From UIN Jakarta for Indonesian Women: Prof. Irma’s Scientific Oration Offers Integrated Postpartum Care Model

Auditorium Harun Nasution, UIN News Online – In its early emergence, Islam aimed to restore women’s position to its rightful honor. This was because, biologically, women are the first place where human life begins (in the womb) before birth, the place where humans are first introduced to many things, both good and bad.

UIN Jakarta’s Professor, Prof. Irma Nurbaeti, S.Kp., M.Kep., Sp.Mat., Ph.D., who was inaugurated along with six other professors on Wednesday (May 7, 2025), further strengthened the position of women in society through her findings. In her scientific oration, Prof. Irma emphasized that women’s health during pregnancy and postpartum plays a crucial role in determining the quality of family and societal life.

Postpartum depression is one of the main challenges that need to be addressed. The WHO statement on postpartum depression, which has ambiguous symptoms, is often undetected, and external responses tend to be neglectful, creates a significant need to prevent depression from occurring. Untreated depression can lead to fatal consequences, such as long-term mental health disorders, child developmental issues, harm to the baby, suicide, and even infanticide.

Globally, postpartum depression is one of the most common mental health disorders affecting women after childbirth. In Indonesia, it is estimated that 10% to 28% of mothers experience postpartum depression. Prof. Irma emphasized the importance of paying closer attention to this issue, as the actual percentage might be higher due to the difficulty in detecting this depression.

“The figures we have might be higher than anticipated, so it is essential to highlight the detection and effective handling of postpartum depression to prevent long-term impacts on mothers and children,” said Prof. Irma.

Her expertise in maternity care led to the conclusion that nurses on the front line of providing care for pregnant and postpartum mothers play a very critical role, not only in physical aspects but also in psychological, social, and spiritual aspects. However, in practice, less than 15% of affected individuals receive timely and appropriate care.

In response to these challenges, Prof. Irma offered a model with seven key elements for integrated postpartum health care, which includes: Screening, Assessment, and Triage; Integrated Services; Patient-Centered Care; Biopsychosocial and Spiritual Approach; Clinical Training; Health Promotion and Disease Prevention; and Transition and Discharge Planning.

“The implementation of the model will improve accessibility, continuity, and quality of postpartum care,” she added.

The proposed model is not without challenges. Limited resources, lack of health worker training, and social stigma are the main obstacles that need to be addressed. Specifically, in the Indonesian context, this approach must consider local conditions, such as integration with maternal and child health services, community-based health worker training, and strengthening referral systems.

Prof. Irma concluded her scientific oration by reaffirming that the development and implementation of integrated nursing care in the prevention and management of postpartum depression is a strategic step toward improving the well-being of Indonesian mothers and children. She also reminded that achieving responsive and sustainable care requires collaboration across sectors, policy commitment, as well as training and infrastructure.

Through Prof. Irma Nurbaeti's scientific oration, UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta not only solidifies its position as an academic center of excellence in maternal health but also as a pioneer in the development of holistic, responsive, and equitable health services for Indonesian women.

For information, Prof. Irma is a lecturer at the Faculty of Health Sciences (FIKES) and a professor in the field of maternal nursing at UIN Jakarta. She holds a Ph.D. from the Faculty of Nursing, Burapha University. Her scholarly work and research focus on maternity care for women during and after childbirth, including “The effectiveness of dhikr toward decreasing anxiety and labor pain during the active phase of the first stage among primigravida.”

Watch the recording of the Inauguration of Six UIN Jakarta Professors on Wednesday (May 7, 2025): Link

(Muhammad Hanif A./Fauziah M./Noeni Indah S./Photo: M. Yahya)