Question

Can you describe the health seeking behaviors of Filipinos and how they relate to vaccination?

Answer 1

What is health seeking behavior?

Answer :It is an action undertaken by any individuals who perceive themselves to have ahealth problems or to be ill for the purpose finding an appropriate remedy.

Health seeking behavior in Filipinos :

Filipinos have a tendency to delay or ignore preventative health care measures until the illness become evident. They perceived themselves as healthy. They preferred to seek medical care from a physician, however when illness are manageable, they tend to treat themselves by self medication. In the Philippines, several factors influence their health seeking behavior such as socio demographic factors, perceived health status, and knowledge on Philhealth insurance. They use traditional healing remedies for their diseases especially herbal supplements and massage therapy. Their positive attitudes are facilitator in taking care of one's health. Filipinos older adults tend to cope with illness with the help of family, friends and by the faith of God. If they have complete cure or slightest improvement in their health, they believe it as a miracle by God. Filipinos older adults tend to manage their illness by self monitoring of symptoms, ascertaining possible causes, determining the severity and threat to functional capacity and considering the financial and emotional burden to the family. Seeking medical advice from family members or friends who are health professionals is also a common practice among Filipinos older adults and their family members especially if severe somatic symptoms arise.

Filipinos have positive attitude to vaccination, however several factors contribute to low immunity to their children. . Looking at the uptake of the first dose of measles vaccine in the past decade, the coverage was above 80%in 2008 and decreased to below 70%in 2017.According to WHO, 2.6 million Filipino children under the age of five years are not protected from measles. In the Philippines, child hood immunization coverage has been declining sharply in recent years from 87%in 2014 to 68%%in 2019.