COMMUNITY BASED APPROACH DEVELOPMENT FOR AVIAN INFLUENZA PREVENTION IN SEMARANG CITY

Abstract

Avian influenza (AI) remains a persistent public health concern in Indonesia due to its zoonotic potential and recurrent outbreaks among poultry and humans. Household-scale poultry farmers are particularly vulnerable, necessitating effective community-based prevention strategies. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a community-based intervention model for avian influenza prevention. A Research and Development (R&D) approach was applied through five stages: preliminary exploration, model design, expert validation, pilot testing, and effectiveness evaluation. Ninety household poultry farmers in Gunungpati District, Semarang City, Central Java, participated in the study. Data were collected using questionnaires, interviews, observations, and expert assessments. Paired test results showed a significant increase in knowledge, attitudes, practices, self-efficacy, and health commitment in the intervention group (p < 0.05), while no significant changes were observed in the control group. These findings suggest that community-based interventions are particularly effective in promoting practical behavioral change rather than immediately altering attitudes or long-term commitment. In conclusion, the proposed community-based model demonstrates potential as an effective strategy for avian influenza prevention among small-scale poultry farmers. Further adaptation and multisectoral collaboration are recommended to enhance community resilience against zoonotic threats.