Improvement of midwife communication skills

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 144 views

The Effect of Communication Components in the Implementation of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) Prevention by Midwives on Client Visits on HIV-AIDS Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) Services in Medan City

Introduction

HIV/AIDS has become a serious threat to public health, including housewives, pregnant women, and infants infected with their mother. In the midst of this threat, the role of midwives as health workers is very important in the Mother to Children Transmission (PMTCT) prevention program to prevent HIV transmission from mother to child. Effective communication is the key to the success of the PMTCT program, and it is essential to understand the influence of communication in the implementation of PMTCT.

The Communicative Role of Midwives in Increasing Client Visit to VCT in Medan City

A preliminary study in several Puskesmas in Medan in 2010 shows a weakness in the communication process between midwives and groups of housewives and pregnant women. This is a serious concern because effective communication is the key to the success of the PMTCT program. To understand more in the influence of communication in the implementation of PMTCT, an explanatory study was conducted in Medan City. This study involved 33 midwives as a population and sample. Data was collected through a questionnaire and analyzed using multiple linear regression tests.

The Results of the Study

The results showed that effective communication had a positive influence on client visits to Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) services. This means that the better midwife communication with clients, the higher the possibility of clients to visit the VCT service. Further analysis revealed that several communication factors that influence client visits to VCT include:

Clarity of Information: Midwives who are able to convey information about HIV/AIDS, PMTCT, and VCT services clearly and easily understood will increase client's trust and interest to visit VCT services.
Communication skills: Midwife communication skills, such as listening skills, empathy, and building good relationships with clients, are very important in building a sense of comfort and client's trust to discuss and access VCT services.
Awareness and Motivation: Midwives who actively provide education and information related to HIV/AIDS, and show concern for the client's health, can increase client's awareness and motivation to do HIV tests.

Solutions and Recommendations

Based on the results of this study, here are some solutions and recommendations that can be done to improve the PMTCT program and client visits to VCT in Medan City:

Improvement of midwife communication skills: Professional training and development for midwives in improving communication skills, especially in the context of HIV/AIDS and PMTCT, it is very important to build trust and encourage clients to visit VCT services.
Improvement of information quality: Provision of accurate, complete, and easy to understand information about HIV/AIDS, PMTCT, and VCT services in various media, such as leaflets, videos, and social media, will increase public access and understanding.
Increasing community participation: Increasing community participation in the HIV/AIDS and PMTCT prevention campaign, as well as providing education about the importance of regular HIV examinations, can increase client awareness and visit to VCT services.
Improvement of VCT facilities and services: Improving VCT facilities and services, such as accessibility, privacy, and counseling that is friendly and professional, will encourage clients to visit VCT services.

Conclusion

This research confirms the important role of communication in the PMTCT program. Improving the quality of midwife communication with clients can increase client visits to VCT services, which will ultimately contribute to the prevention of HIV transmission from mother to child. By implementing solutions and recommendations that have been presented, it is expected that the PMTCT program in Medan can be more effective in reducing the number of HIV/AIDS transmission and improving the health of the mother and child.

Recommendations for Future Research

This study provides a deeper understanding of the importance of communication in the PMTCT program. However, there are still many aspects of communication that need to be explored further. Some recommendations for future research include:

Investigating the impact of midwife communication on client adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART)
Examining the role of community health workers in promoting HIV testing and counseling services
Developing a communication strategy for midwives to improve their communication skills and build trust with clients

By conducting further research in these areas, it is expected that the PMTCT program can be more effective in reducing the number of HIV/AIDS transmission and improving the health of the mother and child.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Effect of Communication Components in the Implementation of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) Prevention by Midwives on Client Visits on HIV-AIDS Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) Services in Medan City

Q: What is the main goal of the PMTCT program? A: The main goal of the PMTCT program is to prevent HIV transmission from mother to child, which is a critical step in reducing the number of HIV/AIDS cases in Indonesia.

Q: What is the role of midwives in the PMTCT program? A: Midwives play a crucial role in the PMTCT program as they are the primary healthcare providers for pregnant women and new mothers. They are responsible for providing education, counseling, and testing services to clients to prevent HIV transmission.

Q: What is the significance of effective communication in the PMTCT program? A: Effective communication is essential in the PMTCT program as it helps to build trust and rapport between midwives and clients, which is critical in promoting HIV testing and counseling services.

Q: What are the key communication factors that influence client visits to VCT services? A: The key communication factors that influence client visits to VCT services include clarity of information, communication skills, and awareness and motivation.

Q: How can midwives improve their communication skills? A: Midwives can improve their communication skills through professional training and development programs, which focus on building trust, empathy, and effective communication skills.

Q: What is the importance of community participation in the PMTCT program? A: Community participation is essential in the PMTCT program as it helps to promote awareness and education about HIV/AIDS and PMTCT services, which can increase client visits to VCT services.

Q: How can VCT facilities and services be improved? A: VCT facilities and services can be improved by increasing accessibility, privacy, and counseling that is friendly and professional.

Q: What are the benefits of improving midwife communication skills? A: Improving midwife communication skills can increase client visits to VCT services, which can ultimately contribute to the prevention of HIV transmission from mother to child.

Q: What are the recommendations for future research in the PMTCT program? A: Some recommendations for future research in the PMTCT program include investigating the impact of midwife communication on client adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART), examining the role of community health workers in promoting HIV testing and counseling services, and developing a communication strategy for midwives to improve their communication skills and build trust with clients.

Q: How can the PMTCT program be more effective in reducing the number of HIV/AIDS transmission and improving the health of the mother and child? A: The PMTCT program can be more effective in reducing the number of HIV/AIDS transmission and improving the health of the mother and child by implementing solutions and recommendations that have been presented, such as improving midwife communication skills, increasing community participation, and improving VCT facilities and services.