The use of RAP in the assessment of growth monitoring and promotion in North Sulawesi: Indonesia.

Author: 
Husaini MA; Satoto; Karyadi D
Source: 
In: RAP: Rapid Assessment Procedures. Qualitative methodologies for planning and evaluation of health related programmes, edited by Nevin S. Scrimshaw and Gary R. Gleason. Boston, Massachusetts, International Nutrition Foundation for Developing Countries, 1992. 105-14.
Abstract: 

Growth monitoring by means of monthly weighing of children under the age of 5 at a Posyandu (integrated health service post) has been conducted for more than 20 years in Indonesia. The objective was to improve the quality of growth monitoring and that of the Posyandus' services by conducting an assessment in three villages in North Sulawesi (Lemoh, Sukur, and Walian). The team consisted of one coordinator nutritionist and four provincial nutritionists who were trained to use RAP methods for data collection. An average of 42% target children gained weight in each session. Weighing sessions were conducted once a month at Posyandus, including interpreting results, nutrition, counseling, and immunization. Focus group discussions were also conducted with groups of mothers with children under the age of 3, groups of cadres, and a group of key persons (PKK women from the family welfare movement and LKMD or village community welfare movement members) in each village. Home visits were paid to mothers; and the head physician of the community health center and the head of the health district office were also interviewed. It was found that motivation of the physician in charge of the Puskesmas (community health center) was instrumental in improving services. Contraceptive use was over 80% in these villages. Trained cadres also performed far superior to untrained ones in weighing and interpreting results. Lemoh village performed best in North Sulawesi province in 1989, thanks to the cooperation of Puskesmas leader, village leader, and PKK leader. In all villages, the child was given priority in receiving food in the family. The Posyandu's mothers were also trained in registration, weighing, recording weights and interpreting results, and immunization. In Lemoh, 74.0% of mothers brought their children more than four times to the Posyandu, versus 62.0% of mothers in Sukur, which scored a good mark, and 48.3% of mothers in Walian, with a fair mark. The family welfare movement was essential in the functioning of Posyandus.

Language: 
Year: 
Region / Country: 
Document Number: 
103432
Add to my documents. Add to My Documents