CHAPTER I THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING Introduction Health beliefs and practices are integral part of todays

multicultural society. It is beneficial to the nursing staff and medical residents to be aware of the aspects of different cultures.1 When healthcare personnel work with the patients beliefs, rather than against them, the outcomes are usually more successful. People in some cultures rely on home remedies to treat their illnesses rather than pharmaceutical drugs. When prescribing drugs to patients of another culture, it is prudent to be aware that patients may resist taking the medication. Such reluctance may be influenced by religious beliefs and practices. In addition, in some cultures, it is belie ed that illness is !ods will. "ndurance of a certain amount of suffering with dignity and courage is considered appropriate in some traditions. It is e#tremely important to remember that some but not all members of a cultural group adhere to traditional health beliefs or follow traditional health practices. $raditional beliefs and practices may be more common among people who ha e had little e#posure to modern medicine. " en people with more modern beliefs may feel more comfortable and adhere more closely to recommended Western

2 treatment, if %.S doctors offer treatment that does not conflict with the traditional medicine of their patients home countries. & Health pro iders can benefit from an increased awareness and understanding of the different health beliefs and treatment of their patients. $he first step in this aspect of cultural competence in health care is to be sensiti e to the role that old or traditional medicine may play in a patients health strategy. ' pro ider must show tolerance of a respect for di ersity in order to elicit and fully understand the patients history. It can be ery helpful to ask patients what they think might

ha e caused an illness and what they are already doing to treat it. It is e(ually important to ask patients whether the prescribed medical inter ention conflicts in any way with their beliefs and medical practices. )any e#isting health beliefs and practices in the Philippine are rooted back in the pre*colonial period. $his includes magico* religious elements, such as beliefs in spirits and sorcery as causes of illness, as well as empirical aspects such as with the use of medicinal plants. $odays traditional medical practitioners can trace their origins back to the pre*colonial period. $he psychic surgeons, with their flair for drama, parallel the pre*hispanic religious practitioners who also played roles as healers.+ Persons suffering from afflictions caused by a manga-ga-mud or ,the e il eye- can be cured by one of two traditional healers . the manga-gas, the spiritual healer, or the hilot, the massage healer. $he

3 hilot uses three forms of treatment, faith healing thru prayer, herbal medicines, and massage and body manipulation. Bisayan /ilipinos would seek treatment from a local shaman or priest for illness of a supernatural origin. 0eligion and prayer play an important role in /ilipino health practices, and that miraculous cures are belie ed to be possible.1 $he story on how Bicolanos stick to their beliefs and practices can be traced way back when 2icol region was called Ibalong 3People of Ibal4. 5ong before the arri al of the Spaniards in 2icol, the nati es already belie ed in gods and other supernatural beings. $he early Bikolanos were polytheists. Highest in rank were Gugurang, the god of good and Aswang, the god of e il. $he Bikol world of the supernatural with its fantastic mi#ture of horror, beauty, color, and wider speak of the rich culture of the early Ibalong.6 2aleno was co ered recently by a documentary show from !)' channel 7 known as ,$he Philippine 'genda with an episode title as ,Tig- Gutom-. 'ccording to the said documentary show, 2aleno ranks as number 1 in terms of malnutrition in the entire )asbate. 2arangay 2atuila is one of the &1 barangays of the municipality of 2aleno. 16 minutes of tra el from 2aleno will be consumed to reach the rural area of 2arangay 2atuila due to geographical location of the said barangay and the unresol ed problem of the residents in terms of poor transportation. $his barangay can be considered as one of poorest

4 barangay in the municipality as also shown in ,$he Philippine 'genda-.8 We ha e chosen this barangay as place of study because 2aleno ranks 1st in malnutrition in the entire )asbate and barangay 2atuila plays a big contribution in this census. 'nother is the geographical location of the barangay. $his is situated in the mountainous part of 2aleno, )asbate which definitely a far distance from the heart of the municipality. 2arangay 2atuila is somewhat unci ili9ed when it comes to its physical en ironment. Po erty is also a factor for choosing this barangay. We belie ed that this factors influence the health*related beliefs and practices of the residents of a certain barangay.

Statement of the Prob em $his study identified the health*related beliefs and practices of the residents in 2atuila, 2aleno )asbate :ity. Specifically, it sought to answer the following; 1. What is the socio*demographic profile of the respondents in terms of; a. age b. position in the family c. occupation d. educational attainment e. religion f. family monthly income< &. What are the health*related beliefs and practices of the residents in 2atuila, 2aleno, )asbate along; a. health promoti e measures b. remedial or curati e measures< +. What are the health*seeking problems encountered by the residents<

6 1. What nursing implications can be drawn from the health related beliefs and practices of respondents< Sco!e and Limitation $his study determined the health*related beliefs and practices of the residents in 2atuila, 2aleno, )asbate along disease pre ention, treatment of illness and health consultation, the problems they ha e encountered and the measures that can be taken among the residents. $he respondents were the parents or the head of the family of the said barangay. $he study did not include the children and the residents of the nearby barangay. With the assistance of and the record pro ided by the secretary of the said 2arangay, the researchers were able to get a total number of 11= households. $he scope of the study was limited only to the head of the family or the parents in e ery household in 2atuila. $his was reduced to 6& households or respondents. Si"nificance of the Stud# $he following groups or entities will benefit form this study. Re$!ondent$. $his study would ser e as a tool to recogni9e and e#amine not only the negati e aspects of cultural health beliefs and practices, but would also pro ide imperati e insights which are beneficial to health.

7 Communit#. $his study is a chance for the community folks to be heard and be understood for what they belie e in and in turn, be upgraded of what is acceptable, applicable and beneficial health ser ice. De!artment of Hea th. $his study would create awareness to fully understand the aspects of rural community to which >?H may address which appropriate pro@ects or strategies and sensiti e approach may be done to bring to the people the understanding and importance of good health and good health practices. Loca Go%ernment &nit. $his is beneficial to the 5!% as they would be aware of the needs of the rural community in terms of health and to meet halfway with the people as to how to uplift the current health status. Rura Hea th &nit. $his study would aide the further

enhancement of health ser ices rendered to the culturally di erse community wherein ser ices are personali9ed to fit their daily needs in congruence to what is acceptable in the health care setting. Re$earcher$' $his study would bring an additional knowledge on practices done in remote areas in pre enting common diseases. (uture re$earcher$. $his study would ser e as reference for those who will conduct similar studies in the future. It may also gi e a broader iew for researchers to use this study on some other purposes that they belie e would be ultimate.

NOTES ,/ilipino $raditional Healing Practice- www.hawee, Hawaii eduAnursingAtranscultural

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Bames W. CanderD ,Sociology; $he :ore- copyright 1EE+D third edition, pp.++7
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>onald ". )orisky. ,Who Holds $raditional 2eliefs<-Internet "dition &==8

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)a. 0enee ?bias :ope. ,$he :ultural 2eliefs and Health Practices of Women with 2reast :ancer-D ' :ase Study, )arch &==1
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Health PracticesD http;Awww. 5i ing in the Philippines.comAherbal medicine

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)asbateD www.masbateonline.comAmasbateF&1Ftowns.Php