The Role of Community Leaders in Baduy Traditional Institutions to Increase Health Facility Deliveries

Abstract

Giving birth independently without the help of a shaman or health worker is one of the traditions of the Outer Baduy Tribe that is still practiced and often results in the death of the mother and baby. To reduce the occurrence of childbirth itself, an intervention has been carried out involving community leaders in the Baduy Traditional Institution from 2018 to 2020. This paper aims to describe the role of community leaders in Baduy traditional institutions to reduce the rate of self-delivery and increase the number of antenatal care and delivery in health facilities. Data was collected qualitatively by conducting in-depth interviews with key informants and group discussions with supporting informants. Key informants included traditional leaders from both the Inner and Outer Baduy, neighborhood leaders, elders, and government officials from the Baduy region. Supporting informants include cadres, midwives, husbands, and families of pregnant women. The selected informants in this research were conducted purposively. Community leaders in traditional institutions play a role in increasing knowledge and understanding of pregnant women, so they do not give birth themselves. Community leaders also approach the husbands and families of pregnant women to allow health workers to check pregnant women at the integrated healthcare center (posyandu) and refer them to the hospital if their delivery has complications and bleeding. Community leaders at Baduy customary institutions also act as intermediaries between the inner Baduy community, the Outer Baduy community, and health workers. Conclusion: Community leaders have an important role to be involved in efforts to increase the birth of Baduy residents in health facilities.