A new study conducted by
researchers Ellen Lombonaung and Fany Sabban from STIKes Maluku Husada reveals
that community-based health education delivered through audiovisual media
significantly reduces public stigma toward Persons with Mental Disorders (PMD).
Published in the International Journal of Natural and Health Sciences in
2026, the research demonstrates how accessible video-based interventions can
dismantle deeply rooted stereotypes, foster empathy, and encourage social
inclusion. The study was carried out between April and May 2026 in Nania
Village, Ambon City, Maluku Province, addressing an urgent public health
challenge in regional Indonesia.
Background: The Burden of
Public Stigma
Social stigma remains one of the
greatest obstacles to mental health recovery globally and locally. According to
the World Health Organization, approximately 450 million people worldwide live
with mental disorders. In Indonesia, national health data indicates that
roughly 1.7 million individuals live with mental health conditions. Rural
communities often experience higher rates of extreme discrimination, such as
physical restraint (pasung), due to a lack of accurate health
information and pervasive fears that individuals with mental conditions are
inherently dangerous or untreatable.
In Maluku Province, where
emotional mental disorders affect an estimated 7.5% of the population aged 15
and older, public misconceptions frequently lead to social isolation and delays
in medical treatment. Prior to this intervention, residents of Nania Village
had never received mental health education via electronic or audiovisual
platforms, creating a prime opportunity to measure the direct impact of modern
educational tools.
How the Study Was Conducted
To evaluate changes in community
attitudes, Ellen Lombonaung and Fany Sabban designed a quasi-experimental study
using a One Group Pretest-Posttest model involving 35 adult residents of Nania
Village. The study utilized a total sampling method to include all eligible
village participants, representing a cross-section of age groups, educational
backgrounds, and genders.
- Baseline Assessment (Pretest): Participants'
baseline attitudes were measured using the standardized Perception of
Discrimination Devaluation Scale (PDDS), which categorizes stigma into
low, moderate, and high levels.
- Educational Intervention: Participants
attended a comprehensive two-hour health education session utilizing
structured audiovisual media. The video content explained the clinical
definitions of mental disorders, biological and social causes, available
medical treatments, and the vital role of community support.
- Post-Intervention Assessment (Posttest):
Immediately following the video presentation, participants completed the
PDDS questionnaire again to evaluate changes in perception.
- Data Analysis: The researchers analyzed the
scores using the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test to determine statistical
significance.
Key Findings: A Dramatic Shift
in Community Attitudes
The audiovisual intervention
produced a statistically significant reduction in negative perceptions across
all 35 participants ($Z = -5.167$, $p < 0.001$).
- Pre-Intervention Stigma: Before viewing the
educational video, 57.1% of participants (20 individuals) exhibited high
stigma levels, while 42.9% (15 individuals) showed moderate stigma. Zero
participants displayed low stigma levels.
- Post-Intervention Stigma: After the
intervention, high stigma was entirely eliminated. Moderate stigma became
the predominant category at 66.7% (23 individuals), while 34.3% of
participants (12 individuals) shifted into the low stigma category.
- Universal Improvement: Every single
participant demonstrated a measurable decrease in stigma scores following
the session, with no participants showing increased or unchanged stigma
levels.
Implications and Real-World
Impact
The study demonstrates that
public stigma is not permanent and can be altered through targeted, engaging
educational tools. By combining visual illustration with auditory explanations,
audiovisual media simplifies complex psychiatric concepts, making them
accessible to populations with varying educational backgrounds.
These findings offer clear
practical benefits for healthcare providers, non-governmental organizations,
and government policymakers:
- Public Health Strategy: Integrating short
audiovisual modules into routine community health programs (Puskesmas)
can serve as a cost-effective method to dismantle social barriers.
- Improved Recovery Outcomes: Reducing public
prejudice directly encourages individuals with mental health conditions
and their families to seek early medical intervention without fear of
social ostracization.
- Policy Integration: Education authorities
and health ministries can deploy standardized digital content across rural
regions to promote human rights and social inclusion.
Expert Perspective
Emphasizing the core insight of
the research, the study's primary authors highlighted the transformative power
of engaging media in community healthcare settings:
"Health education through
audiovisual media constitutes an effective approach to reducing public stigma
toward Persons with Mental Disorders, as it conveys information in an engaging,
concrete, and easily understood manner, thereby encouraging the community to
become more open, foster closeness, and accept them as an integral part of
society." — Ellen Lombonaung & Fany Sabban, STIKes Maluku
Husada
Researcher Profiles
- Ellen Lombonaung, B.S., M.N. (or equivalent
nursing/health degree), is a researcher at STIKes Maluku Husada,
specializing in psychiatric nursing, community health education, and
public mental health promotion.
- Fany Sabban, M.Kep., is a nurse educator and
researcher affiliated with STIKes Maluku Husada, focusing on mental health
nursing, community-based interventions, and stigma reduction strategies.
Source Details
- Article Title: Eliminating Stigma Toward
Persons with Mental Disorders: Fostering Closeness and Recognizing Them as
Part of Us
- Journal: International Journal of Natural
and Health Sciences (IJNHS)
- Publication Year: 2026
- Volume & Issue: Vol. 4, No. 3, pp.
391–400
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.59890/ijnhs.v4i3.275
- Official URL: https://aprmultitechpublisher.my.id/index.php/ijnhs/index
0 Komentar