A Formative Evaluation of Nutritional Programs in Public Health Centers in Depok Municipality, Indonesia

Depok municipality Government has launched some policies in order to reduce children malnutrition prevalence in its area. The policies rely on some nutritional programs held at the Public Health Center (PHC). The aim of this study is to do a formative evaluation on nutritional policies, programs and interventions which improve children`s nutritional status in Depok Municipality. By knowing the process of formative evaluation on nutritional programs, it would propose some recommendations to local government, especially Depok local government, in strengthening the nutritional policies, programs and interventions and it is expected to contribute to the enrichment of knowledge and models of the implementation policy for improving children`s nutritional status. This research is qualitative, employed by in-depth interviews with the implementers of the nutritional programs, as well as the beneficiaries, observation in Therapeutic Feeding Center (TFC), where the treatment of malnutrition children is conducted, also studied the data and documents received from Depok Health Office, PHCs, and TFCs as well. The research found that the implementation of nutritional programs in PHCs, from the criteria of appropriateness, the health workers in charge of THCs operation are capable human resources and have got the training to conduct children malnutrition treatment based on the WHO Guideline of Management of Child Malnutrition. From the criteria of responsiveness, knowing how to extend a policy to satisfy the need, preference and value of the society, it is found that the root of the problem of children malnutrition is poverty. It makes the consequences that the policies, programs and interventions made by the local government should be comprehensively conducted by considering the condition of the malnourished children as well as the family. From the beneficiaries point of view, this research found that the majority of the mothers (81%) felt that their children got better health and growth after discharge from TFCs. 69% got the knowledge and practices in preparing better foods for the child and family. The majority appeared satisfied with TFCs performance