Development of smart postpartum care application based on community health centers, as a method for mentoring postpartum mothers: A mixed method approach

Abstract

Background: Early detection of postpartum problems can help reduce maternal mortality in Indonesia. Early detection can be achieved by monitoring postpartum mothers using a guidance system. The purpose of this study was to describe the development of a guidance system, namely, Smart Postpartum Care (SMAP CARE) and present its functional and acceptance tests. Materials and Methods: This study was a development study conducted in 2019 using a mixed-method approach. Data were collected through Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and a literature study. The FGD participants consisted of six doctors, six nurses, and midwives from six community health Public health center in Semarang City, Indonesia. The collected data were analyzed using the Colaizzi method. The content of the postpartum mentoring application was based on input from the experts in health education and health services. Before widely applied, a feasibility study on the application was carried out in community health centers involving postpartum mothers and health care teams. Results: Five themes were generated from FGDs: (1) postpartum monitoring facilities; (2) monitoring postpartum mothers through visits to health centers and home care; (3) problems with postpartum mothers (including problems with mothers, babies, and the environment); (4) management of high-risk postpartum mothers; and (5) the risk of postpartum mothers, which could cause death. The SMAP CARE provides some features to educate postpartum mothers, for example (a) changes in the physiological aspects of postpartum mothers, (b) breast milk, (c) newborn care, (d) signs of danger in newborns, (e) problems with babies, (f) problems with postpartum mothers, and (g) signs of danger in postpartum mothers. Conclusions: The application developed in this research, SMAP CARE, helps to facilitate mentoring for postpartum mothers and can be extended to community health centers in Indonesia.