Empowerment of pregnant women through digital health education and family support to enhance childbirth preparedness

Gustini Gustini (Department of Nursing, STIKes Bala Keselamatan Palu, Palu, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia)
Muh. Ihsan Kamaruddin (Health Information Management Study Program, Politeknik Sandi Karsa, Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia)

Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat Edukasi Indonesia
Vol. 3 No. 3 (2026): Volume 3 Number 3 Oktober 2026

ABSTRACT Background: Childbirth preparedness is an important component of maternal health care because adequate knowledge, planning, and family involvement can help pregnant women prepare physically and psychologically for childbirth. However, limited access to reliable health information and insufficient family involvement may affect women’s readiness for delivery. Digital education combined with family support provides an accessible and participatory approach to strengthening maternal knowledge and encouraging active family involvement. This community service program aimed to empower pregnant women through digital education and family support to improve their preparedness for childbirth. Methods: This community service program was conducted among pregnant women and involved their family members as key sources of support. The intervention included digital maternal health education, educational materials on childbirth preparation and danger signs, interactive discussions, family-assisted learning, and counseling. Participants’ knowledge and childbirth preparedness were assessed before and after the intervention using structured evaluation instruments. Family participation and engagement during the program were also evaluated. Results: Following the intervention, participants demonstrated improvements in knowledge related to childbirth preparation, recognition of maternal danger signs, and understanding of appropriate actions before and during labor. Family members showed greater involvement in supporting pregnant women, including participation in birth planning and preparation for maternal health needs. The program also encouraged participants to use digital health information more effectively as a source of maternal health education. Conclusion: Digital education combined with family support represents a practical community-based approach to empowering pregnant women and strengthening childbirth preparedness. Integrating accessible digital health education with active family involvement may support maternal health promotion and could be incorporated into community-based maternal health programs.