What mothers know: A study on the social meaning, and management practices of childhood diarrhea among the Aeta-Tayabas and Dumagat communities in Quezon Province

• Main Author: Paril-Sumilang, Nathalei V.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2009
• Subjects: Diarrhea in children—Philippines—Quezon Province; Aeta (Philippine people)—Health and hygiene; Child care—Philippines—Quezon Province; Medicine and Health Sciences; Other Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/6100; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/etd_masteral/article/13041/viewcontent/CDTG004984_P.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

The meanings that people attached to a specific illness experience are greatly embedded on their ethnic beliefs. Hence, it is assumed that additions, modifications, or even alterations to such beliefs will influence their traditional views on illness and good health in general which could eventually affect their views on specific illness. Thus, the study aims to describe and compare the social construction of diarrhea (pagtatae) among children under five (5) years old among Aeta-Tayabas and Dumagat mother in Tayabas and Gen. Nakar, Quezon respectively. It seeks to determine the degree of influence brought about by the external influences that may affect such construction. In this study social construction refers to the etiology and management of diarrhea in children. Through qualitative inquiry specifically purposive sampling technique, data gathered from Aeta-Tayabas and Dumagat mothers during the in-depth interviews revealed that their views on childhood diarrhea is still associated to their ethnic beliefs on illness and good health. However, it was found out that due to the different degree of exposure to external influences significant alteration was revealed on the perceived etiology and management practices of diarrhea among the Aeta-Tayabas mothers than of the Dumagat mothers. Factors such as, alteration in the etiology of diarrhea, cultural values of receptiveness among Aeta-Tayabas mothers and exclusivity among the Dumagat mothers, and financial capacity and accessibility of health care services facilitated and hindered the assimilation of modern diarrheal management practices. It was also revealed in the study that the process of acceptance and rejection of the new health concepts involves essential elements such as similarities, complementation, and intensification between the ethnic beliefs and the new ideas from the external influences.