Health Behaviors and Needs of the Aetas and its Implication to Primary Health Care

This study looked at the health determinants, health practices and health needs of the Aetas in Barangay Tongko in Tayabas, Quezon. It covered family health, environmental health sanitation, and communicable and non-communicable diseases. They accept health instructions from the nurse or primary care provider and are open on the idea of hospitalization and are willing to disclose family information pertaining to their health. Most of the respondents are herbal medicine vendors. They are dependent on the different medicinal plant gathering activities since it has become the major source of their income. A majority of the respondents still use medicinal plants, or goes to “manghihilot”, or treats self with home remedy when sick. Aetas have no traditional approach of knowing the signs and symptoms of pregnancy. When pregnant, they do not usually or regularly visit health center for antenatal check up and to receive Tetanus toxoid vaccination and micronutrient supplementation which are very important to ensure healthy pregnancy and infant. It is also the practice of the majority to give birth at home with the assistance of their relative. Aeta mothers are aware of the different methods of family planning. The respondents are totally aware of the expanded program on immunization however, not all their children are fully immunized. Cold, fever and cough are the most commonly acquired illnesses of their newborn babies and they buy over the counter drugs or use herbal plants for their child’s medication. Aeta mothers recognize the good benefits of breast milk since majority of them provided their children with their own milk. However, oral health is not a priority of the Aeta respondents, although they always brush their teeth with toothpaste they never had their teeth checked by a dentist. Majority of the respondent’s family have experienced the common illnesses such as fever, headache and abdominal pain. It’s either they go to folk healer and ritual practitioners pr use herbal medicine as their prefered health remedies. It was noted that the Aeta community have limited access to the elements of Primary Health Care.