Rumah Sehat Versus Ume Kbubu in West Timor(A Study in Fatumnasi Village, Timor Tengah Selatan District)

This study intends to identify factors causing the refusal of the villagers of Fatumnasi in West Timor, to spend more time in Rumah Sehat than in Ume Kbubu. Ume Kbubu is believed to be the main cause of health problems as it is highly polluted by trapped smoke and dust from firewood in the middle of the house. This is a qualitative-ethnographic study. Data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interview, Natural Group Discussion, documents review, observation and casual conversation with 22 participants. The study reveals the necessity of functional benefits (i.e. weather friendly and foodstock preservation), cultural and emotional values of Ume Kbubu and how people perceived the health aspects of Ume Kbubu and Rumah Sehat. Most Dawan people in Fatumnasi village assumed that Ume Kbubu is as healthy as Rumah Sehat. Ume Kbubu gave benefits to people by preserving foodstuff and protecting from cold weather. As warm nurturing place is associated with regeneration and living in general, then, daily activities mostly take place in Ume Kbubu rather than in Rumah Sehat. On the other hand, Rumah Sehat is perceived as a place to nurture guests and to hold social status rather than as a domestic space.