, by, and for the community. Posyandu activities run by cadre, the trained community health worker, under coordination and supervision of Puskesmas (Public Health Center). This study aimed to identify wide description of nutrition services in Posyandu. This qualitative study was conducted in rural area. Data collection method: FGD on 10 cadres and 17 mothers and observation Posyandu activities. Subjects purposively recruited and analysis of data using content analysis approach. Posyandu activities performed on a simple building that is provided independently by community. The reason why they want to become a cadre was a personal motivation to perform social works. Unfortunately, there was cadre turnover every turn of the head of the region. Each cadre received training on nutrition services, but in practice, tend not too systematic; not all cadre can fill out the growth chart properly, and there was no respons or counseling be held after nutritional assessment. FGD with mothers stated that cadre were friendly but less communicative, and they did not provide any solution if the child's weight was not increasing. However, they consider that Posyandu help them in maintaining their health. Posyandu services need to be improved. Training and supervision of cadre periodically, providing health care facilities and standardized tools, as well as good coordination between, health workers, and community leaders can optimize the benefits of it.