Folk Medicine in the Philippines: A Phenomenological Study of Health-Seeking Individuals
Background: Folk medicine refers to traditional healing practices anchored on cultural beliefs of body physiology and health preservation. Reflective of indigenous heritage, it fosters a better understanding of health and disease, healthcare systems, and biocultural adaptation. In the Philippines,...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
University Library System, University of Pittsburgh
2021-04-01
|
| Series: | International Journal of Medical Students |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://ijms.info/IJMS/article/view/849 |
| _version_ | 1797718468554915840 |
|---|---|
| author | Nadine Angela Rondilla Ian Christopher N. Rocha Shannon Jean Roque Ricardo Martin Lu Nica Lois B. Apolinar Alyssa A. Solaiman-Balt Theorell Joshua Abion Pauline Bianca Banatin Carina Viktoria Javier |
| author_facet | Nadine Angela Rondilla Ian Christopher N. Rocha Shannon Jean Roque Ricardo Martin Lu Nica Lois B. Apolinar Alyssa A. Solaiman-Balt Theorell Joshua Abion Pauline Bianca Banatin Carina Viktoria Javier |
| author_sort | Nadine Angela Rondilla |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Background: Folk medicine refers to traditional healing practices anchored on cultural beliefs of body physiology and health preservation. Reflective of indigenous heritage, it fosters a better understanding of health and disease, healthcare systems, and biocultural adaptation. In the Philippines, Quiapo is a well-known site for folk medicine services, cultural diversity, religious practices, and economic activities.
Methods: This study utilized a phenomenological approach to comprehend the lived experiences of health-seeking individuals and the meaning behind their acquisition of folk medicine products. Using convenience sampling, seven participants acquiring folk medicine products in Quiapo on the day of data collection were approached and interviewed on separate instances. The collected data subsequently underwent thematic analysis.
Results: Analysis revealed three emergent themes: health-seeking behavior, sources of knowledge, and folk medicine utilization. Health-seeking behavior was linked with the participants’ purpose of going to Quiapo, reasons for utilizing folk medicine, experiences in using folk medicine, and beliefs associated with the product bought. Sources of knowledge tackled the participants’ sources of information about Quiapo and its products. Folk medicine utilization relates to the type of product bought, its perceived medicinal use, and its history of usage.
Conclusion: Folk medicine is perceived to be effective alleviating health concerns. The acquisition of such products is attributed to satisfaction from prior experience, distrust in the current healthcare system, family tradition, and intention to supplement existing medical treatment. This study provides health professionals a better understanding of patients who patronize folk medicine, subsequently aiding them in providing a holistic approach to treatment.
|
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T08:51:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c2d32369b71c4a39b146c261ced88803 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-6327 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T08:51:15Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | University Library System, University of Pittsburgh |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Medical Students |
| spelling | doaj.art-c2d32369b71c4a39b146c261ced888032023-09-02T16:18:36ZengUniversity Library System, University of PittsburghInternational Journal of Medical Students2076-63272021-04-019110.5195/ijms.2021.849Folk Medicine in the Philippines: A Phenomenological Study of Health-Seeking IndividualsNadine Angela Rondilla0Ian Christopher N. Rocha1Shannon Jean Roque2Ricardo Martin Lu3Nica Lois B. Apolinar4Alyssa A. Solaiman-Balt5Theorell Joshua Abion6Pauline Bianca Banatin7Carina Viktoria Javier8School of Medicine, Centro Escolar University, Manila, PhilippinesSchool of Medicine, Centro Escolar University, Manila, PhilippinesSchool of Medicine, Centro Escolar University, Manila, PhilippinesSchool of Medicine, Centro Escolar University, Manila, PhilippinesSchool of Medicine, Centro Escolar University, Manila, PhilippinesSchool of Medicine, Centro Escolar University, Manila, PhilippinesSchool