Nutrition Misinformation Encountered by Nutritionists in Kulon Progo Regency, Indonesia: A Qualitative Content Analysis

Annisa Usfatun Khasanah; Puji Kurnellawati

doi:10.67380/jfnha.v1i2.46

Authors

Annisa Usfatun Khasanah Universitas Gadjah Mada Author
Puji Kurnellawati Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.67380/jfnha.v1i2.46

Keywords:

health communication, nutrition misinformation, nutrisionist

Abstract

Misinformation about nutrition is a serious public health issue because it can influence eating behaviors and reduce the effectiveness of nutrition programs. This study aims to identify myths and misinformation about nutrition circulating in Kulon Progo Regency and to explore the challenges faced by nutritionists in addressing them. A quantitative descriptive study using content analysis was conducted among 25 nutritionists working at community health centers across all 12 subdistricts in Kulon Progo Regency. Data were collected via an open-ended online questionnaire and analyzed through coding, categorization, theme development, and interpretation. A total of 35 myths and pieces of misinformation were analyzed. The most frequently encountered topics were pregnancy, the introduction of complementary foods, and noncommunicable diseases. Nutritionists also reported challenges in addressing misinformation, such as cultural beliefs, family influence, social media, and limited counseling time. The study’s findings indicate that misinformation is not solely caused by limited nutritional knowledge but is also influenced by sociocultural factors. Therefore, nutrition education should incorporate cultural sensitivity, local contexts, family involvement, and community health workers to enhance the effectiveness of nutrition programs.

References

Anggraeni, M. D., Setiyani, R., Kartikasari, A., Rahmawati, E., & Fatoni, A. (2022). Understanding early complementary food practice in rural Indonesia: A qualitative study. British Journal of Midwifery, 30(7). https://doi.org/10.12968/bjom.2022.30.7.384. DOI: https://doi.org/10.12968/bjom.2022.30.7.384

Braga, D., Silva, I., Rosário, R., Novais, P., Peixoto, H., & Machado, J. (2025). Exploring the potential of online social listening for noncommunicable disease monitoring. PeerJ, 13(5). https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19311. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19311

Caballero, A., Chapi-Nitcheu, C., Vallan, L., Flahault, A., & Hasselgard-Rowe, J. (2025). Relationships Between Misinformation Variables and Nutritional Health Strategies: A Scoping Review. In International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Vol. 22, Number 6). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22060891. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22060891

Damanik, S. M., Wanda, D., & Hayati, H. (2020). Feeding practices for toddlers with stunting in Jakarta: A case study. Pediatric Reports, 12. https://doi.org/10.4081/pr.2020.8695. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4081/pr.2020.8695

Diekman, C., Ryan, C. D., & Oliver, T. L. (2023). Misinformation and Disinformation in Food Science and Nutrition: Impact on Practice. Journal of Nutrition, 153(1). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2022.10.001. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2022.10.001

Ecker, U. K. H., Lewandowsky, S., Cook, J., Schmid, P., Fazio, L. K., Brashier, N., Kendeou, P., Vraga, E. K., & Amazeen, M. A. (2022). The psychological drivers of misinformation belief and its resistance to correction. In Nature Reviews Psychology (Vol. 1, Number 1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44159-021-00006-y. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s44159-021-00006-y

Gamito, M., Pereira, D. R., Delgado, M., Vicente, F., Silva, M. L., & Pereira, P. (2025). How Do Nutritionists/Dietitians Use Social Media to Communicate with Their Public? Global Perspectives on Social Media Practices: A Systematic Review. In Nutrients (Vol. 17, Number 22). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17223513. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17223513

Gayatri, M., Silvani, Y., Pirade, R. A., Akingbade, O., Harjo, I. W. W., & Hastuti, N. R. (2023). Javanese Women’s Experiences during the First Pregnancy. Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research, 28(6). https://doi.org/10.4103/ijnmr.ijnmr_413_20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/ijnmr.ijnmr_413_20

Herman, H., & Huang, M. C. (2025). Evaluating the autonomy of mother in infant feeding decision: A case study. Pediomaternal Nursing Journal, 11(2). https://doi.org/10.20473/pmnj.v11i2.66007. DOI: https://doi.org/10.20473/pmnj.v11i2.66007

Herman, H., Mansur, A. R., & Chang, Y. J. (2023). Factors associated with appropriate complementary feeding: A scoping review. In Journal of Pediatric Nursing (Vol. 71). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2023.04.017. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2023.04.017

