Counselors’ Experiences with Infant and Young Child Feeding Tele-Counseling: A Phenomenological Study

Abstract

The global COVID-19 pandemic has influenced the intervention delivery of Indonesia’s stunting reduction program. In this context, e-counseling can be adapted as an innovative approach to deliver interventions. This study aimed to explore counselors’ experiences when conducting tele-counseling. The five participants in this phenomenological study were counselors who had received breastfeeding and infant and young child feeding (IYCF) counseling training and participated in counseling service activities. The participants were selected using a purposive sampling technique. In-depth interviews were conducted with each of the participant until data saturation was reached. Each interview was transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis method. Four themes were found in this study: exciting experiences, essential counseling skills, privacy concerns, and tele-counseling as service solution. The recommendation derived from this study is to continue the IYCF tele-counseling program as a service solution at health facilities.