AUTHOR=Pudjiadi Antonius Hocky , Putri Nina Dwi , Sjakti Hikari Ambara , Yanuarso Piprim Basarah , Gunardi Hartono , Roeslani Rosalina Dewi , Pasaribu Ade Djanwardi , Nurmalia Lies Dewi , Sambo Catharine Mayung , Habibah Lathiefatul , Utami Indriyanti Natasya Ayu , Prawira Yogi , Kaswandani Nastiti , Alam Anggraini , Kadafi Kurniawan Taufiq , Hanafi Gryselda , Tjahjadi Angela Kimberly , Aprianti Shindy Claudya , Salma Nabila Maudy , Wijaya Stephanie , Alatas Fatima Safira , Pulungan Aman Bhakti 

TITLE=Parents' Perspectives Toward School Reopening During COVID-19 Pandemic in Indonesia—A National Survey

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.757328

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2022.757328

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Background</title><p>All sectors are affected due to COVID-19 pandemic occurring worldwide, including the education industry. School closure had been taking place for more than a year in Indonesia. Despite the controversies, Indonesian government had decided to begin school reopening.</p></sec><sec><title>Objectives</title><p>This study aims to assess parental readiness for school reopening, and factors affecting parental attitude toward school reopening.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>A cross-sectional study using online questionnaire distributed <italic>via</italic> official Indonesian Pediatric Society (IPS) official social media account collected between March and April 2021. The questionnaire contained the general characteristics of study participants, parents' knowledge, and perspectives on COVID-19, and health protocols for school reopening.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>A total of 17,562 responses were collected, of which 55.7% parents were ready to send their children to school should school reopens. Factors significantly contribute to parental decision to keep their child at home were: presence of vulnerable population at home [OR = 1.18 (1.10–1.27), <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001], children with comorbidities [OR = 2.56 (2.29–2.87), <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001], perception of COVID-19 as a dangerous disease [OR = 28.87 (14.29–58.33), <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001], experience with COVID-19 positive cases in the community [OR = 1.75 (1.61–1.90), <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001], COVID-19 related death in the community [OR = 2.05 (1.90–2.21), <italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.001], approval for adult COVID-19 vaccination [OR = 1.69 (1.53–1.87), <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001], and ownership of private transportation [OR = 1.46 (1.30–1.66), <italic>p</italic> &lt;0.001].</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title><p>We identified several factors affecting parental perception on school reopening during COVID-19 pandemic that should be addressed. This study can be used for policy-maker to make further recommendations and health educations prior to school reopening in Indonesia.</p></sec>