Functional Capacity of Primary Health Care Centers in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, Indonesia

Abstract

The qualitative descriptive design was utilized to determine the
perception of healthcare providers about the functional capacity of
the Primary Health Care (PHC) centers in Samarinda, East Kalimantan,
Indonesia. A survey questionnaire was prepared and distributed to
different healthcare providers in the 24 PHC centers in Samarinda which
includes physicians, nurses, midwives, dentists, nutritionists, laboratory
technicians and sanitary inspectors. The mean, standard deviation,
frequency, percentage, and ANOVA were employed for data analysis.
The study assessed that majority of the healthcare providers are nurses
and have been working for 1-5 years. As to the disaster preparedness of
Primary Health Care centers when measured by its functional capacity is
“low” or “inadequate” along the five major areas namely: organization
of Disaster Committee and an Emergency Operations Center (EOC),
Operational plan for internal or/and external disasters, plan for the
operation, preventive maintenance, and restoration of critical services,
and availability of medicines, supplies, instruments, and other equipment
for use in emergency. In general healthcare providers’ assessment of PHCs
readiness to face disaster as measured by functional capacity was “low,”
which is classified under “Level C” based on the WHO Hospital Safety
Index. This is interpreted as “Urgent Intervention is needed.” ANOVA test
reveals a significant difference in the level of functional capacity of PHC
centers in terms of job position and length of service. The inadequacy in the
functional capacity of the Primary Health Care centers in Samarinda, East
Kalimantan, Indonesia can be given urgent solution through an integrated
approach that includes international, national and local health government
officials, emergency coordinating bodies and community representatives.