HEALTH–RELATED BELIEFS AND PRACTICES

OF THE RESIDENTS OF BARANGAY BATUILA,

BALENO, MASBATE

Unpublished Undergraduate Thesis

Presented to the Faculty of
The College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Aquinas University of Legazpi
Rawis, Legazpi City

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

for the Degree Bachelor of
Science in Nursing

By

Val M. Candidato
Jaivin H. Ereño
Fatima C. Tan
Renee T. Templonuevo
Richelle N. Nuyles
Reman C. Marquez
Liza Cardaño

2007
 AQUINAS UNIVERSITY OF LEGAZPI
College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Rawis, Legazpi City

EDITOR’S CERTIFICATION

This is to certify that this undergraduate thesis entitled

“HEALTH –RELATED BELIEFS AND PRACTICES OF THE
RESIDENTS OF BARANGAY BATUILA, BALENO, MASBATE”,
prepared and submitted by Val M. Candidato, Jaivin H. Ereño,
Fatima C. Tan, Renee T. Templonuevo, Richelle N. Nuyles,
Reman C. Marquez and Liza Cardaño in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the degree, Bachelor of Science in Nursing has
been edited by the undersigned.

ARLENE A. AGUILAR, Ph.D.

Editor

ii
 AQUINAS UNIVERSITY OF LEGAZPI
College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Rawis, Legazpi City

RECOMMENDATION FOR ORAL EXAMINATION

This undergraduate thesis entitled “HEALTH–RELATED

BELIEFS AND PRACTICES OF THE RESIDENTS OF BARANGAY
BATUILA, BALENO, MASBATE”, prepared and submitted by Val M.
Candidato, Jaivin H. Ereño, Fatima C. Tan, Renee T.
Templonuevo, Richelle N. Nuyles, Reman C. Marquez and Liza
Cardaño in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree,
Bachelor of Science in Nursing is hereby submitted to the thesis
committee for appropriate action.

MA. SHANE S. DEL ROSARIO, R.N., Ph.D.

Adviser

iii
 AQUINAS UNIVERSITY OF LEGAZPI
College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Rawis, Legazpi City

SUBMISSION FOR ORAL EXAMINATION

This undergraduate thesis entitled “HEALTH–RELATED

BELIEFS AND PRACTICES OF THE RESIDENTS OF BARANGAY
BATUILA, BALENO, MASBATE”, prepared and submitted by Val M.
Candidato, Jaivin H. Ereño, Fatima C. Tan, Renee T.
Templonuevo, Richelle N. Nuyles, Reman C. Marquez and Liza
Cardaño in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree,
Bachelor of Science in Nursing is hereby submitted to the thesis
committee for appropriate action.

THESIS COMMITTEE

Anecia Bailon, M.A.N.

Chairperson

Ritchilda M. Bueson, R.N., MAEd

Member

Clara M. Altavano, M.A.N.

Member

iv
 AQUINAS UNIVERSITY OF LEGAZPI
College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Rawis, Legazpi City

Thesis: “Health-Related Beliefs and Practices of the

Residents of Barangay Batuila, Baleno,
Masbate”

Place: Aquinas University of Legazpi

College of Nursing

Date: February 27, 2007

Time: 1:00 – 2:00 pm

RATING SHEET

PANEL OF EXAMINERS ACTION TAKEN

Anecia Bailon, M.A.N.

_______________
Chairperson

Ritchilda M. Bueson, R.N. MAEd _______________

Member

Clara M. Altavano, M.A.N. _______________

Member

Ma. Shane S. del Rosario, R.N., Ph.D.

Adviser

v
 AQUINAS UNIVERSITY OF LEGAZPI
College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Rawis, Legazpi City

APPROVAL SHEET

This undergraduate thesis entitled “HEALTH–RELATED

BELIEFS AND PRACTICES OF THE RESIDENTS OF BARANGAY
BATUILA, BALENO, MASBATE”, prepared and submitted by Val M.
Candidato, Jaivin H. Ereño, Fatima C. Tan, Renee T.
Templonuevo, Richelle N. Nuyles, Reman C. Marquez and Liza
Cardaño in partial fulfillment of the requirements in Research 102 is
hereby accepted.

Anecia Bailon, M.A.N.

Chairperson

Ritchilda M. Bueson, R.N. MAEd

Member

Clara M. Altavano, M.A.N.

Member

Accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements in Research

102.

Leo G. Llana, M.S.N.

Dean, College of Nursing

vi
 ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The researchers would like to thank and acknowledge with

immense gratitude to the committed and supportive people involved in

the completion of this book. Had it not been for their help, a long trial–

and–error study might have clouded the researchers’ spirit. The

researchers are particularly grateful to the following individuals who, in

one way or another, unselfishly shared their precious time, efforts,

valuable assistance and concern in making this endeavor successful.

The respondents, this research would not be materialized.

Leo G. Llana, Dean of Aquinas University College of Nursing and

Health Sciences for his instructions and support.

Shane S. del Rosario, R.N., M.A.N., Ph.D., for her guidance,

encouragement and supervision during the preparation of this research

and for devoting her time in checking and editing.

