Abstract
Birth preparedness is a critical determinant of safe delivery outcomes for mother and infant, yet many pregnant women in rural areas remain inadequately prepared due to limited access to structured health information. This community service activity aimed to increase the knowledge of pregnant women in Maribaya Village, Purbalingga Regency, regarding birth preparedness through health education. The program was implemented in three stages—preparation, implementation, and evaluation—using a participatory approach involving a pre-test, delivery of educational material through lecture and discussion supported by booklets and leaflets, and a post-test. Fourteen pregnant women, consisting of six primigravida and eight multigravida participants, took part in the full series of activities. Results showed that the mean knowledge score increased from 76.42 in the pre-test to 88.57 in the post-test, an improvement of 12.15 points, with all participants (100%) reaching the "good" knowledge category after the intervention, compared with only 35.71% before. Follow-up monitoring conducted through a birth-preparedness planning sheet revealed that 71.43% of participants had completed all preparedness components, while a minority still lacked infant and maternal supplies or a designated blood donor. Interviews indicated positive participant responses and improved ability to explain birth-preparedness concepts. These findings confirm that structured health education using printed media is effective in enhancing pregnant women's knowledge and readiness for childbirth, supporting its continued use as a low-cost community health intervention in similar rural settings.