STATUS KESEHATAN IBU DI DUSUN MUNTIGUNUNG, KARANGASEM, BALI, 2009: A NEED FOR COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH

Abstract

Background: Muntigunung village is located at eastern part of Bali, has been known as the home place of beggars that are working in several cities in Bali. Based on preliminary observation in the area, several health problems have been observed include reproductive health problem; hence, part of the exploration was to explore the health status of the women

Method: The study was a cross sectional survey involving 212 housewves that have children under five. The samples were collated though systematic random sampling. The survey data was collected through structured interview using pre-tested questionnaire. Qualitative data collection through focus group discussions and in-depth interviews were also conducted. The data then was analyzed descriptively using computer software and using thematic analysis for the qualitative data

Result: From the survey was found that more than half (55.7%) women are grande multipara, with the average of parity was 4.1. Most of the deliveries were attended by husband or other family member (77%). Those births were took place at home with poor hygiene and the umbilical cords were cut using unsterile bamboo knife (‘ngad”). Antenatal care visit remain low only 61.5% with the average of visits were twice.  As much as 19% of the women were found to suffer from chronic energy malnutrition and 60.5% of them experienced anemia. Several underlying factors that related to low health status among the women such as low socioeconomic status, remote and very dry geographic condition, low education level and cultural belief that giving birth at home viewed as a normal birth.

Conclusion: Poor health status of the women is a serious problem that will bring impact to the children and the community in Muntigunung.  The measures that could be taken should accommodate: 1) health education and promotion on health issues and also on food cultivation in dry area, 2) improving economic status through income generation program, 3) improving access that will indirectly relate to the improvement of socioeconomic of the community and 4) improvement of health systems.

Keywords: maternal status, chronic energy malnutrition, anemia, low socioeconomic status and home birth.