To the thesis committee, Anecia Bailon, M.A.N., Ritchilda M.

Bueson, R.N. MAEd and Clara M. Altavano, M.A.N., our sincerest

thanks for sharing their knowledge and expertise and for their

recommendations and suggestions to our study.

Grateful acknowledgment is extended to Dr. Arlene A. Aguilar,

editor, for her inspiring suggestions.

vii
 Sincerest thanks for the researcher’s families for the constant

support, words of encouragement, unlimited concern, moral and

financial assistance as well, for their guidance that inspired the

researchers all throughout this study.

To researchers’ classmates, friends, acquaintances and countless

others whose friendship, encouragement and understanding provided

comfort and strength the researchers to be firm and courageous in this

undertaking. This task could not have been easier without them all.

And to the Almighty God, who is the source of everything, our

unending veneration and praises will be continually in our lips.

Val, Jaive, Fatima, Renee, Che, Reman & Liza

viii
 ABSTRACT

CANDIDATO, VAL M. “HEALTH RELATED BELIEFS

AND
EREÑO, JAIVIN H. PRACTICES OF THE RESIDENTS
TAN, FATIMA C. OF BRGY.
BATUILA, BALENO
TEMPLONUEVO, RENEE T. MASBATE" (Undergraduate
NUYLES, RICHELLE N. Thesis, Aquinas
University of
MARQUEZ, REMAN C. Legazpi S.Y. 2007-2008)
CARDAÑO, LIZA

This study identified the health-related beliefs and practices of

the residents in Barangay Batuila, Baleno, Masbate. Specifically, it

south to answer the following problems: 1. What is the socio-

demographic profile of the respondents in terms of age, position in the

family (whether mother or father?), occupation, educational

attainment, religion and family monthly income; 2. What are the

health-related beliefs and practices of the residents of Barangay

Batuila, Baleno, Masbate along promotive aspect of health and

remedial/curative aspect of health; 3. What are the health-seeking

related problems encountered by the residents? and 4. What nursing

implication can be drawn from the health related beliefs and practices

of respondents?

The researchers believed that the residents of Brgy. Batuila,

Baleno Masbate City have different health related beliefs and practices

ix
along health promotion or disease prevention and also when it comes

to the remedial and curative aspect. The scope of the study was

limited only to the head of the family or the parents in every household

in Brgy. Batuila. This was eliminated to fifty-two (52) households or 52

respondents.

The research study that was employed in the investigation was

the descriptive survey utilizing a questionnaire designed for the

purpose of determining the health related beliefs and practices of the

respondents along health promotion and remedial or curative aspect of

the disease.

Data gathered were subjected to statistical treatment to answer

the problem. For part I of the questionnaire percentage and ranking

were used. Weighted mean and rank order were utilized in part II as

well as the descriptive interpretation was applied. For part III weighted

mean and rank order were used and descriptive interpretation was also

applied to the numerical result identified. Nursing implication was

drawn by the researchers based on the given answers of the

respondent.

Findings

The findings of the study in terms of Demographic Profile are;

Out of the 52 respondents, 17 belonged to 31–40 years of age

comprising 32.69%. At the middle spot there are only 13 respondents

who belonged to 41- 50 years of age with 25 %. Lastly there are only 2

x
respondents or 3.85 % who belonged to the 61-70 years old. 57.69 %

or 30 respondents are mothers, while the fathers consist only of 42.31

% or twenty-two 22 respondent. Majority or 36.54% of the respondents

were housekeeper. Taking the last spot are municipal employees,

labandera and BHW having a common frequency percentage of 1.92%.

44.23 % of the respondents are high school (secondary) graduates.

The respondents who finished college education were only seven or

13.46% respondents of the total respondents making it the last spot. A

total of 50 respondents or 96.15% are Roman Catholics. Only one

respondent or 1.92% belongs to “Iglesia ni Cristo” and one also for

“Dating Daan”. The monthly family income of the 17 or 32.69% of the

respondents have monthly income ranging from Php1,001-1,500. The

middle spot has only 19.23% or ten respondents with monthly income

ranging from Php501 -1,000. Lastly six or 11.54% of the respondents

have monthly income from Php1,500 – 2,500.

With regards to health related beliefs and practices, the

respondents “often” indulge themselves in health promotive

behaviors/measures listed in the Table 2A, as part of their health

related beliefs and practices with a weighted mean of 2.81. Hygienic

measures were given a great importance while attending health

educations and isolations of sick family member was given the least

importance. The respondents “often” indulge themselves in

curative/remedial measures in times of sickness or disease as part of

xi
their health related beliefs and practices with a weighted mean of 2.96.

Traditional healing practices in the community were given importance

while medically accepted therapeutic procedures got the lesser

importance.

In health seeking related problems encountered, “Lack of

family budget” ranked the most encountered problem of the

respondents in seeking medical consultation and earned a weighted

mean of 2.38. Occupying the middle spot is “inadequate health

facilities in the barangay with a weighted mean of 3.42 and the last

rank were taken by unawareness to signs and symptoms of certain

disease with a weighted mean of 5.37.

