Jurnal Info Kesehatan
Vol 24 No 2 (2026): JURNAL INFO KESEHATAN

Traditional First Aid Practices for Lacerations among the Dayak Meratus Tribe: A Phenomenological Study

Solikin Solikin (Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Muhammadiyah University of Banjarmasin, Banjarmasin City, South Kalimantan, Indonesia)
Era Widia Sary (Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Muhammadiyah University of Banjarmasin, Banjarmasin City, South Kalimantan, Indonesia)
Sayyidah Sayyidah (Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Muhammadiyah University of Banjarmasin, Banjarmasin City, South Kalimantan, Indonesia)
Mohammad Basit (Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Sari Mulia University, Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan)
Noor Khalilati (Faculty of Nursing and Health Sciences, Muhammadiyah University of Banjarmasin, Banjarmasin City, South Kalimantan, Indonesia)
Hakim Zulkarnain (Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya City, East Java, Indonesia and PhD Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom)



Article Info

Publish Date
30 Jun 2026

Abstract

The Dayak Meratus tribe commonly practices traditional medicine that focuses on prevention and first aid for childbirth, injuries, and various illnesses. In treating lacerations, they use locally available materials such as ground coffee, amoxicillin powder, banana shoot leaves, and other plants. The practice poses a risk of infection due to poor hygiene and contaminated tools. The research aimed to explore and describe the lived experiences and meanings that Dayak Meratus tribes attribute to providing first aid for lacerations. This was a qualitative phenomenological study conducted with 25 Dayak Meratus community members with experience in traditional laceration treatment, selected through purposive sampling. The lived experiences of participants were captured through in-depth interviews and were analyzed thematically using Colaizzi's method. Four key themes emerged: (1) types of raw materials used to stop bleeding, (2) first aid practices for lacerations, (3) culturally influenced health-seeking behavior, and (4) wound healing duration. Overall, the Dayak Meratus tribe's traditional wound-care practices are diverse and locally resourceful. However, several practices appear to lack standardized, evidence-based guidance and may raise concerns regarding hygiene and safety. The study found that although some practices appeared effective, they were undermined by the lack of aseptic procedures. The study recommends improving the health education practice by integrating traditional culture and wisdom with modern medical safety standards.        

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Journal Info

Abbrev

infokes

Publisher

Subject

Biochemistry, Genetics & Molecular Biology Chemistry Dentistry Health Professions Immunology & microbiology

Description

Jurnal Info Kesehatan with registered number ISSN 0216-504X (Print), 2620-536X (Online) is a scientific journal which managed by the Research and Community Service Unit, Politeknik Kesehatan Kemenkes Kupang in cooperation with Indonesian Oral Health and Therapists Association with the MoU. The ...