Clinics in Mother and Child Health

Abstract

Maternal Experiences in Caring for Their Neonates in Two Communities around Kupang, West Timor: A Qualitative Study

Maria Margaretha Ulemadja Wedho

Background: The Health development targets are to accelerate the decrease in Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR).

Aim: The purpose of this study was to explore women’s experiences of taking care of their infant/neonates (age 0-28 days) in two communities around Kupang, West Timor Desa Bipolo Kecamatan Sulamu and Kelurahan Sikumana Kota Kupang East Nusa Tenggara Indonesia.

Method: Qualitative research with case study approach was used to assess women’s experience in taking care of neonates. Five women with neonates were chosen as population and purposive sampling was conducted to select the respondents. Data were collected by the way of in-depth interviews with the mother. Moreover, there were 3 stages of data analysis consisting of: data reduction, display data, and conclusion drawing/verification.

Results: Three themes related to women’s experiences in taking care of neonates were identified. Those are: neonatal check-up or visitation, nutrition for six post neonate women, and the level of mother’s knowledge. The result of this study showed that not only respondents have never been visited by health worker based on the Government standard in NTT Province, but also they have never been educated on how to take care of and to feed their neonates well.

Recommendation: Further study should be conducted by health care worker or government in this case the Provincial and District Health Office to motivate the mother and family to compliance to government regulation standard to take care of neonatal. Health workers are expected to design the guidelines and counselling to decrease infant mortality rate in the community through education during the prenatal period. Heads of the village are expected to insist that the community especially pregnant women to visit health facilities at least 3 times during the neonatal period. The health workers are expected to visit families with neonates at least 3 times in the first week of neonatal life.