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Background: Breastfeeding is a crucial practice that provides optimal nutrition and immunity for infants while supporting maternal health. However, inadequate knowledge and limited understanding about the importance of breastfeeding often lead to low motivation among pregnant women in preparing for breastfeeding. Providing structured education is expected improve pregnant women’s readiness and commitment to breastfeeding after childbirth. Objective: This study aimed to determine the effect of providing education about the importance of breastfeeding on the motivation of pregnant women in preparing to breastfeed at the Paguat Community Health Center UPTD. Methods: This study employed a pre-experimental design with one-group pretest–posttest approach. A total of 30 pregnant women were selected as the sample using purposive sampling techniques. Data on mothers’ motivation to prepare for breastfeeding were collected before and after the educational intervention using a structured motivation questionnaire. The data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test to assess differences in motivation levels before and after the intervention. Results: The results of the Wilcoxon signed-rank test showed a p-value of 0.000 (p < 0.05), indicating a statistically significant effect of breastfeeding education on the motivation of pregnant women in preparing breastfeed. The findings demonstrate that educational interventions significantly increased maternal motivation following the provision of education. Conclusion: Providing education about the importance of breastfeeding has a significant positive effect on the motivation of pregnant women in preparing to breastfeed. Therefore, breastfeeding education should be strengthened and routinely implemented during antenatal care services to improve maternal readiness and support successful breastfeeding practices.

The Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) is primarily caused by pregnancy complications that are actually preventable through early detection; however, maternal understanding of the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Handbook remains very low. This community service aims to empower pregnant women at Sarfina Primary Clinic, Medan, by enhancing their MCH Handbook literacy. The implementation utilized a Community-Based Participatory Action (CBPA) approach conducted over four weeks, involving 30 pregnant women. The activity stages included a pre-test, interactive education, self-assessment simulations, and a post-test. Evaluation results indicated a significant surge in health literacy; pregnant women's knowledge in the "Good" category drastically increased from 13.3% to 86.7%, while the "Poor" knowledge category was successfully eliminated from 50% to 0%. In conclusion, this educational and simulation intervention proved highly effective in transforming pregnant women's behavior, making them proactive individuals in the early detection of pregnancy danger signs which is expected to reduce the risk of pregnancy complications and reduce maternal mortality rates.

Background: Regular antenatal care is essential to ensure maternal and fetal health during pregnancy and to prevent complications. The level of maternal education plays an important role in shaping health knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to pregnancy care. Mothers with higher education levels tend to have better awareness and understanding of the importance of routine pregnancy check-ups. However, irregular antenatal visits are still found in several regions, including the working area of the Gandasuli Community Health Center, South Bacan District, South Halmahera Regency, North Maluku Province.Objective: This study aimed to analyze the relationship between mother’s education level and the regularity of pregnancy check-ups at the Gandasuli Community Health Center, South Bacan District, South Halmahera Regency, North Maluku Province.Methods: This study employed a quantitative analytical design with a cross-sectional approach. The sample consisted of 30 pregnant women selected using a total sampling technique. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and maternal health records to assess education level and the regularity of antenatal care visits. Data analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon test.Results: The results of the Wilcoxon test showed a significant relationship between mother’s education level and the regularity of pregnancy check-ups, with a p-value of 0.000 (p < 0.05). Conclusion: There is a significant relationship between mother’s education level and the regularity of pregnancy check-ups at the Gandasuli Community Health Center. Improving maternal education and strengthening health education programs are essential to increase compliance with routine antenatal care visits and improve maternal and fetal health outcomes.  

The third trimester of pregnancy is a challenging period since pregnant women experience various physical and psychological changes that can affect their readiness for childbirth. High anxiety levels and the presence of pregnancy complications are known to reduce maternal preparedness for labor. This study aims to determine the relationship between anxiety levels and pregnancy complications with the readiness of third trimester pregnant women in facing childbirth in the working area of Benteng Community Health Center, Selayar Islands Regency. This research used a quantitative approach with a correlational design and a cross-sectional method. The population consisted of all third trimester pregnant women, with a total sample of 86 respondents selected using purposive sampling. The research instruments included an anxiety questionnaire using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS), a pregnancy complication checklist, and a childbirth readiness questionnaire. Data were analyzed using the Chi-Square test and multiple logistic regression at a significance level of α = 0.05. The results of the study showed no significant relationship between anxiety and readiness for childbirth (p < 0.550) or between pregnancy complications and readiness for childbirth (p < 0.690). Therefore, it can be concluded that anxiety and pregnancy complications are not significantly related to the readiness of pregnant women in the third trimester for childbirth. This indicates that maternal readiness is influenced by factors other than the variables studied, such as knowledge, family support, and previous childbirth experiences.

