Health Worker’s Compilance and Pregnant Women’s Perceptions of The MCH Handbook : A Scoping Review
Abstract
The Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Handbook is a vital tool designed to enhance maternal and child health services by fostering improved communication between healthcare providers and expectant mothers. However, its effective utilization is significantly influenced by various factors, particularly the adherence of health workers to its guidelines and the perceptions held by pregnant women. This scoping review investigates the determinants affecting health workers' compliance and the engagement of pregnant women with the MCH Handbook. A systematic search of electronic databases was conducted to identify relevant studies published over the past decade, employing thematic analysis to categorize the factors impacting compliance and perceptions. Preliminary findings indicate that organizational support, training, workload, and motivation play crucial roles in health workers' adherence, while factors such as literacy levels, cultural beliefs, and previous healthcare experiences shape pregnant women's perceptions of the handbook. Recognizing these factors is essential for developing targeted interventions aimed at optimizing the handbook's use and improving maternal and child health outcomes. Moreover, the review emphasizes the urgent need for further research to establish evidence-based strategies that enhance the implementation of the MCH Handbook across diverse healthcare settings. Effective use is not solely about distribution; it requires a comprehensive understanding of the contextual factors influencing its application. By addressing the identified barriers and facilitators, stakeholders—including healthcare administrators, policymakers, and community organizations—can create tailored interventions that support health workers and empower pregnant women. Such efforts are expected to lead to improved health services and outcomes for mothers and children, highlighting the importance of a collaborative approach in maternal and child health initiatives. Prioritizing this research agenda will ensure the MCH Handbook effectively serves families from various cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Keyword: MCH Handbook, Health Workers' Compliance, Pregnant Women's Perceptions.
Full Text:
PDFReferences
Anak Luta, Q., Haji Abdul Mumin, K., Abdul Rahman, H., & Haji Hashim, S. (2023). Usefulness of antenatal care handbook: a cross-sectional study of mothers’ perspectives. Healthcare in Low-Resource Settings. https://doi.org/10.4081/hls.2023.11813
Aoki, A., Saito, M., Balogun, O. O., Aiga, H., Francisco, K. R., & Takehara, K. (2025). Determinants of the use of insecticide-treated nets and intermittent preventive treatment of malaria among pregnant women in Angola. International Health. https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihaf033
Balogun, O. O., Aoki, A., Tomo, C. K., Mochida, K., Fukushima, S., Mikami, M., Sadamori, T., Kuramata, M., Freitas, H. R., Sapalalo, P., Tchicondingosse, L., Mori, R., Aiga, H., Francisco, K. R., & Takehara, K. (2023). Effectiveness of the maternal and child health handbook for improving continuum of care and other maternal and child health indicators: A cluster randomized controlled trial in Angola. Journal of Global Health, 13, 04022. https://doi.org/10.7189/jogh.13.04022
Carandang, R. R., Sakamoto, J. L., Kunieda, M. K., Shibanuma, A., Yarotskaya, E., Basargina, M., & Jimba, M. (2022). Effects of the maternal and child health handbook and other home-based records on mothers’ non-health outcomes: a systematic review. BMJ Open, 12(6), e058155. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-058155
Clendon, J., & Dignam, D. (2010). Child health and development record book: tool for relationship building between nurse and mother. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 66(5), 968–977. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2010.05285.x
Dharmawan, Y., Pradana, A. R., & Winarni, S. (2021). Factors Related to Utilization of Maternal Child Health Handbook Data by Midwives. Unnes Journal of Public Health, 10(2), 120–126. https://doi.org/10.15294/ujph.v10i2.38408
Gai Tobe, R., Haque, S. E., Mubassara, S., Rahman, R., Ikegami, K., & Mori, R. (2022). Maternal and child health handbook to improve continuum of maternal and child care in rural Bangladesh: Findings of a cluster randomized controlled trial. PLOS ONE, 17(4), e0266074. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0266074
