SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS, HEALTHCARE ACCESSIBILITY, AND DEPRESSION AMONG PARENTS OF VERY LOW BIRTH WEIGHT INFANTS

Carwadi Carwadi; Aan Hermawan; Ridho Muhammad Dhani; Ashar Putra

doi:10.22437/0kh65386

Penulis

Carwadi Carwadi STIKES Mitra RIA Husada Jakarta
Aan Hermawan STIKES Mitra RIA Husada Jakarta
Ridho Muhammad Dhani STIKES Mitra RIA Husada Jakarta
Ashar Putra Universitas Jambi

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22437/0kh65386

Kata Kunci:

very low birth weight, depression, parents, socioeconomic factors, healthcare accessibility, financial burden

Abstrak

Background: Parents of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants may experience psychological and socioeconomic challenges related to the care of their infants, including difficulties in accessing healthcare services and meeting unexpected care-related expenses. This study aimed to analyze the association between socioeconomic factors, healthcare accessibility, and depression levels among parents of VLBW infants at RSUD Ciawi, Bogor, Indonesia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 55 parents of VLBW infants. Data were collected on healthcare accessibility, including travel distance, travel time, and perceived accessibility, as well as socioeconomic characteristics, including parental education, employment status, income, ability to meet unexpected expenses, and household economic stability. Depression levels were assessed and categorized into normal and significant depression levels. The associations between study variables and depression levels were analyzed using the chi-square test.. Results: Among 55 respondents, 8 (14.5%) had a normal depression level, while 47 (85.5%) had a significant depression level. No statistically significant associations were found between depression levels and travel distance to the hospital (p=0.50), travel time (p=0.96), perceived healthcare accessibility (p=0.17), parental education (p=0.34), employment status (p=0.31), income (p=0.15), or household economic stability (p=0.63). However, the ability to meet unexpected expenses, including transportation and special milk costs, was significantly associated with depression levels (p=0.04). Conclusion: Most parents of VLBW infants in this study experienced significant depression levels. Although most socioeconomic and healthcare accessibility variables were not significantly associated with depression, the ability to meet unexpected expenses was significantly associated with depression levels. Financial and psychosocial support may be important components of care for families of VLBW infants.

Biografi Penulis

Carwadi Carwadi, STIKES Mitra RIA Husada Jakarta

Department of Public Health
Aan Hermawan, STIKES Mitra RIA Husada Jakarta

Deaprtment of Public Health
Ridho Muhammad Dhani, STIKES Mitra RIA Husada Jakarta

Department of Public Health
Ashar Putra, Universitas Jambi

Department of Public Health

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