Improving Access to Child Health Care in Indonesia Through Community Case Management

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Global Health
• Maternal and Child Health

Background:

• Infant mortality remains a significant challenge in Indonesia.
• Community Case Management (CCM) was implemented to improve child wellness and longevity.
• CCM aims to provide essential curative interventions in areas with limited facility-based services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the implementation of CCM in Kutai Timur, Indonesia.
• To understand the experiences of mothers receiving CCM care.
• To identify barriers and facilitators to CCM effectiveness from the users' perspective.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving observation of consultations and in-home interviews with mothers and health workers.
• Thematic analysis of field notes and interview transcriptions.
• Study conducted in Kutai Timur district, East Kalimantan, Indonesia.

Main Results:

• Mothers reported improved access to care and increased knowledge of infant danger signs.
• Family compliance with care plans and overall satisfaction with CCM were noted.
• Mothers desired village-based nurses/midwives and highlighted the need for cultural sensitivity in interventions.

Conclusions:

• CCM is perceived positively by rural Indonesian mothers for enhancing healthcare access and intervention uptake.
• Programmatic modifications are necessary to ensure cultural appropriateness and meet diverse community needs.
• Integrating CCM into existing maternal and child health services requires further strategic development.