Lessons of practices of community-based maternal and child health surveillance system during and post COVID-19 in Indonesia.

BACKGROUND

Amidst the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, crucial integrated service post for women and children at the community level in Indonesia experienced disruptions. This change resulted in shifts in maternal and child health (MCH) surveillance.

OBJECTIVES

This research aims to examine lessons from Indonesia's community-based maternal and child health surveillance practices amid the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

The study was conducted in Depok, West Java, an urban area in Indonesia. A total of 20 key informant interviews with communities and government officials were carried out between October and December 2022. Data was analysed through content analysis.

RESULTS

The COVID-19 emergence led to an increased community-based MCH surveillance due to a growing public awareness to protect communities. The informants, while all acknowledging the importance of MCH surveillance, showed varied perspectives, highlighting gaps in perception. Four strategies in community-based MCH surveillance, including digital technology utilization, door-to-door visits, oral communication for identifying MCH cases, and community gatherings, had a positive impact on reporting and response. However, the incorporation of technology posed challenges, such as the diverse skill levels among community health workers (CHWs) and the general habit of producing hard copies after data entry.

CONCLUSION

While the practices had a positive impact, the findings highlight the need to mitigate the challenges in data reporting. Two approaches may include standardization of reporting practices by using a single MCH surveillance application that can be accessed by CHWs and training programs to bridge the proficiency gaps in digital technology.