Behind the Slow Road to Progress: Addressing Myriad Causes of the Persistence of Relatively High Maternal Mortality in Brebes Regency after the Post EMAS Program

• Published in: IOP conference series. Earth and environmental science 2018-02, Vol.116 (1), p.12090
• Main Authors: Habsari, Sri Kusumo, Sofiah, Sofiah, Sumardiyono, Sumardiyono
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Coastal zone; Data analysis; Local government; Maternal mortality; Modernization; Mortality
• ISSN: 1755-1307; 1755-1315
• DOI: 10.1088/1755-1315/116/1/012090

The purpose of this article is to discuss the restricting factors which hinder the Brebes regency's goal of reducing maternal and new born mortality, especially in the aspects of communication strategy which has been applied by the local district government. The location of the research was Bulakamba sub-district which has applied the system of "desa siaga madya" (mid-size alert village) but unfortunately has the highest maternal mortality in Brebes regency. Through analyzing data which have been collected by making observation, doing interviews, conducting focus group discussion and studying documents using an interactive data analysis technique, the results show that there are some complex obstacles which hinder the success of the program. Although the local government has attempted to produce health regulations as an intervention, to improve the quality of the health services and to develop special communication strategy, the rate of maternal mortality is still relatively high in this sub-district. However, the cultural change as the impact of modernization and cultural mobility, especially in the coastal area of the regency could not be blamed as one of the myriad causes of the persistence. It still needs a special address from the government to intervene, especially to prepare the society to face the modern life with all of its complexities.