Self-Awareness Analysis and Its Implications for Coastal Community Health in Penang-Malaysia : Qualitative Approach

Coastal communities often face unique health challenges, particularly limited access to health services and sanitation problems. In the coastal area of Penang District, Malaysia. Coastal environments are often exposed to higher health risks due to their proximity to the sea, low access to basic infrastructure, and people's lifestyles that depend on nature. The research aims to analyze the self- awareness of the community in Penang District, Malaysia. This type of research is descriptive observational with a qualitative approach, as well as a phenomenological design to understand in depth the self-awareness of coastal communities in Penang District, Malaysia. This research involved 15 respondents with the criteria selected proportionally. The data collection method used structured interviews and the data analysis used was thematic, namely identifying, analyzing and reporting themes in qualitative data. The results of the study showed that access to medical services was 40% for traditional healers, the distance from home to health services was 40% at a distance of >10 KM, the means of transportation used by health services had the same presentation at 33.33%, health insurance was 80% at insurance/health fund contributions, place of delivery was 33.33% at hospitals, health workers who assisted in childbirth were 26.67% for health workers, diseases that often suffered from 46.66% were diarrhea, feces. 46.67% have sewage disposal facilities, 73.33% distance to the water absorption source > 10 meters, 46.67% provide clean water in wells, 40% clean water quality is free from pollution, 46.67% have rubbish disposal available and 53.33% have wastewater disposal where facilities are not available and are dumped openly. In conclusion, this research highlights the need to improve access to health services, infrastructure, and sanitation in coastal communities to improve overall community health.