Pengaruh Media Edukasi Booklet Terhadap Pengetahuan dan Keterampilan Ibu dalam Merawat Bayi Prematur

Preterm birth remains a global health concern, with 1 in 10 babies worldwide born prematurely. In Indonesia, the preterm birth rate is 29.5%, with 19% in Central Java and as high as 30% in Kendal Regency. Preterm infants require specialized care, making maternal readiness a crucial factor in ensuring optimal home care. This study aimed to analyze the effect of educational interventions using a booklet on mothers’ knowledge and skills in caring for preterm infants. A quantitative quasi-experimental design with a pre- and post-test control group was employed. A total of 20 respondents were selected using purposive sampling. Bivariate analyses were conducted using the McNemar test for paired data and the chi-square test for unpaired data. The results showed a significant improvement in mothers’ knowledge after receiving education with the booklet (p < 0.05), whereas the lecture and leaflet methods showed no significant difference (p > 0.05). However, there was no significant improvement in caregiving skills in either the booklet group or the lecture and leaflet group (p > 0.05). In conclusion, booklet-based education effectively enhances maternal knowledge regarding preterm infant care but does not significantly improve caregiving skills. This highlights the need for practice-based interventions, such as hands-on training and demonstrations, to strengthen maternal competence in managing preterm infant care at home.