“Ya Luk Ka Tan Yoo”: An Ethnography of Filial Piety Culture, Medication Usage, and Health Perceptions of the Elderly in Rural Southern Thailand

Filial piety is a Buddhist virtue, and its meaning varies across cultures. In Thailand, filial piety refers to an appreciation of one’s indebtedness to others. Previous studies showed that filial piety is deeply grounded in longstanding culture values and related to the health of the elderly. Inform...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Sringernyuang L.
Other Authors: Mahidol University
Format: Article
Published: 2023
Subjects:
Online Access:https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/84674
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Institution: Mahidol University
id th-mahidol.84674
record_format dspace
spelling th-mahidol.846742023-06-19T00:14:53Z “Ya Luk Ka Tan Yoo”: An Ethnography of Filial Piety Culture, Medication Usage, and Health Perceptions of the Elderly in Rural Southern Thailand Sringernyuang L. Mahidol University Environmental Science Filial piety is a Buddhist virtue, and its meaning varies across cultures. In Thailand, filial piety refers to an appreciation of one’s indebtedness to others. Previous studies showed that filial piety is deeply grounded in longstanding culture values and related to the health of the elderly. Information from some literature revealed that medicinal products given to the elderly by their children, called “Ya-Luk-Ka-Tan-Yoo”, were apparent in the communities of rural southern Thailand. This study aims to explore in depth how “Ya-Luk-Ka-Tan-Yoo” is perceived, valued, and functions in southern Thailand’s socio-cultural contexts. Ethnography methodology is used, and a researcher was embedded in the field for six months, gathering data through participant observation and ethno-graphic interviews with fifty-two respondents. The findings reveal that filial piety medication is related to the local meanings of medicine, children, and gratitude. “Ya-Luk-Ka-Tan-Yoo,” in the eyes of both the elderly and their children, encompasses more than just health. Implicit herein are the concepts of a means of care and gratitude and a symbol of life. Filial piety medication is thus a carrier/medium of physical, financial, and emotional support. This research reveals how the ill health of the elderly is transformed to a commodity. Nonetheless, the negative impact of the efficacy of filial piety medication remains an issue of concern among professionals. The findings indicate that people are aware of the risks associated with self-medication. However, they insisted that their use was still necessary and justifiable. 2023-06-18T17:14:53Z 2023-06-18T17:14:53Z 2022-10-01 Article International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Vol.19 No.19 (2022) 10.3390/ijerph191912134 16604601 16617827 36231438 2-s2.0-85139767132 https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/84674 SCOPUS
institution Mahidol University
building Mahidol University Library
continent Asia
country Thailand
Thailand
content_provider Mahidol University Library
collection Mahidol University Institutional Repository
topic Environmental Science
spellingShingle Environmental Science
Sringernyuang L.
“Ya Luk Ka Tan Yoo”: An Ethnography of Filial Piety Culture, Medication Usage, and Health Perceptions of the Elderly in Rural Southern Thailand
description Filial piety is a Buddhist virtue, and its meaning varies across cultures. In Thailand, filial piety refers to an appreciation of one’s indebtedness to others. Previous studies showed that filial piety is deeply grounded in longstanding culture values and related to the health of the elderly. Information from some literature revealed that medicinal products given to the elderly by their children, called “Ya-Luk-Ka-Tan-Yoo”, were apparent in the communities of rural southern Thailand. This study aims to explore in depth how “Ya-Luk-Ka-Tan-Yoo” is perceived, valued, and functions in southern Thailand’s socio-cultural contexts. Ethnography methodology is used, and a researcher was embedded in the field for six months, gathering data through participant observation and ethno-graphic interviews with fifty-two respondents. The findings reveal that filial piety medication is related to the local meanings of medicine, children, and gratitude. “Ya-Luk-Ka-Tan-Yoo,” in the eyes of both the elderly and their children, encompasses more than just health. Implicit herein are the concepts of a means of care and gratitude and a symbol of life. Filial piety medication is thus a carrier/medium of physical, financial, and emotional support. This research reveals how the ill health of the elderly is transformed to a commodity. Nonetheless, the negative impact of the efficacy of filial piety medication remains an issue of concern among professionals. The findings indicate that people are aware of the risks associated with self-medication. However, they insisted that their use was still necessary and justifiable.
author2 Mahidol University
author_facet Mahidol University
Sringernyuang L.
format Article
author Sringernyuang L.
author_sort Sringernyuang L.
title “Ya Luk Ka Tan Yoo”: An Ethnography of Filial Piety Culture, Medication Usage, and Health Perceptions of the Elderly in Rural Southern Thailand
title_short “Ya Luk Ka Tan Yoo”: An Ethnography of Filial Piety Culture, Medication Usage, and Health Perceptions of the Elderly in Rural Southern Thailand
title_full “Ya Luk Ka Tan Yoo”: An Ethnography of Filial Piety Culture, Medication Usage, and Health Perceptions of the Elderly in Rural Southern Thailand
title_fullStr “Ya Luk Ka Tan Yoo”: An Ethnography of Filial Piety Culture, Medication Usage, and Health Perceptions of the Elderly in Rural Southern Thailand
title_full_unstemmed “Ya Luk Ka Tan Yoo”: An Ethnography of Filial Piety Culture, Medication Usage, and Health Perceptions of the Elderly in Rural Southern Thailand
title_sort “ya luk ka tan yoo”: an ethnography of filial piety culture, medication usage, and health perceptions of the elderly in rural southern thailand
publishDate 2023
url https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/84674
_version_ 1781415201352974336