The Influence of Health Workers’ Credibility and Communication Style on Mothers’ Behavioral Change in Stunting Prevention at Kasemen Community Health Center

ABSTRACT : This study examines the influence of health workers’ credibility and communication style on mothers’ behavioral change in stunting prevention at Kasemen Community Health Center. Stunting remains a major public health issue in Indonesia, highlighting the importance of effective health communication. This study employed a quantitative cross-sectional survey involving 176 mothers. Data were analyzed using Spearman correlation, simple linear regression, and multiple linear regression. The results show that health workers’ credibility (β = 0.484, p < 0.05) and communication style (β = 0.377, p < 0.05) significantly influence mothers’ behavioral change. Simultaneously, both variables explain 68.4% of the variance (Adjusted R² = 0.684), while 31.6% is influenced by other factors. These findings emphasize the importance of strengthening health workers’ credibility and communication skills to improve stunting prevention efforts.

KEYWORDS: stunting, health workers’ credibility, communication style, mothers’ behavior.