Health issues are complex and require new ideas for their resolution. Public health focuses on disease prevention, health promotion, and physical, mental, and social therapy. Maternal and Child Health (MCH) and women’s health throughout their life cycle are crucial public health issues as they have a significant impact on the quality of human resources in a generation. In Pukdale Village, East Kupang District, Kupang Regency, problems such as the lack of knowledge among pregnant women about Chronic Energy Deficiency (CED), pregnancy anemia, Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF), balanced nutrition, and weaning have been identified. To address these issues, a Community Midwifery Care program based on community service was carried out, which included counseling, training, demonstrations, and simulations. The results of this activity showed a positive response and active participation from the community in Pukdale Village in the programs implemented by the students. There was a significant improvement in the knowledge of pregnant women about CED, pregnancy anemia, EBF, as well as the knowledge of mothers of infants about balanced nutrition and weaning. This is expected to improve the overall health status of the community in the village.

Umbilical cord infection remains one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality among newborns, particularly in areas where knowledge and health practices are still limited. Padellegan Village is one of the regions where some mothers continue to practice traditional cord care methods, such as using herbal mixtures or non-sterile materials, which increases the risk of omphalitis. Initial situation analysis indicates that 40–60% of postpartum mothers are not yet familiar with the principles of clean and dry cord care (dry cord care), and access to accurate health information is still limited. Based on this condition, education on umbilical cord care is essential to improve mothers’ and health cadres’ understanding and skills in preventing neonatal infections. This community service activity focuses on providing evidence-based education regarding safe cord care techniques, infection risk factors, and danger signs that need to be recognized. Padellegan Village was selected due to the high need for maternal–neonatal health education and the low level of community knowledge related to cord care. This activity is expected to bring positive changes, such as improved maternal behavior in performing proper cord care, reduced use of unhygienic traditional methods, and strengthened roles of health cadres in monitoring neonatal health. Enhancing appropriate cord care practices can reduce the risk of infection in newborns, thereby contributing to improving the overall health status of the community in Padellegan Village.

Empowering pregnant women in their third trimester through Respectful Maternity Care-based childbirth preparation counseling is a relevant promotive and preventive strategy for improving maternal health. This counseling not only provides knowledge about the signs of labor, stages of labor, pain management options, and birth planning, but also equips mothers with an understanding of their rights in midwifery care. Childbirth preparation education often focuses solely on clinical aspects and fails to fully address the psychosocial aspects and the rights of mothers as service recipients. This has the potential to lead to an unpleasant childbirth experience and even contribute to disrespect and abuse during labor. This counseling can equip mothers with an understanding of their rights in midwifery care. With an empathetic, participatory, and woman-centered approach, pregnant women are expected to be able to recognize their needs, convey their preferences, and communicate effectively with health workers. The purpose of this counseling is to improve pregnant women's knowledge before and after being empowered in their third trimester through Respectful Maternity Care-based childbirth preparation counseling.

The maternal mortality rate (MMR) in Dompu Regency is still relatively high. Directly, this is caused by hypertension, COVID-19, etc., while indirectly, it is caused by reproductive status or four too (4T), namely too young, too old, too close together, and too many children. This research focuses on indirect causes that are often not overlooked, namely, to describe the knowledge and attitudes of pregnant women about 4T at the Matua Village Health Post in the Dompu Barat Health Center working area. This research is a quantitative research with a descriptive design. The population in this study were all pregnant women who had their pregnancies checked at the Matua Village Health Post in the Dompu Barat Health Center working area. Samples were taken using a total sampling technique from June to August 2023 with 40 people. Data collection techniques in this research were through interviews and filling out questionnaires. This research showed that the respondents' knowledge about 4T risks was mainly in the poor category. Namely, 18 respondents (46%), and the least was in the good and sufficient category, namely 11 respondents (27%) each. Respondents' attitudes about the risks of 4T mainly were in the harmful category, namely 31 respondents (78%). Meanwhile, nine respondents (22%) showed negative attitudes. Based on the research results, it was concluded that the knowledge of pregnant women at the Matua Health Post in the Dompu Barat Health Center working area was mostly in the poor category. Meanwhile, most mothers' attitudes are in the harmful category.

