Creating awareness about climate change impacts on human health: An online mass media analysis in Indonesia

Abstract

Objectives: We conducted an online mass media analysis in Indonesia in order to explore one dimension of climate change impact issue for public health. Our focus was whether and how online mass media construct public awareness in response to the impact of climate change on human health. Methods: We developed a search strategy consisting of three progressively more delimited phases. First, we searched major publication for articles in online mass media in Indonesia published from 2009 to 2014. The list of online media was provided by the National Library of Indonesia. Second, we selected articles employing general and specific set of criteria. Lastly, we coded the selected articles to track article characteristics and identify common themes. Climate change articles with a human health focus were included. A media content analysis was applied to guide the interpretation of the data. Results: We identified that online media have limited information around the impact of climate change on human health. News reporting of climate change impact on human health has constructed uncertainty around the issue that led to disengagement in relation to possible changes in public behaviors in particular the adaptation and mitigation efforts. Moreover, the communication of climate change from scientists and policy-makers to the public via the online mass media has been a subject of major interest because of its implications for creating public awareness of a climate change impact issue on public health. Conclusions: Online mass media might help in the development of better informed public debate about climate change issue. It therefore needs efforts to create effective proactive-online media engagement strategies in making the public understand.