Abstract

This study, grounded on focused ethnography, explored the cultural patterns among Aetas of Nabuclod Pampanga specifically zeroing in on those practices that directly and indirectly affect the health of community members. The said community is an adopted community of the institution where the researcher was previously connected thus this study is part of the entry phase of the institution's community organizing. Prior to the data gathering, permission from the community through its elders, barangay official and members were sought. Data, in the form of narratives, were gathered through interviews, story-telling, group discussion, observation, photo-documentation and immersion for the course of 2 years. Analysis of the narratives reveals three prominent cultural patterns among the Aetas and are as follows:1) "Amyong at Dizu": Amulets as Preventive and Curative Ornaments, 2) "Pag-aanito": Rituals Rites and Ceremonies for Ailment and 3) "Usag": Cosmological Deities and Wellness. These patterns reveal that though the Aetas of Nabuclod is well oriented in the concept of western medicine, their decisions on health actions and behavior is still rooted in their cultural belief system. It is further noted that for them, their unique health practices serves as their cultural identifier as "kulot" (Aeta) as opposed to the "unat" (Lowlanders). Insight from this study reveals that there is need to integrate their health practices, and belief system in crafting health programs' goal, objective and strategies to be more inclusive, culturally-sensitive and relevant to the community and its members as well as further preventing the prominent feeling of systemic oppression that they have experienced from the "unat" people

Notes

Focus: Community and Public Health

Author Details

Rudolf Cymorr Kirby P. Martinez, PhD, MA, RN, CAA, LMT, CSTP, FRIN

Sigma Membership

Non-member

Type

Presentation

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Ethnography

Research Approach

Qualitative Research

Keywords:

Aeta, Ethography

Conference Name

PNRS Event

Conference Host

Philippine Nursing Research Society, Inc.

Conference Location

Punta Villa Resort, Arevalo, Iloilo City, Philippines

Conference Year

2016

Rights Holder

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All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository.

All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Review Type

Peer-review: Single Blind

Acquisition

Self-submission

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"Amyong, anito at usag": Patterns of health belief among Aetas of Nabuclod Pampanga

Punta Villa Resort, Arevalo, Iloilo City, Philippines

This study, grounded on focused ethnography, explored the cultural patterns among Aetas of Nabuclod Pampanga specifically zeroing in on those practices that directly and indirectly affect the health of community members. The said community is an adopted community of the institution where the researcher was previously connected thus this study is part of the entry phase of the institution's community organizing. Prior to the data gathering, permission from the community through its elders, barangay official and members were sought. Data, in the form of narratives, were gathered through interviews, story-telling, group discussion, observation, photo-documentation and immersion for the course of 2 years. Analysis of the narratives reveals three prominent cultural patterns among the Aetas and are as follows:1) "Amyong at Dizu": Amulets as Preventive and Curative Ornaments, 2) "Pag-aanito": Rituals Rites and Ceremonies for Ailment and 3) "Usag": Cosmological Deities and Wellness. These patterns reveal that though the Aetas of Nabuclod is well oriented in the concept of western medicine, their decisions on health actions and behavior is still rooted in their cultural belief system. It is further noted that for them, their unique health practices serves as their cultural identifier as "kulot" (Aeta) as opposed to the "unat" (Lowlanders). Insight from this study reveals that there is need to integrate their health practices, and belief system in crafting health programs' goal, objective and strategies to be more inclusive, culturally-sensitive and relevant to the community and its members as well as further preventing the prominent feeling of systemic oppression that they have experienced from the "unat" people