Cultural customs play an important role in maintaining the well-being of the environment and natural resources. These cultural concepts influence thought processes and have a significant impact on decision-making, particularly in protecting the river. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the connection between local culture, specifically values, ways of life, and beliefs, and the promotion of a healthy river environment among residents living along the river in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan Indonesia. A mixed-method approach was employed to investigate the cultural aspects, including values, ways of life, and beliefs, and the advocacy for a sustainable river environment among the inhabitants residing along the river in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, Indonesia. The quantitative design evaluated the descriptive statistics in terms of the sociodemographics of participants. Data collection was carried out using in-depth interviews, observation, and questionnaires. Subsequently, triangulation was performed to ensure trustworthiness. All statements relevant to the phenomenon were identified before the theme was clustered. The results showed that the river culture consists of two themes, namely values and ways of life, and beliefs. In conclusion, it was expected that understanding the culture of the river could be a strategy for conducting health promotion in river management.

The river plays a crucial role in supporting human development by providing water, transportation, agriculture, and fisheries, forming a close connection with human well-being.1-3 Protecting the river is essential to achieve a healthy river, defined as an ecosystem that enhances human well-being.4 A healthy river contributes to achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 6, which focuses on providing clean water and sanitation.5 However, numerous studies show that some individuals neglect river maintenance, exemplified by behaviors like improper garbage disposal.6 This also occurred due to population growth and rapid industrialization.7,8

Banjarmasin city in South Kalimantan, Indonesia, is known as the “City of a Thousand River” due to its extensive river network. According to 2015 data from the Banjarmasin City Water Resources and Drainage Sector, there are over 100 rivers in the city. The widest river in Indonesia is located in this city known as the Barito River.9,10 Moreover, a significant portion of the population in this city resides along the riverside, where the river serves as a vital aspect of their daily lives. This includes engaging in activities such as trading at floating markets, participating in tourism, using it for transportation, as well as for toileting, washing, and bathing.11,12

Human activities in the river have both positive and negative effects. Positive effects can enhance the lives of those residing along the riverside, while negative consequences include a decline in water quality, evidenced by an increase in E. coli levels.13 To safeguard the river, effective management is important, requiring collaboration from various sectors, including human, economic, and cultural.14,15 Previous study emphasizes the significance of multi-sectoral partnerships in addressing river management.6 To foster effective sanitation in the river and proper waste management for the local community, it is crucial to consider the economic aspect. This can be achieved by leveraging tourism activities along the river.16,17 Additionally, cultural considerations play an important role in supporting river management, as belief systems often ascribe crucial importance to a river, viewing them as inseparable from life itself. Culture provides a holistic approach to understanding the interconnection between humans, the environment, and spiritual forces.18

This study explored the connection between local culture, specifically values and ways of life and belief, and the well-being of the river among residents living on the riverside in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan Indonesia. People residing along riverbanks recognize that natural activities in the universe are shaped by living resources and mysticism. They believe that all parts of the environment are interrelated or interdependent. Moreover, this perspective holds that environmental misuse will have adverse effects on the entire system.15 Consequently, cultural customs play an important role in maintaining the welfare of the environment and natural resources. These concepts shape ways of thinking and decision-making to protect the river. Figure 1 shows that Banjarmasin is the city of a thousand rivers. Figure 2 reveals the physical condition of the River is plastics and polluted from household under the houses.

Ethical approval was obtained from the Health Research Ethics Committee Faculty of Nursing Universitas Airlangga, Indonesia (number: 1850-KEPK). In this study, a mixed method was used. A qualitative design was used to explore the connection between local culture, specifically values and ways of life, beliefs, and health of the river among residents living along the riverside in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan Indonesia. It also to understand phenomena related to culture.19 A quantitative design was used to evaluate descriptive statistics: frequency and percentage of sociodemographics of participants. The sociodemographics of participants are shown in Table 1.

Data were collected using in-depth interviews, observation, and questionnaires. Previous studies related to culture associated with a healthy river include extracting information on value, ways of life, and beliefs.6,18 The interview process was documented through audio recording, transcribed in the Banjar language, and subsequently analyzed manually using thematic content analysis.20 To ensure trustworthiness, triangulation was used. Subsequently, the identification of all the statements that are relevant to the phenomenon was carried out and the theme was clustered.21,22

Data were collected from August to June 2020, and a total of 30 samples were obtained. The sample was people who live on the riverside in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, Indonesia, such as Antasan Segera River, Baguntan River, Tungku River, Banyiur Ampera River, Pekapuran Laut river, and Guring river.

