Health information is a commodity heavily sought by Indonesians because of the increasing consciousness of a healthy lifestyle. However, the circulation of health information is consistently disrupted by misinformation and disinformation, particularly on social media and chatting platforms such as WhatsApp. Identified misinformation and disinformation can be found on the official web page run by the Ministry of Communication and Information (https://trustpositif.kominfo.go.id/). Digital information exchange often involves health care workers; they are considered a credible source of health information. The purpose of this study was to delineate the attitudes of health care workers toward health information, determined by gender, educational attainment, and age differences. Health information in this study was information circulated on WhatsApp. We divided the age differences into four digital generations: baby boomers and Generations X, Y, and Z. We used the t-test and analysis of education and age differences when using the analysis of variance to demonstrate the differences among determinants factors of respondents—617 health care workers in West Java—in using WhatsApp when receiving and sharing health information. The results support that attitudes toward health information are determined by education attainment and differences in generation and that gender differences have no effect.

The potential of female heads of households is very important to be developed, but unfortunately they have not been able to fully participate because they still have limited power and a weak position in society. To empower them, an empowerment program for female heads of households is carried out. This research describes efforts conducted by members of the program to overcome hindrances faced in their position as female heads of household, particularly within their roles in both domestic and public spaces. This study uses a case study approach in which data were collected using in-depth interviews to eight informants including PEKKA members, officers, and corresponding household members. Participatory observations are conducted in three months, looking into PEKKA-related activities and the informants daily practices. The findings from this study reveal that through close and dialogic communication processes between the female heads of household and PEKKA officers, they can openly share their problems and receive support to solve their problems. Interpersonal communication helps the female heads of household in gaining trust and becoming role models for their families. This form of communication also enables wives to gain their husbands’ trust and render them equal partners. It is concluded that through the processes of interpersonal communication, female heads of household can position themselves as subjects that challenge the impeding patriarchal values. Interpersonal communication in the PEKKA program, both as practice and shared knowledge, is considered effective as a means to empower female heads of household. Keywords: Interpersonal communication process, female heads of household, social roles, empowerment program, PEKKA programme.

Objective: Goal 6.2 of the SDGs emphasizes the importance of safe sanitation and ending open defecation in promoting health and well-being. This study analyzes health communication strategies for ending open defecation (OD) in a riverside community and identifies communication elements impeding the outcome. Methodology:. Using a qualitative approach, the data were collected through a forum group discussion (FGD), in-depth interviews, and observations. Fourteen people attended the FGD, including village government leaders, community and religious leaders, health cadres, people with OD habits, a midwife. Eight people were interviewed, including the head of the primary health center, the head of the environmental health division at Malang District Health Office, village government leaders, community and religious leaders, a sanitarian, and people with OD habits. Findings: The triggering method was combined with a customized communication strategy to promote OD behavior change. The study identifies challenges to achieving promotion objectives, such as villagers' distrust of some assisting team members due to a lack of training or workshops, the 'no subsidy' messages were ineffective because the local government granted latrine for the poor before, the use of face-to-face communication as a sole channel was found ineffective due to unreliable sources and a large number of participants, there is no regulation to sustain behavioral change. Suggestions: This study recommends training or workshops for community members who serve as the triggering team, encouraging self-built latrines through a financing plan and latrine models tailored to villagers' capabilities and preferences, combining face-to-face communication with villagers' preferred media, and issuing a regulation governing penalties for offenders.

Doctor-patient communication is important in all medical consultations including for In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) treatment. An unfavourable communication experience can cause a patient to stop taking the treatment, move to another local fertility clinic, or even seek treatment abroad. There are still few studies documenting communication experiences of patients with infertility seeking reproductive treatment in other countries. This study aimed to describe the communication experiences of Indonesian IVF patients receiving IVF treatment from medical practitioners in fertility clinics in Malaysia. This study used Benner's interpretive phenomenology framework in its approach and when analysing the results. Data collection was carried out using in-depth and semi-structured interviews with 11 IVF patients from Pekanbaru city Indonesia who received IVF treatment in fertility clinics in Malaysia. This study found three main themes shared by the IVF patients’ communication experiences: 1) memorable experiences (friendliness and caring, empathy, honesty and openness, clarity and adequacy of the information, and easiness of communication; 2) less memorable experiences (less interpersonal communication, less warm non-verbal communication, and miscommunication); and 3) communication barriers (English). These findings have important implications for both the prospective patients receiving cross-border fertility treatment in the future and for service providers providing fertility treatment to improve doctor-patient communication. Keywords: Health communication, doctor-patient communication, communication experience, infertility, cross-border reproductive care, in vitro fertilisation treatment.

The issue of video games has become an important topic in the social sciences, particularly regarding age rating systems and content regulation. While these concerns have been extensively examined in developed nations, they remain underexplored in developing contexts such as Indonesia. This study identifies a socio-cultural paradox in digital parenting practices in Malang City, Indonesia, where many parents adopt reactive and restrictive supervision strategies while failing to evaluate the actual game content. A descriptive qualitative single-case study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with 26 parents and their children. The findings reveal that all participating parents were unaware of existing video game age rating systems and rarely assessed the content of their children’s games. Thematic analysis produced four typologies of parental mediation, with the Paradoxical Mediator Parent emerging as the key finding. This typology reflects the interaction between parents’ low levels of digital literacy and local cultural conceptions, sak karepe and ojo kakean dolanan gem, which together form a culturally embedded, low-cost parenting strategy. The study contributes to the expansion of the parental mediation theory by integrating non-Western cultural scripts and provides practical recommendations to address digital literacy gaps within families and communities.

Koneksi merupakan jurnal dalam bidang ilmu komunikasi