Perceptions and Behaviors of Health Communication on the Poor with High and Low HDI

Abstract

Human development index (HDI) is one of development achievements within an area. One of the indicators for Human Development Index (HDI) is public health. Low rate of public health will lead to low human resources since a good resource requires good physical health. One of the aspects we need to consider of is public behavior in seeking information about health, especially by the poor whom become the object of development. This research is intended to map the difference between poor people with high HDI and low HDI within context of their health communication behavior.The result indicated that there is difference between poor people within high and low HDI on their perception of the role of government, the utilization of mass media for socialization, and evaluation on implementation of health program policy. From the result, therefore, it is necessary to have a different approach model of health. In this term, the research has recommended the Models of Health Communication Reinforcement for the Poor (HCRP) with high and low HDI.

Keywords: Human Development Index (HDI), the poor, seeking information, health communication, and communication reinforcement.