Posyandu During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Diversification and Participation

Abstract

This paper explains the participation of mothers, toddlers and the elders in Posyandu activities, and the diversification of posyandu cadre service strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the COVID-19 pandemic mothers, toddlers and elders people actively participate in every posyandu activity in Kampung Kagungan Rahayu, Tulang Bawang Regency, Lampung Province. This high participation is due to posyandu cadres who understand their role in realizing basic health services. During the COVID-19 pandemic, posyandu was held with attention to developments in the COVID-19 case. Based on this, posyandu cadres play an active role in diversifying service strategies so that participation of mothers, infants and elders remains high. The diversification strategies include the first posyandu cadres tidy up data on the health development of mothers, toddlers and elders. Second, posyandu cadres visit mothers, toddlers and elders directly from door to door by observing health protocols. Third, the cadres hold posyandu activities at the auxiliary puskesmas (pustu) in waves or in turns. Fourth, they also conducted direct monitoring and evaluation of services during the pandemic by telephone between the posyandu cadre leaders. We contend that the diversification of the service strategy has an impact on the high level of community participation in accessing posyandu during the COVID-19 pandemic.