Kartasurya, M. I., Syauqy, A., Suyatno, S., Dewantiningrum, J., Nuryanto, N., Sunarto, S., Isnawati, M., Nurcahyani, Y. D., Wati, E. K., Hapsari, P. W., Samsudin, M., & Fuada, N. (2023). Determinants of length for age Z scores among children aged 6–23 months in Central Java, Indonesia: a path analysis. Frontiers in Nutrition, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2023.1031835. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2023.1031835

Knight, A., Palermo, C., Reedy, G., & Whelan, K. (2021). Communication skills in dietetic practice: a scoping review protocol. In JBI Evidence Synthesis (Vol. 19, Number 12). https://doi.org/10.11124/JBIES-20-00559. DOI: https://doi.org/10.11124/JBIES-20-00559

Köhler, R., Lambert, C., & Biesalski, H. K. (2019). Animal-based food taboos during pregnancy and the postpartum period of Southeast Asian women – A review of literature. In Food Research International (Vol. 115). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2018.10.026. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2018.10.026

Kusumo, M. P., Hendrartini, J., Sufro, Z. M., & Dewi, F. S. T. (2020). A qualitative study to explore the perception of patients towards diet in Javanese culture. Enfermeria Clinica, 30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enfcli.2020.06.041. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enfcli.2020.06.041

Labonté, J. M., Kroeun, H., Sambo, S., Rem, N., Luhovyy, B. L., Karakochuk, C. D., Green, T. J., Wieringa, F. T., Sophonneary, P., Measelle, J. R., Baldwin, D., & Whitfield, K. C. (2023). Restricting diet for perceived health benefit: A mixed-methods exploration of peripartum food taboos in rural Cambodia. Maternal and Child Nutrition, 19(3). https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13517. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13517

Lambert, S., Schaffler, J. L., Ould Brahim, L., Belzile, E., Laizner, A. M., Folch, N., Rosenberg, E., Maheu, C., Ciofani, L., Dubois, S., Gélinas-Phaneuf, E., Drouin, S., Leung, K., Tremblay, S., Clayberg, K., & Ciampi, A. (2021). The effect of culturally-adapted health education interventions among culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) patients with a chronic illness: A meta-analysis and descriptive systematic review. In Patient Education and Counseling (Vol. 104, Number 7). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2021.01.023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2021.01.023

Lovrić, B., Placento, H., Farčić, N., Lipič Baligač, M., Mikšić, Š., Mamić, M., Jovanović, T., Vidić, H., Karabatić, S., Cviljević, S., Zibar, L., Vukoja, I., & Barać, I. (2022). Association between Health Literacy and Prevalence of Obesity, Arterial Hypertension, and Diabetes Mellitus. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(15). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159002. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159002

Maryuni, M., Prasetyo, S., Martha, E., Devy, S. R., Pardosi, J. F., Anggraeni, L., & Subu, M. A. (2024). Local cultural perspectives of birth preparedness: a qualitative study in a rural subdistrict of Indonesia. British Journal of Midwifery, 32(8). https://doi.org/10.12968/bjom.2024.32.8.412. DOI: https://doi.org/10.12968/bjom.2024.32.8.412

Ningtyias, F. W., & Kurrohman, T. (2020). Food taboos and recommended foods for pregnant women: The study of phenomenology in pendhalungan society. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 485(1). https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/485/1/012149. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/485/1/012149

Nurokhmah, S., Middleton, L., & Hendarto, A. (2022). Prevalence and Predictors of Complementary Feeding Practices Among Children Aged 6-23 Months in Indonesia. Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, 55(6). https://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.22.199. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.22.199

Osborne, R. H., Elmer, S., Hawkins, M., Cheng, C. C., Batterham, R. W., Dias, S., Good, S., Monteiro, M. G., Mikkelsen, B., Nadarajah, R. G., & Fones, G. (2022). Health literacy development is central to the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases. BMJ Global Health, 7(12). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2022-010362. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2022-010362

Paramashanti, B. A., Dibley, M. J., Huda, T. M., Titaley, C. R., & Alam, N. A. (2025). Understanding Complementary Feeding Practices and Their Influencing Factors in Rural and Urban Indonesia: A Qualitative Study. Ecology of Food and Nutrition, 64(6). https://doi.org/10.1080/03670244.2025.2599747. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03670244.2025.2599747

Perry, H. B., Chowdhury, M., Were, M., LeBan, K., Crigler, L., Lewin, S., Musoke, D., Kok, M., Scott, K., Ballard, M., & Hodgins, S. (2021). Community health workers at the dawn of a new era: 11. CHWs leading the way to “Health for All.” In Health Research Policy and Systems (Vol. 19). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-021-00755-5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-021-00755-5

