HEALTH SYSTEMS

SOCIOLOGY OF HEALTH AND

ILLNESS
 HEALTH SYSTEMS IN THE PHILIPPINES

- IT DEVELOPS NATIONAL PLANS, TECHNICAL

STANDARDS, AND HEALTHCARE GUIDELINES
FOR ALL FILIPINOS.

- CENTERS FOR HEALTH DEPARTMENT (CHD)

- RURAL HEALTH UNITS (RHU)
 CULTURAL CONSTRUCTS OF HEALTH AND THE
FILIPINO ATTRIBUTIONS OF ILLNESS

- USOG
- BUGHAT (ILONGGO TERM) BINAT
(TAGALOG VERSION)
 FILIPINO SYSTEMS OF DIAGNOSIS PREVENTION,
HEALING, AND HEALTH PROMOTION

PROTECTION OF THE BODY IN THREE METAPHORIC

WAYS:
1. FLUSHING
2. HEATING
3. PROTECTING
 HEALTH BELIEFS AND BEHAVIORS
• CHARACTERIZED BY THE PRINCIPLE OF BALANCE
HUMORAL BALANCES:
1. RAPID SHIFTS FROM HOT TO COLD LEAD TO ILLNESS.
2. WARM ENVIRONMENT IS ESSENTIAL TO MAINTAIN
OPTIMAL HEALTH.
3. COLD DRINKS OR FOOD SHOULD BE AVOIDED IN THE
MORNING.
• 4. AN OVERHEATED BODY (AS IN CHILDBIRTH OF FEVER) IS
VULNERABLE; AND HEATED BODY OR MUSCLES CAN GET
“SHOCKED” WHEN COOLED SUDDENLY.
5. A LAYER OF FAT (BEING STOUT) IS PREFERRED TO MAINTAIN
WARMTH AND PROTECT VITAL ENERGY.
6. HEAT AND COOLING RELATE TO QUALITY AND BALANCE OF AIR
(HANGIN/WINDS) IN THE BODY.
7. SUDDEN CHANGES IN WEATHER PATTERNS, COOL BREEZES,
EXPOSURE IN EVENING HOURS TO LOW TEMPERATURE, INTENSE
HEAT IMMEDIATELY AFTER A LENGTHY RAIN, AND VAPORS RISING
FROM THE SOIL ALL MY UPSET THE BODY BALANCE.
 FILIPINO THEORIES OF ILLNESS
• 1. MYSTICAL CAUSES ARE OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH
EXPERIENCES OR BEHAVIORS SUCH AS RETRIBUTION
FROM ANCESTORS FOR UNFULFILLED OBLIGATIONS.
2. PERSONALISTIC CAUSES MAY BE ATTRIBUTED TO
SOCIAL PUNISHMENT OR RETRIBUTION BY
SUPERNATURAL BEINGS SUCH AS AN EVIL SPIRIT,
WITCH, OR MANGKUKULAM (SORCERER).
• 3. NATURALISTIC CAUSES INCLUDE A RANGE OF FACTORS
FROM NATURE EVENTS (THUNDER, LIGHTNING, DRAFTS, ETC.),
EXCESSIVE STRESS, INCOMPATIBLE FOOD AND DRUGS,
INFECTION, OR FAMILIAL SUSCEPTIBILITY.
4. BACTERIAL/VIRAL CAUSES: THERE IS AN INCREASING
NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY SWAYED BY THE
POWER OF SCIENCE.
 CULTURAL HEALTH ACTORS
• ALBULARYO MAY BE SEEN AS THE “GENERAL PRACTITIONER.”
• HILOT REFERS BOTH TO THE MANGHIHILOT AND NAGPAPAANAK.
• MANGLULUOP SPECIALIZES IN DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES, USUALLY
REFERRING THE PATIENTS AFTER DIAGNOSIS TO THE ALBULARYO, MEDICO,
OR MANGHIHILOT FOR DEFINITIVE TREATMENTS.
• MEDICO IS A HYBRID, SORT OF CROSSOVER SPECIALIZATION. HE OR SHE
MERGES AGE-OLD FOLKLORIC MODALITIES WITH INGREDIENTS OF
WESTERN MEDICINE- ‘PRESCRIPTION’ MEDICATIONS, ACUPUNCTURE, ETC.
 HEALTH AS HUMAN RIGHT
• THE HUMAN RIGHT TO HEALTH GUARANTEES A SYSTEM OF
HEALTH PROTECTION FOR ALL.
• EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO THE HEALTH CARE THEY NEED
AND TO LIVING CONDITIONS THAT ENABLE THEM TO BE
HEALTHY, SUCH AS ADEQUATE FOOD, HOUSING, AND A
HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT.
• HEALTH CARE MUST BE PROVIDED AS A PUBLIC GOOD FOR
ALL, FINANCED PUBLICLY AND EQUITABLY.
SOCIAL AND POLITICAL
STRATIFICATION
 SOCIAL INEQUALITY: THE HEART OF SOCIOLOGY

• PATTERNS OF UNEQUAL ACCESS TO SOCIAL RESOURCES ARE COMMONLY CALLED SOCIAL

INEQUALITY.
• SOCIAL INEQUALITY REFLECTS INNATE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS FOR EXAMPLE
THEIR VARYING ABILITIES AND EFFORTS.
• SOMEONE MAY BE ENDOWED WITH EXCEPTIONAL INTELLIGENCE OR TALENT OR MAY HAVE
WORKED VERY HARD TO ACHIEVE THEIR WEALTH AND STATUS.