Conclusions

Based on the findings we have concluded that majority of the

households in Barangay Batuila, Baleno, Masbate employs matriarchal

system or the mothers are more concerned or responsible when it

comes to health matters. In other words they become the head of the

family when it comes to health matters. This is maybe due to female’s

nurturing instinct or the tendency to nurse or care for sick members of

the family. Most of the respondents belong to age group from 31-40

years old, Roman Catholic in nature and therefore can be considered

as matured enough to make decisions regarding health matters. Most

of the respondents are housekeepers and their family monthly income

belongs to Php1,001-1,500 range which is definitely not enough to

xii
support the necessities of the family which includes those that

contribute to health – its promotive aspect and the curative/ remedial

aspect when it comes to disease. Majority finished their secondary

education which may mean that they have a little grasp of

understanding on how to prevent and cure illnesses and promote

health properly.

The residents of Barangay Batuila, Baleno, Masbate in terms of

their health-related beliefs and practices “often” employ in different

measures to promote health, prevent and cure a certain disease.

Preventive measures of residents to the said barangay mainly focused

on hygienic activities such as taking a bath everyday and hand

washing and others. The respondents seem to be aware about the

advantages of these hygienic measures in health promotion and

avoidance of diseases. In terms of curative/remedial measures,

traditional health practices and beliefs were being employed and given

a higher importance rather than medically accepted therapeutic and

healing practices and measures. Medical consultation will be there last

resort to cure certain sickness or illness.

The respondents identified related problems encountered in

seeking medical consultations. This includes “lack of family budget”,

“inadequate health facilities in the barangay”, “lack of awareness of

signs and symptoms of certain diseases”, “lack of trust to medical

professional due to past experiences”, “unavailability of medical health

xiii
practitioners in the barangay” and “lack of medical assistance from the

government”. This signifies that our government is lacking an attention

not only to Barangay Batuila but also to some small barangays in any

part of our county. DOH in some ways is also responsible for this.

Recommendations

Based on the foregoing findings and conclusions, the researchers

here by formulated the following recommendations:

Since health-related beliefs and practices in a certain community

affect the health foundation of individuals that come form this certain

community, proper orientation, counseling and seminars should be

implemented or conducted to barangays like Barangay Batuila as to

proper disease prevention and treatment and thus promoting health.

With regard to disease prevention the importance of good hygiene,

environmental sanitations, healthy lifestyle, healthy diet, balance of

daily activities, regular check-ups and the like should be stressed out

in order for them to maintain good health of the family. In curative or

remedial aspect to cure the sick, the importance of seeking medical

consultation should be given the highest priority and of course the pros

and cons in taking of medications even without the prescription of the

doctor. Since hygiene was given a lesser importance in terms of

curative aspect to certain disease by the respondents, the important

role of hygienic practices in controlling the spread of microorganism

should also be stressed out. In terms of related problems encountered

xiv
by the respondents in seeking medical consultations, proper assistance

to these barangays like Barangay Batuila should be maximized by the

government. Department of Health (DOH) must review their strategies

and/or existing programs with regard to healthcare delivery systems

and other issues concerning the health of the community.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

TITLE PAGE i

EDITOR’S CERTIFICATION ii

RECOMMENDATION FOR ORAL EXAMINATION iii

SUBMISSION FOR ORAL EXAMINATION iv

RATING SHEET v

APPROVAL SHEET vi

ACKNOWLEDGMENT vii

ABSTRACT ix

TABLE OF CONTENTS xv

LIST OF FIGURES xviii

LIST OF TABLES xix

CHAPTER

I THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTING

Introduction 1

xv
 Statement of the Problem 5

Scope and Limitation 5

Significance of the Study 6

Notes 8

II THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

Related Literature 9

Related Studies

17

Synthesis of the Art 27

Gaps Bridged by the Study 29

Theoretical Framework 30

Conceptual Framework 33

Definition of Terms 35

Notes 37

III RESEARCH DESIGN & METHODOLOGY

Research Design 39

Sources of Data 40

Population of the Study 40

Research Study 40

Data Gathering Procedure 41

Statistical Treatment 41

IV HEALTH RELATED BELIEFS AND PRACTICES OF THE

RESIDENTS OF BARANGAY BATUILA, BALENO,
MASBATE

xvi
 Socio-demographic Profile 43

Health Promotive Measures 47

Curative/Remedial Measures 50

Problems Encountered 51

Nursing Implications 53

V SUMMARY, FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND

RECOMMENDATIONS

Summary 55

Findings 57

Conclusions 60

Recommendations 62

BIBLIOGRAPHY 63

APPENDICES 65

A Letter to Barangay Captain 66

B Letter to the Respondents 67

C Questionnaires 68

CURRICULUM VITAE 71

xvii
 LIST OF FIGURES

Figure Page

1 Theoretical Framework Model 32

2 Conceptual Framework Model

34

xviii
 LIST OF TABLES

Table

Page

1 Socio-demographic Profile of the Respondents 44

2 A. Health Promotive Measures

48

B. Curative/Remedial Measures 49

3 Problems Encountered 52

xix