Journal of Community Empowerment for Health
Vol 4, No 3 (2021)

Community based intervention: Local village preparedness in prevention and control of COVID-19

Muhamad Jauhar (Department of Nursing, Health Polytechnic of Ministry of Health Semarang, Semarang, Indonesia)
Rasdiyanah Rasdiyanah (Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitas Islam Negeri Alauddin Makassar, Indonesia)
Lita Heni Kusumawardani (Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitas Jenderal Soedirman, Purwokerto, Indonesia)
Utami Rachmawati (Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitas Jenderal Soedirman, Purwokerto, Indonesia)
I Gusti Ayu Putu Desy Rohana (Department of Nursing, Health Polytechnic of the Ministry of Health Palembang, Baturaja, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
10 Dec 2021

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has become a global concern since it has severely affected various aspects of life such as health, economy, society, culture, and religion. Community empowerment in breaking the chain of region-based COVID-19 spread is an effective approach that can be taken. This intervention is an important alternative measure to slow the morbidity and mortality of COVID-19 that continue to occur in Indonesia. This article aimed to describe the implementation of a community-based COVID-19 prevention program that was conducted among 280 families in six sub-districts in Brebes Regency from May to June 2020. The assessment used a questionnaire of COVID-19 transmission risk, with a total of 29 indicators developed based on references from the Indonesian Ministry of Health. The preliminary assessment of our program found several aspects that were related to the risk of COVID-19 transmission in the village and observed that there was insufficient public knowledge about COVID-19 including poor practice of health protocols and the negative stigma of society towards patients with COVID-19. The community-based program involved several activities, which namely consisted of program introduction, coordination with stakeholders, community assessments, group discussions, village community deliberations, health education about COVID-19 and 6 step hand washing, distribution of cloth masks, socialization of mask usage and care, socialization of pregnancy checks during the pandemic, provision of hand washing facilities in front of the house, activities evaluation, follow-up plans, and closings.  Furthermore, the aforementioned activities also used videos, posters, leaflets, WhatsApp, as well as Zoom Cloud Meetings as the media. The evaluation phase of the program showed a better understanding related to COVID-19 and health protocol practice in each region. Community empowerment and collaboration with health care facilities can be pursued as a frontline solution to tackle the transmission of COVID-19. Good support and active community participation can contribute to improve the public health status.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

jcoemph

Publisher

Subject

Education Health Professions Medicine & Pharmacology Nursing Public Health

Description

Journal of Community Empowerment for Health (ISSN 2655-0164 (online); ISSN 2654-8283 (print)) is a national, open access, multidisciplinary, and peer-reviewed journal. We aim to publish research articles and reviews on educative, promotive, preventive and community empowerment activities in the ...