Table 1 shows the sociodemographic of participants, totalling 30 individuals. The gender distribution shows 53.3% female (16 participants) and 46.7% male (14 participants). All participants belong to the Banjarese Ethnic group, with ages ranging from 20 to 63 years. In terms of education, the majority completed senior high school (40%), and 50% of participants identified as housewives in terms of occupation. This study was carried out in the Banjarmasin area, known for its numerous rivers and a population residing along the riverbanks for over a decade. Consequently, a distinct culture connected to a river has flourished within this community. The results of thorough interviews and observations showed that culture along the river, including values, lifestyle, and beliefs, plays a significant role in shaping approaches to health promotion within river management.

Human life in society is never separated from values and norms.1 This study uncovered the significant value attributed to the river, showing its integral role in the lives of the people in Banjarmasin City. The following is an excerpt from one of the participants’ statements:

Based on the results of the in-depth interview, the majority chose to reside along the riverside due to a sense of comfort and the various advantages derived from the river. In addition, this preference for riverside living was often inherited from preceding generations. The observations in communities showed that the river in Banjarmasin was used to conduct daily activities, recreation such as fishing or playing (Figure 3 and Figure 4) as well as for religious activities (Figure 5) and household activities, such as washing dishes, clothes, or toileting (Figure 6). Some residents also use the river as a transportation route (Figure 7) (Observation Notes, December 2020 to March 2021).

Certain Banjarese individuals hold beliefs connected to the rivers, such as the notion that the river serves as a location for dispelling diseases among children, referred to as the “belabuh” tradition. This perspective is evident in the following statement:

Some residents perceive living along the riverside as a symbol of wealth, associating it with boat ownership (Figure 8). This can be seen from the following statement:

The belief system in Banjarese culture includes myths about the river, including the existence of a supernatural entity referred to as “dangsanak,” which is associated with familial ties. According to residents, dangsanak is a ghost and sometimes appears like a crocodile. This can be seen from the following statement:

According to several participants, the existence of this myth can be used to approach the community in protecting a river, but this belief is starting to disappear. This can be seen from the following statement:

The Banjarese people still have a “river culture”, which can be defined as a way of life for people who live close to the river. Making the river a “way of life” and shaping the character of the community. The river culture is characterized by the existence of riverside settlements, floating markets, and jukungs, and the social interactions that occur.23 Furthermore, it also means that the river has traditionally been the lifeblood of the community. The river as the lifeblood of the Banjarese people (also of Banjarmasin City), includes physical aspects (the physical quality and quantity of the river); ecological (the river ecosystem), economic (transportation, floating markets, fishing, irrigation), and social.24

A river serves as more than just waterways; they are vital connections that link humans with diverse forms of life and embody cultural values.18 According to Subiyakto, the Banjarese people are described as a “river-oriented” society, showing that their activities and community life revolve around the deep significance of the river in their culture. The river holds significant traditions for the Banjarese people, embodying practices that have endured over time and seamlessly integrated into the life of the community.25 According to Linton, an Anthropologist, cultures such as values and beliefs are difficult to change and difficult to replace with others.26 To maintain the welfare of the environment and natural resources, specifically the river, support implementation of public policies is needed. The role of stakeholders as authority holders and the community becomes an important thing. Therefore, the relationship of mutual support greatly influences the implementation of the policy(Fauzi & Sompa, 2021).27 Of course, it is necessary to involve the community with their culture as a local wisdom.13

Participation or support in the community is also influenced by cultural values, such as the values, norms, and beliefs that constitute social.28 The cultural approach in policy implementation relies on the values and perspectives of local communities, emphasizing the viewpoint of the natives in the process. The cultural approach is also often referred to as the bottom-up approach. Through this cultural value or local knowledge approach in the river management system in Banjarmasin City, it becomes possible to promote health and protect the river from waste, thereby fostering positive values essential for river maintenance.

In conclusion, cultural customs are needed to maintain the welfare of the environment and natural resources. This study showed two key themes related to the cultural significance of a river: values, and ways of life, as well as beliefs. Using this approach, health promotion efforts can be implemented to protect the river from waste. Furthermore, this study emphasizes the importance of respecting local wisdom, particularly in understanding the interconnected relationship between humans and a river. Regulatory measures should take into account this diversity for effective environmental management.