Qoyimah, A. U., Shaluhiyah, Z., & Winarni, S. (2024). Correlations between Sociodemographic Status, Attitude, Cultural Belief, and Family Support towards Complementary Feeding Practices. Media Publikasi Promosi Kesehatan Indonesia, 7(11). https://doi.org/10.56338/mppki.v7i11.6147. DOI: https://doi.org/10.56338/mppki.v7i11.6147

Rahmawati, R., & Bajorek, B. (2018). Understanding untreated hypertension from patients’ point of view: A qualitative study in rural Yogyakarta province, Indonesia. Chronic Illness, 14(3). https://doi.org/10.1177/1742395317718034. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1742395317718034

Rahmawati, W., van der Pligt, P., Worsley, A., & Willcox, J. C. (2021). Indonesian antenatal nutrition education: A qualitative study of healthcare professional views. Women’s Health, 17. https://doi.org/10.1177/17455065211066077. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/17455065211066077

Rogers, A., Wilkinson, S., Downie, O., & Truby, H. (2022). Communication of nutrition information by influencers on social media: A scoping review. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 33(3). https://doi.org/10.1002/hpja.563. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/hpja.563

Ryan, C. D., Schaul, A. J., Butner, R., & Swarthout, J. T. (2020). Monetizing disinformation in the attention economy: The case of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). European Management Journal, 38(1). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emj.2019.11.002. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emj.2019.11.002

Sari, Y., Yusuf, S., Haryanto, Kusumawardani, L. H., Sumeru, A., Sutrisna, E., & Saryono. (2022). The cultural beliefs and practices of diabetes self-management in Javanese diabetic patients: An ethnographic study. Heliyon, 8(2). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e08873. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e08873

Suarez-Lledo, V., & Alvarez-Galvez, J. (2021). Prevalence of health misinformation on social media: Systematic review. In Journal of Medical Internet Research (Vol. 23, Number 1). https://doi.org/10.2196/17187. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2196/17187

Sulistyorini, D., Kako, M., Ehsanul Huq, K. A. T. M., Shaluhiyah, Z., & Moriyama, M. (2025). Exploring cultural factors contributing maternal mortality among pregnant women: an ethnographic study in the Banjarnegara community, Central Java, Indonesia. Frontiers in Global Women’s Health, 6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgwh.2025.1677072. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fgwh.2025.1677072

Szreiter, A., & Lachowicz-Wiśniewska, S. (2025). Nutrition Education Among Community-Dwelling Polish Seniors—A Pilot Study of Diet Quality, Health Status, and Public Health Interventions. Nutrients , 17(13). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17132103. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17132103

Tajdar, D., Lühmann, D., Fertmann, R., Steinberg, T., van den Bussche, H., Scherer, M., & Schäfer, I. (2021). Low health literacy is associated with higher risk of type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study in Germany. BMC Public Health, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10508-2. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10508-2

Tobing, V. Y., Afiyanti, Y., & Rachmawati, I. N. (2019). Following the cultural norms as an effort to protect the mother and the baby during the perinatal period: An ethnographic study of women’s food choices. Enfermeria Clinica, 29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enfcli.2019.04.125. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enfcli.2019.04.125

Triratnawati, A. (2019). Food taboos and codes of conduct for pregnant women at Mount Sindoro, Wonosobo district, Central Java, Indonesia. Studies on Ethno-Medicine, 13(2). https://doi.org/10.31901/24566772.2019/13.02.590. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31901/24566772.2019/13.02.590

Trisilawati, R., Widjanarko, B., Shaluhiyah, Z., & Sriatmi, A. (2025). Social Perceptions About Stunting in Rural Communities in Central Java, Indonesia: A Qualitative Study. Journal of Population and Social Studies, 33. https://doi.org/10.25133/JPSSV332025.022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25133/JPSSv332025.022

Vázquez-Vázquez, A. del P., Fewtrell, M. S., Chan-García, H., Batún-Marrufo, C., Dickinson, F., & Wells, J. C. K. (2022). Do maternal grandmothers influence breastfeeding duration and infant nutrition? Evidence from Merida, Mexico. American Journal of Biological Anthropology, 179(3). https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.24623. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.24623

Yuliastini, S., Sudiarti, T., & Sartika, R. A. D. (2020). Factors related to stunting among children age 6-59 months in babakan madang sub-district, West Java, Indonesia. Current Research in Nutrition and Food Science, 8(2). https://doi.org/10.12944/CRNFSJ.8.2.10. DOI: https://doi.org/10.12944/CRNFSJ.8.2.10