COMMUNICATION COMPETENCY OF BIRSTEY AND INTENSITY OF EXTENSION ON THE QUALITY OF KB Extension Service

Oct 13, 2025 by windailys.com 68 views

COMMUNICATION COMPETENCY OF BIRSTEY AND INTENSITY OF EXTENSION ON THE QUALITY OF KB Extension Service

The Role of Extension Communication and Intensity of Counseling in Improving the Quality of KB Counseling Services for Decreasing Stunting in Padang Lawas Utara Regency

Stunting, a chronic nutritional problem that hinders children's growth, is a serious concern in Indonesia, including in North Padang Lawas Regency. Efforts to reduce stunting require the active role of various parties, including family planning instructors. The quality of family planning extension services is very important to ensure messages and information related to reproductive and nutritional health is delivered properly and effectively.

The Importance of Family Planning Extension Services

Family planning extension services play a crucial role in educating the community about reproductive and nutritional health. These services are essential in providing accurate and reliable information to individuals, especially pregnant women and mothers with babies aged 0-24 months. The quality of these services directly affects the effectiveness of the messages and information delivered, which in turn impacts the community's knowledge and behavior related to reproductive and nutritional health.

Theoretical Framework

This study analyzed the influence of extension workers' communication competencies and the intensity of counseling on the quality of family planning extension services in an effort to reduce stunting in Padang Lawas Utara Regency. The theory used is the theory of communication competency.

Communication Competency Theory

The theory of communication competency emphasizes the importance of effective communication in achieving desired outcomes. In the context of family planning extension services, communication competency refers to the ability of extension workers to convey messages and information accurately, clearly, and effectively. This includes the ability to understand the needs and concerns of the community, as well as the ability to adapt communication strategies to different audiences and contexts.

Methodology

This study uses a quantitative approach with correlational methods. The research population includes 3,676 pregnant women and mothers with babies aged 0-24 months. The research sample amounted to 361 respondents who met the criteria as pregnant women or mothers with children aged 0-24 months, at risk of stunting, and have participated in family planning counseling activities. Sampling was carried out by purposive sampling technique. Data was collected through the distribution of questionnaires directly and through Google Forms.

Data Analysis Techniques

The data analysis techniques used include multiple linear regression analysis, T test, F test, and the coefficient of determination test. These techniques were employed to examine the relationship between extension workers' communication competencies, extension intensity, and the quality of family planning extension services.

Results

The results showed that extension workers' communication competencies and extension intensity had a significant effect on the quality of family planning extension workers in an effort to reduce stunting.

Combined Effects and Individual Effects

The results of the analysis showed that extension workers' communication competencies and extension intensity had a combined effect of 80.9% on the quality of family planning extension services. That is, these two factors together play a major role in forming the quality of KB extension services. The remaining influence (19.1%) comes from other factors outside of this study.

Individually, the instructor's communication competency contributed 38.3% to the quality of service, while the extension intensity contributed 42.6%. This shows that the intensity of counseling has a greater influence compared to the competency of extension workers.

Direct Relationship between Variables

Multiple linear regression analysis also shows the results of 4,743 with positive signs. This shows that there is a direct relationship between independent variables (extension communication competencies and extension intensity) with dependent variables (quality of family planning extension services). The higher the communication competence of family planning extension workers and the intensity of counseling, the higher the quality of the services provided.

Recommendations and Conclusions

This study shows the importance of the role of communication competencies and extension intensity in improving the quality of family planning extension services. Improving the competency of extension workers through training and assistance can help extension workers in conveying messages and information more effectively. Increasing the intensity of counseling by conducting routine visits and involving more parties in extension activities can strengthen messages and increase public knowledge about reproductive health and nutrition.

Recommendations for Stakeholders

Overall, this research provides recommendations for stakeholders in North Padang Lawas Regency to improve the quality of KB extension services through increasing communication competencies and extension intensity. This effort is expected to help reduce stunting and improve the reproductive health of the community in Padang Lawas Utara Regency.

Future Research Directions

This study highlights the need for further research on the role of communication competencies and extension intensity in improving the quality of family planning extension services. Future studies can explore the impact of communication competencies and extension intensity on other outcomes, such as knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to reproductive and nutritional health.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this study demonstrates the importance of communication competencies and extension intensity in improving the quality of family planning extension services. The findings of this study provide valuable insights for stakeholders in North Padang Lawas Regency to improve the quality of KB extension services and reduce stunting in the community.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Communication Competency and Extension Intensity in Family Planning Extension Services

Q: What is the significance of communication competency in family planning extension services?

A: Communication competency is crucial in family planning extension services as it enables extension workers to convey messages and information accurately, clearly, and effectively to the community. This is essential in educating individuals about reproductive and nutritional health, which in turn impacts their knowledge and behavior related to these issues.

Q: How does extension intensity impact the quality of family planning extension services?

A: Extension intensity refers to the frequency and duration of counseling sessions provided by extension workers. Increasing the intensity of counseling can strengthen messages and increase public knowledge about reproductive health and nutrition. This is because more frequent and longer counseling sessions can provide individuals with more opportunities to ask questions and receive clarification on complex issues.

Q: What is the relationship between communication competency and extension intensity in family planning extension services?

A: The results of this study show that communication competency and extension intensity have a combined effect of 80.9% on the quality of family planning extension services. This means that these two factors together play a major role in forming the quality of KB extension services. Individually, communication competency contributed 38.3% to the quality of service, while extension intensity contributed 42.6%.

Q: How can stakeholders in North Padang Lawas Regency improve the quality of family planning extension services?

A: Stakeholders in North Padang Lawas Regency can improve the quality of family planning extension services by increasing communication competencies and extension intensity. This can be achieved through training and assistance for extension workers to improve their communication skills, as well as increasing the frequency and duration of counseling sessions.

Q: What are the implications of this study for reducing stunting in the community?

A: The findings of this study suggest that improving communication competencies and extension intensity can help reduce stunting in the community. By providing accurate and reliable information to individuals, especially pregnant women and mothers with babies aged 0-24 months, extension workers can empower them to make informed decisions about their reproductive and nutritional health.

Q: What are the limitations of this study?

A: This study has several limitations, including the use of a quantitative approach with correlational methods, which may not capture the complexity of the relationships between variables. Additionally, the study only examined the impact of communication competency and extension intensity on the quality of family planning extension services, and did not explore other outcomes, such as knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to reproductive and nutritional health.

Q: What are the future research directions for this study?

A: Future research can explore the impact of communication competency and extension intensity on other outcomes, such as knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to reproductive and nutritional health. Additionally, studies can examine the effectiveness of different training and assistance programs for extension workers to improve their communication skills.

Q: What are the practical implications of this study for extension workers?

A: The findings of this study suggest that extension workers should prioritize improving their communication skills and increasing the intensity of counseling sessions to provide high-quality family planning extension services. This can be achieved through training and assistance programs, as well as regular feedback and evaluation of their performance.

Q: What are the policy implications of this study for government agencies and other stakeholders?

A: The findings of this study suggest that government agencies and other stakeholders should prioritize improving the quality of family planning extension services by increasing communication competencies and extension intensity. This can be achieved through policy reforms, such as increasing funding for training and assistance programs for extension workers, as well as regular monitoring and evaluation of their performance.