Optimizing health promotion: Insights from FGDs with dukuh and cadres in Mulyodadi, Bantul

Abstract

This study aims to assess the health challenges and the need for health promotion training in Mulyodadi village, Bantul. The focus group discussion (FGD) method was employed, involving the head of sub-villages (dukuh) and cadres, to gather in-depth information. The FGD findings highlighted key health challenges in Mulyodadi, including the prevalence of both communicable and non-communicable diseases, a lack of public awareness about the importance of a healthy lifestyle, and unequal access to health information within the community. It was also found that dukuh and cadres did not conduct widespread health promotion for the general public. Their educational efforts, often delivered through posyandu (integrated healthcare centers), were primarily targeted at parents of infants and toddlers, thus limiting their health promotion knowledge and skills to this context. To optimize their role in community health promotion, dukuh and cadres require health communication training, such as elevator pitch skills training. This training will equip them with the ability to deliver concise, compelling, and effective health promotion messages, thereby addressing the identified health challenges more flexibly in terms of time and place.