Community Knowledge and Behavior in the Utilization of Medicinal Plants in Cikoneng Village Bandung District

Abstract

The industry of the traditional medicinal made from medicinal plants was currently growing. Effortless cultivation and utilization of medicinal plants were an important step to preserve the traditional medicine of Indonesia. Cikoneng village had abundant natural potential and is an assisted village of the researchers' institution located at the foot of Manglayang mountain Bandung district. Therefore, the researchers implemented the intervention program to educate and socialize the use of medicinal plants to the community of Cikoneng village. After the intervention program, the assessment of the level of knowledge and perceptions of people in the behavior of treatment by medicinal plants utilized was carried out. This study aims to assess the increase in knowledge and perceptions of people in the behavior of cultivation and treatment by using medicinal plants in Cikoneng village. The study used an intervention program and questionnaire with 35 respondents conducted on 22 August-23 September 2016. The results showed that after the intervention program, the level of knowledge of the Cikoneng village community regarding medicinal plants was right. The entire people of Cikoneng village is willing to take advantage of medicinal plants in maintaining family health and will begin to cultivate them in the smallest scope (family). In conclusion, there is an increase in people's knowledge and perception of the behavior of cultivation and treatment by utilizing medicinal plants in Cikoneng village.