The Effect of Training in Improving The Community Health Worker Skills in Breastfeeding Practice and Infant Development Stimulation

Abstract

Background: Community health centers in Indonesia have established community health workers (CHWs) to improve access and quality of health services available for the community. The CHWs are trained to run the integrated health posts (posyandu) in every hamlet. Training of the CHWs is expected to improve the quality of various health services, including exclusive breastfeeding support for lactating mothers. This study aimed to examine the effect of training on increasing the CHW skill in breastfeeding practice and infant development stimulation. Subjects and Method: A quasi experiment before and after intervention with no control design was carried out in Gresik, East Java, from April to September 2019. A sample of 25 CHWs was selected for this study by quota sampling. The dependent vari-ables were skills in (1) exclusive breastfeeding practice and (2) child development stimulation. The independent variable was training. The data were collected by question-naire and observation. Mean score of skills before and after training was measured by paired t test. Results: Mean score of exclusive breastfeeding practice after training (Mean= 87.40; SD= 1.32) was higher than before training (Mean= 54.32; SD= 2.43), and it was statistically significant (p<0.001). Mean score of child development stimulation after training (mean= 92.8; SD= 0.71) was higher than before training (mean= 63.8; SD= 2.22), and it was statistically significant (p<0.001). Conclusion: Training is effective in improving skills of CHWs in exclusive breastfeeding practice and infant development stimulation.