Abstract
An interview survey on the health status and medical check of a hamlet in West Java conducted by the author revealed that the weekly morbidity rate was 24-32%. Most episodes of diarrhea and fever were followed by treatment, but conjunctivitis and skin diseases were usually untreated. Rates of treatment were also different among age groups, the rate being higher in older group than younger groups.
A study of the health behavior of the farmers showed that they normally used the private clinic of a male nurse near the hamlet, and did not use the public health center so often. For serious illness, they went to the general hospital (rumah sakit umum) 10km from the hamlet rather than to the public health center.
The following were factors under use of the public health center.
1. Distance from the hamlet and lack of transportation.
2. Short opening hours (8 a.m. through 1 p.m.), which coincided with the farmers' work.
3. Difficulty of communication between doctors and patients.
4. Frequent absence of the doctors.
5. Lack of a long-term care system.
