Factors affecting the family development index in Indonesia: a cross-sectional survey in Aceh, a region with a 30 year armed conflict experience [version 1; peer review: 1 approved with reservations]

Background: Family development index needs to be measured to ensure that the government has made optimal efforts to provide happiness to the families and to develop strategies in family development in a region with unique conditions. The objective of this study was to assess the family development index and its associated determinants in Aceh province, a region implementing Syariah Law in Indonesia with 30 years of armed conflict experience. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in all regencies in Aceh. The study was a part of the Indonesian National Population and Family Planning Board project. The survey included one individual from each household that was selected randomly. Family development index was measured using a questionnaire consisting of 15 questions. The plausible determinants were collected and assessed through a face-to-face interview. The family development index was dichotomized using 85% cut-off into good and poor. A two-step logistic regression was used to determine the associated determinants. Results: A total of 10,000 households were included in the final analysis. 86.6% had a good family development index, with the highest in Sabang (97.6%) and the lowest index in Aceh Singkil (76.6%), respectively. A multivariate analysis indicated that the regency, marital status, educational qualification, ownership of health insurance, ownership of childbirth certificate, quality of the house (the type of floor, the source of electricity, the source of drinking water and the type of toilet facility) were associated with the family development index. Conclusion: Despite Aceh being one of the less developed provinces in Indonesia with long armed conflict experience, our data suggest that the family development index is relatively high and the index is influenced both by economic and non-economic determinants. To further improve the family development index, it is critical to develop both economic and non-economic components in the region and in the country.