Addressing Health Illiteracy and Stunting in Culture-Shocked Indigenous Populations: A Case Study of Outer Baduy in Indonesia

Abstract

This research aims to determine the factors, impacts, and solutions for health literacy in the Outer Baduy hamlets of Kanekes Village, Indonesia. The method used in this research is qualitative, which produces an in-depth explanation of the existing problems. Data were collected through interviews and documentation. Interviews were conducted with key figures, including two female Baduy residents with stunted children, one retainer, the head of the NGO SRI, a midwife who works in the Baduy village, and the head of the Lebak social service. Apart from that, secondary data in the form of recordings of community service talk shows conducted by the University of Indonesia to overcome stunting in Baduy were also analysed. The results show that the factors associated with the low health literacy of the Baduy community are literacy, writing and reading, taboos on eating certain foods, people spending too much time in the fields, people learning by imitating their parents, demanding access to villages, lack of consistency from external parties in providing health programs, and gender segregation in Baduy society. The impact of the low health literacy of the Baduy community is fatalism, high maternal and child mortality rates, and high health costs. The proposed strategies for increasing the health literacy of the Baduy community based on the findings of this research include developing health literacy by targeting community leaders, managing information-technology-based health-information groups, and always presenting at least one health worker among the residents who provides an example of healthy living, encouraging collective reflection. when health cases occur, and balancing gender communication.