of Medicine, Centro Escolar University, Manila, PhilippinesSchool of Medicine, Centro Escolar University, Manila, PhilippinesSchool of Medicine, Centro Escolar University, Manila, Philippines Background: Folk medicine refers to traditional healing practices anchored on cultural beliefs of body physiology and health preservation. Reflective of indigenous heritage, it fosters a better understanding of health and disease, healthcare systems, and biocultural adaptation. In the Philippines, Quiapo is a well-known site for folk medicine services, cultural diversity, religious practices, and economic activities. Methods: This study utilized a phenomenological approach to comprehend the lived experiences of health-seeking individuals and the meaning behind their acquisition of folk medicine products. Using convenience sampling, seven participants acquiring folk medicine products in Quiapo on the day of data collection were approached and interviewed on separate instances. The collected data subsequently underwent thematic analysis. Results: Analysis revealed three emergent themes: health-seeking behavior, sources of knowledge, and folk medicine utilization. Health-seeking behavior was linked with the participants’ purpose of going to Quiapo, reasons for utilizing folk medicine, experiences in using folk medicine, and beliefs associated with the product bought. Sources of knowledge tackled the participants’ sources of information about Quiapo and its products. Folk medicine utilization relates to the type of product bought, its perceived medicinal use, and its history of usage. Conclusion: Folk medicine is perceived to be effective alleviating health concerns. The acquisition of such products is attributed to satisfaction from prior experience, distrust in the current healthcare system, family tradition, and intention to supplement existing medical treatment. This study provides health professionals a better understanding of patients who patronize folk medicine, subsequently aiding them in providing a holistic approach to treatment. https://ijms.info/IJMS/article/view/849medical anthropologyfolk medicinetraditional medicineindigenous medicinehealth-seeking behaviorPhilippines |
| spellingShingle | Nadine Angela Rondilla Ian Christopher N. Rocha Shannon Jean Roque Ricardo Martin Lu Nica Lois B. Apolinar Alyssa A. Solaiman-Balt Theorell Joshua Abion Pauline Bianca Banatin Carina Viktoria Javier Folk Medicine in the Philippines: A Phenomenological Study of Health-Seeking Individuals International Journal of Medical Students medical anthropology folk medicine traditional medicine indigenous medicine health-seeking behavior Philippines |
| title | Folk Medicine in the Philippines: A Phenomenological Study of Health-Seeking Individuals |
| title_full | Folk Medicine in the Philippines: A Phenomenological Study of Health-Seeking Individuals |
| title_fullStr | Folk Medicine in the Philippines: A Phenomenological Study of Health-Seeking Individuals |
| title_full_unstemmed | Folk Medicine in the Philippines: A Phenomenological Study of Health-Seeking Individuals |
| title_short | Folk Medicine in the Philippines: A Phenomenological Study of Health-Seeking Individuals |
| title_sort | folk medicine in the philippines a phenomenological study of health seeking individuals |
| topic | medical anthropology folk medicine traditional medicine indigenous medicine health-seeking behavior Philippines |
| url | https://ijms.info/IJMS/article/view/849 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT nadineangelarondilla folkmedicineinthephilippinesaphenomenologicalstudyofhealthseekingindividuals AT ianchristophernrocha folkmedicineinthephilippinesaphenomenologicalstudyofhealthseekingindividuals AT shannonjeanroque folkmedicineinthephilippinesaphenomenologicalstudyofhealthseekingindividuals AT ricardomartinlu folkmedicineinthephilippinesaphenomenologicalstudyofhealthseekingindividuals AT nicaloisbapolinar folkmedicineinthephilippinesaphenomenologicalstudyofhealthseekingindividuals AT alyssaasolaimanbalt folkmedicineinthephilippinesaphenomenologicalstudyofhealthseekingindividuals AT theorelljoshuaabion folkmedicineinthephilippinesaphenomenologicalstudyofhealthseekingindividuals AT paulinebiancabanatin folkmedicineinthephilippinesaphenomenologicalstudyofhealthseekingindividuals AT carinaviktoriajavier folkmedicineinthephilippinesaphenomenologicalstudyofhealthseekingindividuals |