Maternal and Child Health Handbook Utilization, Quantity and Quality of Antenatal Services, and Maternal Emergency Rates in Padang City in 2022

This study analyzed the relationship between the utilization of the Indonesian Ministry of Health’s Maternal and Child Health Handbook and the quantity and quality of antenatal care to maternal emergency levels. This study applied mixed methods with a consecutive sampling technique and included 108 mothers undergoing maternal emergencies at a central general hospital (quantitative) and eight mothers, seven midwives, and five cadres at primary health cares (qualitative) as informants. The result showed a relationship between the utilization of the Maternal and Child Health Care Handbook (p-value = 0.043), the quantity of antenatal care (p-value<0.001), the quality of antenatal care (p-value = 0.044) and the maternal emergency level. Not all mothers understood the benefits of the Maternal and Child Health Handbook. Most did not read it, and some mothers perceived that it could prevent emergency cases for them. The mothers were satisfied with the quality of the antenatal care services received. Maternal emergency cases are still quite high; hence, it is necessary to increase the use of Maternal and Child Health Handbook and the quantity and quality of antenatal care.