Faith-Based Health Communication in Public Health Crises
A Scoping Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59001/pjrs.v5i2.1282Keywords:
faith-based health communication, COVID-19 prevention, religious leaders, risk communication, Muslim communitiesAbstract
Faith-based health communication has become an important component of public health responses, yet evidence remains fragmented across religious actors, message strategies, communication channels, and implementation contexts. This scoping review mapped the literature to identify recurring communication functions, evidence gaps, and implications for future public health crises. Scopus and Web of Science were searched for studies published between 2021 and 2026. Following screening and eligibility assessment, 40 studies were synthesized using the Population–Concept–Context framework. Although the evidence was drawn primarily from COVID-19 research, the pandemic was treated as an empirical case for understanding faith-based communication across public health crises. The review found that communication effectiveness depends on the interaction among legitimate authority, culturally meaningful translation of health messages, and the institutional capacity to support implementation, rather than on messenger credibility or communication channels alone. Building on these findings, the review advances an evidence-informed Authority–Translation–Capacity (ATC) analytical framework for interpreting faith-based health communication across diverse religious and institutional settings. The evidence base remains dominated by cross-sectional, qualitative, and descriptive studies, highlighting the need for comparative, longitudinal, and implementation-oriented research. The proposed framework offers a foundation for strengthening communication preparedness and engaging faith institutions as collaborative partners in future public health emergencies.
Komunikasi kesehatan berbasis agama telah menjadi komponen penting dalam respons kesehatan masyarakat, tetapi bukti yang tersedia masih terfragmentasi pada aktor keagamaan, strategi pesan, saluran komunikasi, dan konteks implementasi. Scoping review ini memetakan literatur untuk mengidentifikasi fungsi-fungsi komunikasi yang berulang, kesenjangan bukti, serta implikasinya bagi penanganan krisis kesehatan masyarakat di masa depan. Penelusuran literatur dilakukan pada basis data Scopus dan Web of Science terhadap publikasi tahun 2021–2026. Setelah proses penyaringan dan penilaian kelayakan, sebanyak 40 studi disintesis menggunakan kerangka Population–Concept–Context (PCC). Meskipun bukti yang dianalisis terutama berasal dari penelitian selama pandemi COVID-19, pandemi tersebut diperlakukan sebagai kasus empiris untuk memahami komunikasi kesehatan berbasis agama dalam berbagai krisis kesehatan masyarakat. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahwa efektivitas komunikasi tidak hanya ditentukan oleh kredibilitas komunikator atau saluran komunikasi, tetapi oleh interaksi antara otoritas yang sah, penerjemahan pesan kesehatan yang bermakna secara budaya, dan kapasitas kelembagaan untuk mendukung implementasi. Berdasarkan sintesis tersebut, kajian ini mengembangkan kerangka analitis Authority–Translation–Capacity (ATC) sebagai pendekatan untuk memahami komunikasi kesehatan berbasis agama dalam berbagai konteks keagamaan dan kelembagaan. Basis bukti yang tersedia masih didominasi oleh penelitian potong lintang, kualitatif, dan deskriptif, sehingga diperlukan penelitian komparatif, longitudinal, dan berorientasi implementasi. Kerangka ATC yang diusulkan memberikan landasan konseptual untuk memperkuat kesiapsiagaan komunikasi serta mendorong keterlibatan lembaga keagamaan sebagai mitra dalam perancangan, pelaksanaan, dan evaluasi komunikasi kesehatan pada krisis kesehatan masyarakat di masa depan.
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