Analysis on the Implementation of Iron Supplementation Program by Midwives at Primary Healthcare Center in South Minahasa District

Abstract

Implementation of iron tablets supplementation program in the primary healthcare centers of SouthMinahasa district was still below the national target (78.8%) although there was a policy regardingiron supplementation program by midwives. The national target was 90%. Preliminary surveyconducted on 7 midwives showed that there were midwives who had not implemented the programaccording to the existed standard operating procedure. The objective of this study was to analyzefactors affecting the implementation of iron tablets supplementation program by midwives in theprimary healthcare centers in the area of South Minahasa district.This was an observational analytical study with cross sectional approach. Data collection wasdone through interview guided by questionnaire and direct observation to midwives when givingiron tablets in a polindes/posyandu. The number of study samples was 98 village midwives in 17 sub districts of South Minahasa district. They were selected using simple random sampling method.Univariate analysis, bivariate analysis with chi square test, and multivariate analysis with logisticregression were applied in the data analysis.Results of the study showed that midwives had implemented the activities with good category incommunication (46.9%), resources (52%), disposition (57.1%), and structured bureaucracy (53.1%).Variable affecting the implementation of iron tablets supplementation program was bureaucracy(p= 0.24), exp â= 2.584.Suggestions for the South Minahasa district health office were to conduct socialization to midwivesregarding the benefits of using standard operating procedures of the implementation of iron tablessupplementation; to give incentive for midwives who implement the program according to thestandard and reaching the target; to provide Hb Sahli set for all midwives who work in the villageand they do not have the Hb Sahli se