The Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) in Banten Province remains high and is one of six provinces in Indonesia contributing 50% of the total maternal deaths. Pandeglang Regency is one of the three regencies with a significant maternal mortality rate. Furthermore, the coverage of antenatal care (ANC) services at the K4 level is still below the Minimum Service Standards (SPM). One of the causes of maternal deaths in Pandeglang is hypertension in pregnancy or preeclampsia, in addition to hemorrhage and infection.
Preeclampsia is a specific condition in pregnancy characterized by hypertension and proteinuria that occurs after 20 weeks of pregnancy in women who previously had normal blood pressure. Knowledge of early detection of preeclampsia is still low among pregnant women and their families, particularly in remote areas of Pandeglang Regency, due to limited access to healthcare facilities and inadequate knowledge.
Siti Jumhati conducted research aimed at developing methods to strengthen the early detection of preeclampsia in pregnant women at health centers in Pandeglang Regency through an exploration of the understanding of early detection and the development of a mobile health (mHealth) prototype intervention, which was also tested for efficacy. This research became the dissertation titled “A Model for Strengthening Early Detection of Preeclampsia in Pregnant Women at Health Centers in Pandeglang Regency,” which was defended during the open doctoral promotion session in Public Health Sciences (IKM) at the Faculty of Public Health (FPH) at the Universitas Indonesia (UI) on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in the Doctoral Promotion Room.
The research method used was Mixed Methods Exploratory Sequential, with qualitative research conducted for the development of the intervention and quantitative research using a Quasi-Experimental design. The research was conducted in the Angsana, Kaduhejo (intervention), Cikupa Pandeglang, and Cadasari (control) subdistricts in Pandeglang Regency, Banten Province. The research conducted by the candidate resulted in a model of health education intervention based on the Ce’Dati mobile health application to strengthen early detection behavior of preeclampsia in pregnant women.
The qualitative research findings showed that pregnant women perceived accessing healthcare services for early detection of preeclampsia as not difficult, and parents were the most frequent source of advice and input during pregnancy. The quantitative research results indicated that interventions by midwives and health cadres, along with the attitudes and support of healthcare providers, were the most dominant variables influencing early detection behavior of preeclampsia. The educational intervention using mHealth by midwives and health cadres significantly impacted improving well detection behavior for preeclampsia among pregnant women.
“Mrs. Siti Jumhati’s career is vast, and I am impressed by her passion for building human resources, especially in the health field. This public health approach is also taken up by Mrs. Siti Jumhati to address one of the complications of pregnancy, preeclampsia, which is not an easy task. Educating the community, particularly pregnant women, and involving health workers and midwives in monitoring or early detection in rural areas through mHealth is an initial force to prevent pregnancy complications, which is expected to reduce maternal mortality. The mHealth prototype and educational videos are also recognized as one of the University of Indonesia’s works and hold great potential for further development in the future,” said Prof. Dr. dr. Sabarinah, M.Sc., the supervisor, in her opening remarks.
At the end of the session, the chairperson announced the decision that Siti Jumhati, born on May 10, 1981, in Serang, had successfully completed her studies and obtained a doctoral degree in Public Health Sciences (IKM). She became the 21st doctoral graduate in IKM in 2024, the 317th IKM doctoral graduate, and the 406th doctoral graduate from FPH UI.
The session was chaired by Prof. Dr. dr. Sudarto Ronoatmodjo, S.K.M., M.Sc. The supervisors were Prof. Dr. dr. Sabarinah, M.Sc., and the co-supervisor was Prof. dr. Kemal N. Siregar, S.K.M., M.A., Ph.D. The examination committee included Dr. Artha Prabawa, S.K.M., S.Kom., M.Si.; dr. Agustin Kusumayanti, M.Sc., Ph.D.; Dr. dr. Arietta Pusponegoro, Sp.OG (K); Prof. Dr. dr. Sudarto Ronoatmodjo, S.K.M., M.Sc.; Prof. Dr. Dra. Maryati, S.ST., S.Pd., M.A.R.S., M.H.; Dr. Ade Jubaedah S.SIT., M.M., M.K.M.; and Dr. Trihono, M.Kes. (ITM)