The View From the Far Side An International Public Health—Primary Care Interface

Abstract

In this paper, first-hand experience of a three-year project in Indonesia is used to explore the relationship between public health and primary care—disciplines which are too rarely considered in partnership. The Healthy Start for Child Survival Project in Lombok, Indonesia, which has now been running for two years, has integrated them in a way which utilises the strengths of both approaches. The result is a comprehensive series of practical and appropriate health interventions based on the collection of qualitative and quantitative data. Avenues of intervention revolve around active outreach involving both antenatal and postnatal strategies, including strategies to reduce morbidity and mortality from tetanus, hepatitis and acute respiratory infection. The positive effects of these interventions are now visible in the huge improvements to the health status of the local child population. The final stage of the project is designed to identify ways in which the health of the local population can be further improved, and to ensure the sustainability of these interventions after the project has been completed. The extent to which the knowledge gained could be applied to public health and primary care in Australia is discussed.