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=Volume 10 - 2022

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=Background: 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.
Objectives: This study aims to assess parental readiness for school reopening, and factors affecting parental attitude towards school reopening.
Methods: A cross-sectional study using online questionnaire distributed via official Indonesian Pediatric Society (IPS) official social media account collected between March-April 2021. The questionnaire contained the general characteristics of study participants, parents’ knowledge and perspectives on COVID-19, and health protocols for school reopening. 
Results: 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), p<0·001), children with comorbidities (OR 2·56 (2·29– 2·87), p<0·001), perception of COVID-19 as a dangerous disease (OR 28·87 (14·29 – 58·33), p<0·001), experience with COVID-19 positive cases in the community (OR 1·75 (1·61 – 1·90), p<0·001), COVID-19 related death in the community (OR 2·05 (1·90 – 2·21), P<0.001), approval for adult COVID-19 vaccination (OR 1·69 (1·53 – 1·87), p<0·001), and ownership of private transportation (OR 1·46 (1·30 – 1·66), p<0·001).
Conclusion: 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.