Varied Knowledge Journal
Vol. 4 No. 1 (2026): Varied Knowledge Journal, August 2026

Health Communication Strategy for Stunting Prevention in Kapuas Barat District, Kapuas Regency

Linda Wahyuni (Communication Studies Program, Universitas Islam Kalimantan Muhammad Arsyad Al Banjari, Indonesia)
Decky C. Kananto Lihu (Communication Studies Program, Universitas Islam Kalimantan Muhammad Arsyad Al Banjari, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
17 Aug 2026

Abstract

This study examines how health communication is planned, implemented, mediated, and received within the stunting-prevention program in Kapuas Barat District, Kapuas Regency. A descriptive qualitative design was conducted at Mandomai Community Health Center. Data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews, direct observation, and documentation involving ten informants representing health professionals, health workers, a posyandu leader, village government, pregnant women, mothers of toddlers, and a newly married community member. Data were analyzed through reduction, display, conclusion drawing, and verification. Lasswell's communication model and Rogers' diffusion of innovations theory guided interpretation. The findings show that communication is active but embedded in routine maternal and child health services rather than organized through a written, segmented, and outcome-based strategy. Trusted face-to-face interaction through health workers and posyandu actors remains the dominant channel, supported by maternal and child health books, posters, leaflets, and limited digital media. Messages are practical and broadly accepted, but preconception audiences, spouses, and families are reached inconsistently. Knowledge and persuasion are more visible than sustained implementation and confirmation because economic conditions, time, distance, and service access constrain action. The study's original contribution is an integrated diagnostic framework that links Lasswell's five communication elements with Rogers' adoption stages to identify where message delivery fails to develop into stable preventive behavior. The study recommends life-stage audience segmentation, coordinated multichannel reinforcement, stronger local communicators, ethical and non-stigmatizing communication, and outcome-based evaluation.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

vkj

Publisher

Subject

Religion Arts Humanities Computer Science & IT Economics, Econometrics & Finance Education Engineering Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media Law, Crime, Criminology & Criminal Justice Medicine & Pharmacology Social Sciences

Description

Varied Knowledge Journal (VKJ) is a multidisciplinary journal publish 4 issues a year with online version of E-ISSN 3026-5371 and can be accessed openly. This journal is a peer reviewed, open access, scientific and scholarly journal which publishes research papers, review papers, case reports, case ...