The coverage of Complete Basic Immunization (Imunisasi Dasar Lengkap or IDL) in Maharani Village remains low at 38.8%, falling short of the national target of 95%. This condition increases the health risk of toddlers contracting Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (PD3I). This study aimed to determine the relationship between mothers' knowledge and husbands' support regarding the completeness of basic immunization for toddlers in Maharani Village, within the working area of Rumbai Bukit Public Health Center. This research employed a quantitative analytic method with a cross-sectional design. The population in this study comprised all mothers with toddlers in the area, with a sample of 73 respondents selected using the purposive sampling technique. Data collection was conducted using validated questionnaires and observation of Maternal and Child Health (KIA) books, followed by univariate and bivariate analysis using the Chi-square statistical test. The results indicated that the majority of toddlers had incomplete immunization status (61.6%), mothers had a low level of knowledge (61.6%), and respondents did not receive support from their husbands (58.9%). Statistical test results confirmed a very significant relationship between mothers' knowledge (p-value = 0.000) and husbands' support (p-value = 0.000) with the completeness of basic immunization. The conclusion confirms that knowledge and husband's support are the main determinant factors. It is suggested that Rumbai Bukit Public Health Center implement a more inclusive health promotion strategy by involving the active role of husbands in monitoring child health.

Maternal reproductive health is a critical factor in reducing Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) and Infant Mortality Rate (IMR). Data from Deli Tua Primary Health Center shows that K4 coverage reached only 78% with prenatal class participation at 40%, still below the national target. Low knowledge among pregnant women about reproductive health is one of the main causes. This Community Service Student Creativity Program (PKM-M) aims to improve reproductive health knowledge through innovative and interactive prenatal class improvement. The implementation method includes developing educational media (modules, posters, videos), conducting classes with participatory learning methods, and evaluation through pre-post tests. The program was conducted over 5 months targeting 30 pregnant women divided into 3 groups, each attending 6 sessions. Materials covered physiological changes during pregnancy, nutrition, reproductive hygiene, danger signs, childbirth preparation, and postpartum care. Results showed a knowledge score increase of 42.5% (from 58.3±12.4 to 83.1±8.7) with significance p<0.001. Participation reached 86.7% with satisfaction level of 4.3/5.0. The program proved effective in improving reproductive health knowledge and can be replicated in other primary health centers with local context adaptation.

Balanced Nutrition Education and Strengthening Mothers' Participation in Posyandu Activities to Improve Toddler Nutritional Status Toddler nutrition continues to be a key focus in public health initiatives. Mothers' diet and active use of health services, particularly integrated health posts (Posyandu), are two factors that influence the nutritional status of toddlers. To help improve children's nutritional status, this community service project aims to strengthen mothers' involvement in Posyandu activities and raise their awareness of balanced nutrition. Thirty mothers of toddlers were targeted for this project, which was implemented in the Campalagian Community Health Center (Puskesmas) working area. Mothers were encouraged to actively participate in Posyandu activities through mentoring and education on balanced nutrition through counseling and interactive conversations. Mothers' attendance at Posyandu activities was monitored, and knowledge gains were measured using pre- and post-tests. The study found that mothers' average knowledge scores increased from 60 to 82, and mothers' attendance at Posyandu activities increased from 65% to 85%. This project demonstrates that balanced nutrition education and strengthening mothers' participation in Posyandu activities are effective in increasing mothers' knowledge and involvement, potentially supporting efforts to improve and prevent nutritional problems in toddlers on a sustainable basis.

Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) is one of the indicators of the quality of maternal and child health services in a country. Based on data from the 2024 SDKI (Indonesia Demographic and Health Survey), the maternal mortality rate decreased compared to the previous year, from 4,482 cases in 2023 to 4,150 deaths in 2024, but this figure is still far from the 2030 SDG target. In an effort to reduce maternal mortality, the government's program is the Program for Birth Planning and Complication Prevention (BPCR or P4K in bahasa), which emphasizes community empowerment in monitoring pregnant, delivering, and postpartum mothers. In its implementation, P4K still faces obstacles, one of which is the lack of knowledge among mothers and the community regarding P4K. This also occurs in RW17, Cilendek Barat Village, where many people are still unaware of P4K. Health education interventions about the importance of P4K are one of the activities carried out to increase the knowledge of mothers and the community. Participants are pregnant women, community health workers, and neighborhood association leaders. The success of the activity is measured by assessing participants' knowledge before and after the education is conducted. After education was provided, there was an 84% improvement in participants' knowledge. This activity involved community leaders, so it is hoped that it can increase knowledge and understanding of the importance of P4K.

Stunting is a serious health problem that affects the physical and cognitive development of children, especially in toddlers aged 0-24 months, with a prevalence that remains high in Indonesia. Community service at the Kapasa Health Centre aims to provide health education to mothers as a strategic step to prevent stunting, using interactive methods and counselling on balanced nutrition and the importance of monitoring child growth. The program has been successful in improving maternal knowledge, with the average score increasing from 34% before the program to 78% after education, demonstrating its effectiveness in changing knowledge of child nutrition. The interactive approach encourages participant engagement, allowing mothers to actively discuss and ask questions, while visual materials reinforce understanding. To effectively combat stunting, education must be complemented by greater knowledge of nutritious foods and by parental monitoring of child growth. Collaboration with local health authorities and community organizations is critical to sustaining these efforts and ensuring that important information reaches more families. Continuous evaluation and adaptive strategies will be essential to expanding the program's reach and effectiveness, ultimately encouraging healthier future generations and contributing significantly to stunting prevention and increased health awareness in the community.

Gross motor development in infancy is a crucial aspect of child growth that requires early and continuous stimulation. Limited maternal knowledge and skills in providing appropriate stimulation may hinder the achievement of infants’ gross motor milestones. This program aimed to empower mothers to stimulate infants’ gross motor development through tummy time and baby yoga at PMB Lina Contesa. A community empowerment approach with a one-group pretest–posttest design was applied. The participants were mothers with infants aged 3–12 months. The intervention included health education, demonstrations, hands-on practice, and mentoring in performing tummy time and baby yoga. Evaluation was conducted by assessing maternal knowledge and skills before and after the program. The results showed an increase in the mean knowledge score from 56.4 ± 8.7 to 85.2 ± 6.9 after the intervention. In addition, the proportion of mothers who were able to correctly perform gross motor stimulation techniques increased from 27.8% to 88.9%. These findings indicate that empowering mothers through education and training in tummy time and baby yoga is effective in improving maternal knowledge and skills and has the potential to support the optimization of infants’ gross motor development.

Perineal wounds are commonly experienced by postpartum mothers after vaginal delivery and may cause pain and increase the risk of infection if not properly managed. Appropriate perineal wound care, including the use of non-pharmacological methods, requires adequate maternal knowledge and skills. This program aimed to improve postpartum mothers’ knowledge and skills in perineal wound care through education on betel leaf compresses at PMB Lina Contesa. A community empowerment approach was applied through health education combined with demonstrations and hands-on practice. Evaluation was conducted by assessing changes in maternal knowledge and skills and by observational monitoring of perineal wound conditions. The results showed improvements in maternal knowledge and skills in performing perineal wound care using betel leaf compresses. In addition, postpartum mothers reported reduced pain and no signs of infection during the observation period. These findings indicate that education on betel leaf compresses has the potential to serve as an applicable promotive and preventive approach to support accelerated perineal wound healing among postpartum mothers in primary midwifery care setting.

Posyandu (Integrated Health Post) is a community based health center that demonstrates community participation in health development. Posyandu provides a variety of integrated services, including family planning, maternal and child health (MCH), nutrition, immunization, and diarrhea management, all implemented simultaneously. Posyandu is also included in the Community-Based Health Efforts (UKBM) and is part of the Village Public Health Institution's activities. This study aims to analyze factors influencing mothers' visits to Posyandu by toddlers. The research method used was a literature review, examining ten relevant scientific articles. The article search was conducted through Google Scholar and Garuda databases, with the inclusion criteria being Indonesian-language articles published within the last five years (2021–2025). The study results indicate that factors influencing mothers' visits to Posyandu include knowledge, attitudes, education, employment, family support, the role of cadres, and access to health services. These findings emphasize the importance of strengthening the role of cadres and family support in increasing Posyandu visits.