Kumalasari, I. (2024). Mothers’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Support from Health Workers Influencing The Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Handbook Utilization for Maternal and Child Health in Palembang. Journal of Applied Nursing and Health, 6(2), 24–35. https://doi.org/10.55018/janh.v6i2.222
Kuramata, M., Mochida, K., Fukushima, S., Sadamori, T., Suzuki, M., Francisco, K. R., Freitas, H. R., Balogun, O. O., & Takehara, K. (2022). Development and implementation of the maternal and child health Handbook in Angola. BMJ Global Health, 7(10), e010313. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2022-010313
Nishimura, E., Rahman, M. O., Ota, E., Toyama, N., & Nakamura, Y. (2023). Role of Maternal and Child Health Handbook on Improving Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Children, 10(3), 435. https://doi.org/10.3390/children10030435
Purbowati, N., Sari, D. N., & Masitoh, S. (2020). Effectiveness of Counseling Using MCH Handbook 2017ed to The Knowledge and Attitudes of Mothers About Monitoring Toddler Growth. Jurnal Ilmu Dan Teknologi Kesehatan, 7(2), 162–171. https://doi.org/10.32668/jitek.v7i2.319
Purwati, A. E., Solihah, R., Fauzi, A. R., & Ayu, K. (2023). Description of Pregnant Women Using Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Books as Information Media. Nurul Ilmi : Journal of Health Sciences and Midwifery, 1(1), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.52221/nuri.v1i1.205
Radu, M. C., Armean, M. S., Pop-Tudose, M., Medar, C., & Manolescu, L. S. C. (2024). Exploring Factors Influencing Pregnant Women’s Perceptions and Attitudes Towards Midwifery Care in Romania: Implications for Maternal Health Education Strategies. Nursing Reports, 14(3), 1807–1818. https://doi.org/10.3390/nursrep14030134
Rinayati, R. (2023). Knowledge, motivation, attitude, job design and health cadre performance: a cross sectional study. International Journal of Public Health Science (IJPHS), 12(1), 385–391.
Rizki Amalia, Endang Sulistiyani, Retno Aulia Vinarti, Adistha Eka Noveyani, Lutfi Agus Salim, & Diah Indriani. (2025). Maternal and Child Health Using the Digitalization of the MCH Handbook Paciran Primary Health Care. Journal Of Nursing Practice, 8(2), 462–465. https://doi.org/10.30994/jnp.v8i2.488
Setiani, C. D. F., Fatmasari, D., & Suwondo, A. (2022). Effectiveness of MCH handbook development with the addition of fps variables as an early detection for pregnancy and childbirth complications. JNKI (Jurnal Ners Dan Kebidanan Indonesia) (Indonesian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery), 10(1), 36. https://doi.org/10.21927/jnki.2022.10(1).36-47
Takeuchi, J., Sakagami, Y., & Perez, R. C. (2016). The Mother and Child Health Handbook in Japan as a Health Promotion Tool. Global Pediatric Health, 3. https://doi.org/10.1177/2333794X16649884
Till, S., Mkhize, M., Farao, J., Shandu, L. D., Muthelo, L., Coleman, T. L., Mbombi, M., Bopape, M., Klingberg, S., van Heerden, A., Mothiba, T., Densmore, M., & Verdezoto Dias, N. X. (2023). Digital Health Technologies for Maternal and Child Health in Africa and Other Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Cross-disciplinary Scoping Review With Stakeholder Consultation. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 25, e42161. https://doi.org/10.2196/42161
Wignarajah, S., Bhuiyan, S. U., & Gugathasan, A. (2021). The Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Handbook and its Influence on Health Behaviors: A Literature Review. European Journal of Environment and Public Health, 6(1), em0092. https://doi.org/10.21601/ejeph/11357
Wijhati, E. R. (2021). The Effectiveness of Mother Class to Improve Utilization of Maternal and Child Health Handbook. Proceedings of the International Conference on Health and Medical Sciences (AHMS 2020). https://doi.org/10.2991/ahsr.k.210127.054
Yenita, R. N., Yanti, R., Febriani, S., & Mulyadi, R. (2022). Analysis of the use of mother and child health (mch) books by pregnant women in controlling stunting in the working area of Koto Baru community health center, Kuantan Singingi District. Riset Informasi Kesehatan, 11(2), 201. https://doi.org/10.30644/rik.v11i2.717
Zakiah, S., Suhita, B. M., & Puspitasari, Y. (1970). Analysis of Factors Influencing the Completeness of the MCH Handbook Document as an Early Detection of High-Risk Trimester III Pregnant Women by a Midwife in West Kotawaringin. Journal for Quality in Public Health, 4(2), 257–272. https://doi.org/10.30994/jqph.v4i2.220
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30829/contagion.v7i1.24931
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
Copyright (c) 2025 Elvira Nafiani, Zulvayanti Zulvayanti, Puspa Sari
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
