Improving the Children Health in the Village of Makasar, East Jakarta, Indonesia through Socialization and Demonstration of Additional Food to Breast Milk

Abstract

The integrated service post, or it is so called Posyandu in Indonesia, is a community development organization that has a strategic role in improving the public health. The Posyandu is available in every citizen associations in a village throughout the country. Makasar village is one of the villages located in East Jakarta, Indonesia. To improve the health and well-being of local residents, especially children including babies, toddlers, and pre school children, the mothers are recommended to follow the programs conducted by the Posyandu. This study aims to identify: (1) the success of socialization and demonstration of the complementary foods in Makassar village, East Jakarta, (2) the constraints faced by the Posyandu cadres for carrying out tasks, (3) the benefits of socialization and demonstrations of the complementary foods to the community, and (4) public expectations towards the teams of the researchers. The result of the research shows that: (1) the socialization and demonstration of the complementary foods to breast milk is very appropriately carried out. The results are very satisfying: the children’s weight increases and they play cheerfully with each other. This is shown by the Posyandu cadres and the community in Makasar village; that is ninety-five point eighty percent (95.80%) said that the information of the socialization and demonstration of the complementary foods is in accordance with the needs of children, and helps reduce the health problems encountered, (2) Eighty-one point sixty six percent (81.66%) constraints faced by the Posyandu cadres is the presence of mothers who have babies, toddlers, and pre school children. They do not routinely present in Posyandu activities; and therefore, they experience difficulty in witnessing the development and the growth of their children, (3) All of the Posyandu cadres stated that the activities are very beneficial for increasing knowledge about the health of children. (4) Seventy- five percent (75%) of the Posyandu cadres expect that there should be a continuation of similar activities. Keywords: children health, additional food to breast milk, Posyandu cadres.