Long-acting contraceptive methods (LACMs/MKJP) are effective family planning options for controlling fertility and improving maternal health. However, the utilization of LACMs among women of reproductive age remains relatively low, which may be influenced by their level of knowledge. This study aimed to examine the relationship between women’s knowledge levels and the utilization of long-acting contraceptive methods in the working area of UPT Puskesmas Basarang. A quantitative study with a cross-sectional design was conducted involving 58 women of reproductive age selected using purposive sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire to assess knowledge levels and contraceptive use, and analyzed using the Kendall’s tau-b correlation test. The results showed that more than half of respondents had good knowledge of LACMs, yet only 39.7% reported using these methods. Bivariate analysis revealed a statistically significant relationship between knowledge level and LACM utilization (p = 0.012). The study concludes that knowledge is significantly associated with the use of long-acting contraceptive methods, although other factors may also influence decision-making. Strengthening education and counseling interventions is essential to improve informed contraceptive choices and increase the utilization of long-acting contraceptive methods.

The maternal mortality rate in Indonesia remains high, reaching 305 per 100,000 live births in 2021, with one contributing factor being the lack of maternal knowledge regarding pregnancy danger signs. Prenatal classes are considered a strategic intervention to improve pregnant women’s understanding of critical warning signs such as bleeding, severe abdominal pain, and infection symptoms. This study aims to analyze the influence of pregnancy classes on pregnant women’s knowledge of danger signs. The research employed a quantitative design with a cross-sectional approach involving 30 pregnant women selected through purposive sampling at several community health centers. Data were collected using validated and reliable questionnaires, with measurements conducted before (pre-test) and after (post-test) participants attended at least three prenatal classes. Data analysis used descriptive statistics and the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test with SPSS. The results showed that most respondents were aged 20–35 years (63.3%), had a high school education (36.7%), were housewives (60.0%), and multigravida (56.7%). Before the intervention, 50% had poor knowledge and only 20% had good knowledge. After attending prenatal classes, 63.3% achieved good knowledge, while only 10% remained in the poor category. The Wilcoxon test showed a significant difference (p = 0.000). Thus, prenatal classes effectively improve knowledge and support early detection of complications, potentially reducing maternal and infant mortality rates.

Discomfort during pregnancy is a common experience resulting from physical, physiological, and psychological changes, yet it is often not well understood by pregnant women. Limited knowledge about normal bodily changes and pregnancy-related discomfort can reduce maternal comfort and increase anxiety. Counseling serves as an important educational strategy to improve pregnant women’s understanding, particularly within antenatal care services at primary health care facilities. This study aimed to examine the effect of counseling on pregnancy discomfort in improving mothers’ knowledge about changes during pregnancy. A quasi-experimental design with a one-group pretest–posttest approach was employed. The sample consisted of 50 pregnant women selected using a total sampling technique. Mothers’ knowledge levels were assessed before and after the counseling intervention using a structured questionnaire. Data analysis included univariate analysis to describe the distribution of knowledge levels and bivariate analysis using the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test to evaluate differences before and after the intervention. The findings demonstrated a notable increase in knowledge following counseling, indicated by a shift from predominantly poor and moderate knowledge levels in the pretest to good knowledge in the posttest. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference between pretest and posttest results (p < 0.05). In conclusion, counseling significantly improves pregnant women’s knowledge regarding pregnancy-related changes and discomfort.

This study aims to analyze hematocrit values ​​using a micro method with capillary blood samples in pregnant women with anemia at the Sidodadi Kisaran Barat Community Health Center. This study is a descriptive study with a cross-sectional approach involving 15 pregnant women as respondents. Data collection was carried out through hematocrit laboratory examinations and data collection of respondent characteristics. The results showed that 60% of respondents had hematocrit levels below normal values, while 40% of respondents had hematocrit levels within normal limits. Low hematocrit levels in pregnant women are influenced by several factors, including age, education level, employment status, and level of knowledge about anemia during pregnancy. This condition has the potential to increase the risk of pregnancy complications if not optimally managed. Therefore, it is recommended that health workers continue to increase educational efforts regarding anemia prevention, the importance of regular pregnancy check-ups, and encourage pregnant women to maintain a balanced nutritional consumption pattern and adequate iron intake to support maternal and fetal health.