THE EFFECT OF READING MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH'S HANDBOOK CAMPAIGN AT POSYANDU (CHILD HEALTH POST) IN PEKANBARU, INDONESIA

Abstract

The study is aimed to assess the effect of reading the maternal and child health's (MCH) handbook campaign to increase the understanding of mothers regarding the illness of children under the age of five and their care at home. Quasi-experimental approach with nonequivalent control group was choosen as a study design on 60 mothers who have children under the age of five in four Posyandu (Child Health Post), Pekanbaru. The sample was divided into intervention groups (n= 30) and control groups (n= 30), using purposive sampling techniques. Analysis of the data used was Mann Whitney test. The results showed that the majority of mothers in the intervention group had higher knowledge level about the care of sick children under the age of five at home (70.0%), compared to the mothers in the control group (23.3%). There were significant differences in the knowledge level between intervention and control group (p<0.05). Respondents who got guidance through these activities assess the implementation of these activities. According to them 63.3% were very good and 96.7% of them assess these activities as very useful. All of the mothers told that their knowledge increased regarding the care of sick children under the age of five at home and the respondents suggested that this activity should be continued. It is important to expand this activity to another Posyandu in order to increase mother's knowledge and good behavior for proper care of children under the age of five at home.