REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH TRAINING TO STRENGTHEN PRIVATE MIDWIFERY PRACTICE IN THE CONTEXT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC: PROGRAM REPORT

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had impact on reproductive health services. Private Midwifery Practice (TPMB) is one of the health facilities that focus on reproductive health and family planning services in Indonesia. Based on data from Basic Health Research in 2018 by Indonesian Health Ministry regarding maternal and child health services, 85% antenatal care were provided by midwives which 41% of them were conducted in the TPMB. While the child-bearing was 62,7% assisted by midwives and 29% in the TPMB. Moreover, 76,5% of family planning contraceptive services were provided by midwives of which 54,6% were at the TPMB. As Private Midwifery Practice was first choice for women to fulfill essential need in reproductive health, it is important to strengthen its quality. Therefore, Knowledge Hub FKM UI in collaboration with UNFPA and Indonesian Midwives Association (IBI) has carried out training on reproductive health services during COVID-19 pandemic. Objective: Build capacity for midwives practitioners to offer high-quality reproductive health services while at the same time minimizing the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Methods: Training was conducted by online training using Zoom Meeting application. The initial target was 300 midwives and was attended by 283 midwives who held private practice from 4 provinces, DKI Jakarta, Banten, West Java and East Java. COVID-19 cases number is a consideration of target area selection. The training module consists of eight modules which was also equipped with video support as well as assignments of each module form. Training was carried out in 3 batches and participants were divided into classes where each class consists of 25 participants. Each class was facilitated by 2 facilitators who delivered the training materials. Training method consists of lesson delivery, video, assignments, roleplay, and discussion. After 5 days of training, participants took part at mentoring or post-training assistance for 3 months. Evaluation of the training was carried out through pre-test and post-test by using Google Form to assess the training impact on participants' knowledge in providing reproductive health services during COVID-19 pandemic. Paired T-Test was used to analyse the test scores. Result: The average results of the pre-test and post-test in batch 1 were 54,61 and 76,73; batch 2 were 45,65 and 70,71; and batch 3 were 51,90 and 82,84 respectively. There was significant increases of participants’ knowledge before and after attending the training (P = 0.000). Conclusion: The knowledge of midwife at private practice on reproductive health services during COVID-19 pandemic is significantly increased after they take this online training. Online training is one of the effective and efficient way to increasing the knowledge of midwives during the pandemic situation, which is the main key to continuously strengthen the quality of reproductive health services is the strengthening of midwives' knowledge and skill.