The Effectiveness of Environmental Health Behavior in the Community through Coastal Community Empowerment Program in Kendari City Southeast Sulawesi Province, Indonesia

Abstract

Generally, coastal area settlements are areas that have very complex health problems with very limited availability of basic health services and facilities. The limitations of health facilities and environmental health facilities have resulted in the low health status of coastal area. The aim ofstudy was to determine the determinant model of behavior of coastal communities through the empowerment of coastal communities in Kendari City. The type of study was qualitative research. The results showed that the factors that led to the behavior of coastal communities towards environmental health besides being influenced by knowledge, attitudes and behavior, the determinants that shape clean and healthy living behavior were the availability of infrastructure, stakeholder intervention, routine monitoring by stakeholders, threats of health risks due to unhealthy behavior, and habits of coastal communities thus enhancing the environmental health behavior of coastal communities through the findings of these behavioral determinants, the form of empowerment of coastal communities includes the provision of housing assistance through proper housing program and meeting health standards, latrines, procurement of clean water; do routine controlling every day by stakeholders; reprimand sanctions raised by stakeholders for communities who behave unhealthy and health education by health workers to improve healthy behavior of the community. Conclusion: to change the healthy behavior of the community it will not be effective if it only changes knowledge, but it needs stakeholder commitment, cooperation between community leaders and health workers as well as policy support from the government in order to improve the environmental health of coastal communities. Suggestion: It is a need for socialization, education, and training for community based on community employment for health, advocacy and collaboration across sectors of government agencies in the preparation and improvement of policies through structuring the management of environmental resources and institutional health facilities