Community health centers response to the need of dementia care

Dementia prevalence among Indonesian older people is increasing. Community health centers (CHCs) as primary care providers have a responsibility to meet the need of their community. This study aims to measure the response of CHCs to the growing of dementia cases and to investigate factors associated with the knowledge of CHC staff on dementia symptoms in Special Region of Yogyakarta (DI Yogyakarta), Indonesia.

This study used a cross-sectional design to obtain census data from 121 CHCs in DI Yogyakarta by interviewing 121 older person program managers of the CHCs via telephone between January and February 2021. Data on knowledge of 10 dementia symptoms, participation in dementia prevention and treatment with dementia, dementia/cognitive screening and coverage as well as factors associated with memory loss and change in mood and behavior were assessed. Data were analyzed using descriptive, bivariate, and multiple logistic regression.

The knowledge of dementia symptoms among health workers was low (15%-37%). CHCs had not yet received training on dementia prevention and treatment (58%). Only a few of CHCs treated patient with dementia (36%). Dementia screening and coverage were also low. Engaged in dementia training were more likely to have higher knowledge of dementia symptoms, particularly memory loss and changes in mood and behavior.

Dementia training and education are needed to increase knowledge among care providers which would eventually improve CHC response to dementia. Priority should also be in place to support dementia care management.