THE DECISION MAKING PATTERN OF FAMILY AND BIRTH ATTENDANT IN REFERRING MOTHER TO THE HOSPITAL AS THE CASE OF MATERNAL MORTALITY AT DISTRICT OF SEMARANG AT PERIOD 2000

Abstract

The slow decline in maternal and perinatal mortality are due to the improper maintenance of pregnancy and delivery process especially in the rural areas. Maternal mortality rate reflects the amount of the risk that a mother should face during the pregnancy and delivery time. The delay in referring mother to hospital, lack of transportation and financial problems are some aspects that may influence the safety of mothers during delivery process. Thus, mortality factor can be influenced by internal and external health condition factors. There has been an increase in the number of maternal mortality at District of Semarang at period 2000 compared to that of 1998 and 1999. A decision made by family and birth attendant in referring mother to the hospital is one of the initial decisions that might significantly influence maternal mortality. This research is a descriptive assessment by using qualitative and quantitative analysis. The result of this research is presented without conducting a statistical test, therefore, a need to propose hypotheses is not necessary. Maternal mortality incident is traced back (retrospective), especially to find out the pattern of decision making by family and birth attendant in referring mother to the hospital. The numbers of maternal mortality at District of Semarang at period 2000, as listed at District Health Office of Semarang are 18 cases. Most of the age of pregnant mother ranged between 20-35 years old (18,25 %). Most of them were graduated from elementary school (43,775 %). Fifty percent (50 %) of them are housewives in which their husband plays a dominantrole in making daily decisions. However, the decision in referring mother to the hospital is 56,25 % influenced by the family. As much as 37,5 % of husband, family, and birth attendant in dealing with medical delivering matters are directly referring mother to the hospital, while 43,75 % of them are trying to obtain other helps. Twelve point five percent (12,5 %) the distance between mother’s home and hospital are more than 20 km and 18,75 % mother felt difficult in searching for transportation means. Sumber Utama : www.mikm.undip.ac.id