Socio-economic Conditions of Coastal Communities and Its Implications to Health Behaviors

Headnote

ABSTRACT

This study elaborates the socio-economic condition of coastal communities and its implication to their health behaviors. Economic condition, which cannot be separated from the geographic-ecological condition of coastal areas, has shaped the particular characteristics of the people. The problems faced in the coastal area are high poverty level, the high degradation level of coastal resources, and the low village and health infrastructures in the region. This study employs a qualitative method with a case study technique. Not only is the coastal environment shown to become the triggers of people's unhealthy behaviors, but the adverse socio-economic condition also worsens the environmental health condition. However, poverty induces the inability of the communities to fulfill their basic health needs, such as sanitation, clean water, and access to health facilities. It also prevents the communities from considering health a priority.

Keywords: socio-economic condition, coastal communities, health behavior, poverty

1.INTRODUCTION

The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries mentioned that 25,625 villages are classified as coastal villages, including a few in the foremost small islands. The common problems faced in these villages include the low-quality human resources. Such an issue exists because the people have difficulty accessing capital, technology, information, and markets.

The coastal society can be categorized further into a specific type of community by considering the geographic-ecological, economic characteristics, including the social and cultural aspects that shape their specific characteristics. Moreover, their economic activities are closely related to their geographical and ecological conditions characterized by the utilization of coastal resources and services covering activities in fisheries, commerce, marine tourisms, and transportations.

Ambariyanto and Denny (2012) bring forth four general problems encountered in the coastal areas of Indonesia: the high poverty level of coastal society, the highly degraded coastal resources, the low independence in village social organization, the decline in local wisdom and culture, as well as the low level of village and environmental health infrastructures. These problems actively contribute to the high vulnerability to natural disasters and climate change in coastal villages (Tinambunan, 2016:18). As an effort to develop the coastal communities, five existing issues should be investigated and divided into five aspects, namely, ecological, social, economic, agrarian, and geopolitical aspects (Kusumastanto and Satria, 2014).

One of the villages facing the same problems is the village located...