Abstract

System of local area monitoring for maternal and child health is a management tool on maternal and child health program in order to monitor coverages of the maternal and child health services in a work area continuously executing promt and right action in work areas with low coverages of the services since 1990’s. The general objective of the study was to determine system of local area monitoring for maternal and child health to achieve surveillance system of child life expectancy in Sukabumi District. Data were collected by in-depth interview to health staffs: coordinator midwives, heads of health centers and focus group discussion among village midwives. Activities of the maternal and child health program in Sukabumi District were conducted well. The local area monitoring for maternal and child health were also conducted but there were obstacles as lack of midwives in some health centers and villages. The other obstacles were difficult geographic areas, limited heath staffs either in health centers or in villages. There were many health staffs having double duties. Some midwives did have not enough instruments and training on maternal and child health, either. But there were resources as community, community participation, high other sectors partnership. Besides the roles of traditional birth attendants were still high. It suggested addition of midwives in villages by midwife contract program or prioritizing midwife academies for children or grandchildren of traditional birth attendants, conduct training on maternal and child health program or local area monitoring for maternal and child health in new villages, equip enough instruments and infrastructures for midwives in villages, conduct refreshing on maternal and child health program and also local area monitoring for health center coordinator midwives. Key words: local area monitoring, maternal and child health, health center management, village midwives