Advancing Maternal and Child Health through Posyandu Information Systems: A Success and Challenge Study

Efforts to simplify healthcare services through technological development often encounter challenges. One example is the community service program led by the Department of Informatics Faculty of Industrial Technology (FTI) at Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII), introducing a maternal and child health Posyandu Information System (Sistem Informasi Posyandu — SIP).

A Blend of Success and Failure in SIP Implementation

The SIP initiative, spearheaded by Dr. Sri Kusumadewi, S.Si., M.T., and Rahadian Kurniawan, S.Kom., M.Kom., aimed to digitize maternal and child health records at Posyandu (Pos Pelayanan Terpadu)—a grassroots healthcare facility in Indonesia. Despite its potential, implementation results varied. While some locations embraced the system, others reverted to manual record-keeping, citing challenges such as accessibility and system usability.

Researching the Success Factors

Recognizing these challenges, Cicin Hardiyanti, a graduate student from the Master Program in Informatics at FTI UII, conducted a detailed study under the supervision of Dr. Kusumadewi and Rahadian Kurniawan. Her research, presented in her thesis, marks a significant step in medical informatics as a concentration of study.

“The goal of my research is to identify the factors influencing the success and failure of the SIP implementation using the HOT Fit model, which encompasses Human, Organization, Technology, and Fit dimensions,” said Cicin. She supplemented this with a qualitative approach using a fishbone diagram to map potential failure factors.

Cicin Hardiyanti presented her research

Posyandu Bimomartani vs. Posyandu Tirtorahayu

Cicin’s research focused on two Posyandu: Bimomartani and Tirtorahayu.

• In Posyandu Bimomartani, the system was operational for a few months before staff reverted to manual record-keeping due to technical issues like login difficulties, limited internet access, and a lack of integration with Puskesmas systems. Additionally, the incomplete information system design and declining user motivation were critical issues. “Communication breakdowns, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, worsened the situation, leading to reduced user acceptance,” she noted.
• In contrast, Posyandu Tirtorahayu has successfully used the system for approximately two years. The study revealed that system quality, information quality, and service quality positively impacted system usage and user satisfaction.

Key Insights and Recommendations

Cicin highlighted eight variables from the HOT Fit model as crucial to system success, including system quality, user satisfaction, and organizational support. While village officials in Tirtorahayu supported the implementation by facilitating developer meetings and signing MoUs, this support did not directly impact net benefits due to measurement limitations in the study.

Motivation among staff in Tirtorahayu also played a vital role. “Ease of use, accuracy, completeness, and effectiveness were decisive factors in the system’s success,” she added. The findings offer valuable guidance for future SIP implementations across other Posyandu.

A Significant Milestone for Medical Informatics

Ir. Irving Vitra Paputungan, S.T., M.Sc., Ph.D., Head of the Master Program in Informatics at FTI UII, praised Cicin’s achievements. “Her thesis, “Evaluasi Faktor Keberhasilan dan Kegagalan Sistem Informasi Posyandu Kesehatan Ibu dan Anak Menggunakan Model HOT FIT dan Analisis Kualitatif dengan Fishbone Diagram (Evaluating Success and Failure Factors of the Maternal and Child Health Posyandu Information System Using the HOT Fit Model and Fishbone Diagram Analysis)”, showcases remarkable collaboration between faculty staff and students, bridging research and community service,” he stated.

Irving expressed his admiration for Cicin’s dedication, emphasizing that her work is a stepping stone in advancing medical informatics at UII. “This graduation marks not the end, but the beginning of a new journey filled with challenges and opportunities,” he said.

Cicin’s research underscores the importance of understanding local contexts and tailoring technological solutions to meet community needs. Her work paves the way for more effective and sustainable healthcare innovations in Indonesia.

References:

• https://rri.co.id/yogyakarta/kesehatan/1014061/penguatan-sistem-informasi-bagi-layanan-kesehatan-di-posyandu
• https://dspace.uii.ac.id/handle/123456789/51105
• https://e-journal.unair.ac.id/JISEBI/article/view/49390
• https://www.instagram.com/p/DAqZqTkS6aK