Banwa Publications (University of the Philippines Mindanao)
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PASYENTE: Project for Dengue
No full textAdvanced healthcare technologies are gaining traction for their superior accuracy over traditional methods. The World Health Organization highlights AI\u27s key role in enhancing disease screening, surveillance, clinical care, research, and drug development. The Philippines\u27 healthcare system could benefit from greater ICT, operations research (OR), and AI integration, building on initiatives like TeleHealth. In 2019, Dengue cases surged in seven regions, with Davao City seeing a 67% rise (DOH, 2019; NEDA XI, 2021). To address Dengue, our team proposed a patient-centered Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS), which will pilot-test in Davao City, and then expanding to other hotspots. The PASYENTE Project leverages AI and OR to address dengue, aiming to enhance healthcare quality, expand technology use, and strengthen healthcare delivery across the country
A Commentary on Patronage Democracy in the Philippines
No full textPatronage Democracy in the Philippines: Clans, Clients, and Competition in Local Elections. Julio C. Teehankee and Cleo Anne A. Calimbahin, editors. Ateneo de Manila University Press, 2022
Health System Resilience Project (HSRP) in the Philippines
No full textThe Health System Resilience Project (HSRP) in the Philippines aims to strengthen the resilience of the public health system in response to challenges posed by natural disasters, pandemics, and climate change. The project focuses on enhancing health infrastructure, improving emergency response capabilities, and promoting digital health services to support Universal Health Care (UHC) objectives. Targeting areas such as the Davao Region, the HSRP emphasizes the development of primary care facilities, upgrade of provincial hospitals, and the establishment of Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Service (BUCAS) centers for rapid care access. The HSRP is structured around four major components: local health system strengthening, surveillance system enhancement, digital transformation, and a contingency emergency response. Each component is interdependent, facilitating a robust health system through technical assistance, capacity building, and infrastructure investments. Initial investments are scheduled for 2025, with a five-year timeline aiming to meet key health targets, improve pandemic readiness, and support vulnerable populations. The project aligns with the Philippine government’s agenda to enhance health equity and resilience, ultimately ensuring healthcare access and sustainability amidst evolving public health challenges
Impact of Communication Campaigns to Blaan Indigenous Peoples Covered by Community Health and Development Program, University of the Philippines Manila
No full textThe Blaan tribe of Mindanao Island is an Indigenous group that lacks access to healthcare; thus, the University of the Philippines Manila School of Health Sciences (UPM SHS) Community Health Development Program (CHDP) provides annual information and educational campaigns to address major health emergencies in Barangay Kalkam, Tupi, South Cotabato. A total of 24 Blaan respondents gave their views on the program\u27s dengue, malnutrition, teenage pregnancy, and family planning campaigns using a closed-ended survey, qualitative KAP analysis, and ethnovideography. Results showed that information dissemination is limited to printed media and interpersonal communication via small groups; the contents of health communication campaigns are less understandable; and social mobilization efforts demonstrated low levels of community engagement. Additionally, communication between health workers and Blaan indigenous peoples is not transactional due to the lack of feedback and involvement in the decision-making process. The respondents\u27 knowledge of health demonstrated low levels of end-user engagement, reflective of unsustainable knowledge of modern medicine. Normative changes are only evident in family planning campaigns. The long-term sustainability of health promotion among indigenous peoples may be inhibited due to non-evident normative changes that trigger societal transformation. The paper suggests that a specialized communication strategy intended for Blaan Indigenous peoples must be considered and applied to react collectively and effectively to address health issues
Evaluating the Primary Care Plan for Migrant Workers in Singapore: Perspectives from Healthcare Workers after Two Years of Implementation
No full textMigrant workers are an integral part of the labor force in Singapore, yet their healthcare needs only received focused attention with the rollout of the Primary Care Plan (PCP) in 2022. This study gathered perspectives from healthcare workers (HCWs) on the implementation of the PCP, two years after its introduction. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with purposively sampled HCWs from the largest anchor operator appointed to implement the PCP, using a topic guide formulated using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). A thematic analysis was performed to identify themes on facilitators, barriers, and suggestions for improving the implementation of the PCP. Interviewees highlighted the affordability of primary care, the accessibility of migrant worker clinics, the mandated enrollment of migrant workers, and the availability of a diverse group of HCWs speaking migrant workers’ native languages as facilitators to the implementation of the PCP. Low co-payment affecting sustainability, lack of awareness of the PCP by HCWs from other public healthcare institutions, lack of attention to social determinants of health among migrant workers, and lack of integration of the PCP into secondary and tertiary care were cited as barriers to the implementation of the PCP. Interviewees suggested tiered co-payments, health promotion targeting migrant workers, as well as efforts to improve the living conditions of migrant workers to enhance the provision of primary care for migrant workers. The perspectives of healthcare workers, as the primary implementers, offer crucial insights into the facilitators, barriers, and potential improvements for the PCP. These inputs are essential for the ongoing refinement and success of the PCP. We strongly encourage policymakers and anchor operators to work collaboratively in co-developing service improvement initiatives that enhance the quality and accessibility of primary care for migrant workers. Additionally, future research should focus on conducting comprehensive needs assessments among migrant workers, ensuring that primary care services are tailored to their unique health needs and cultural contexts, thereby improving overall health outcomes
Bat Coronaviruses: Towards a One-Health Approach for Pathogen Surveillance
No full textBats are among the most diverse group of mammals globally and provide important ecosystem services such as seed dispersal, pollination and pest control. Due to its unique biology, bats can tolerate infectious agents and have been found to harbor numerous bacterial and viral species, including pathogens with zoonotic potential. The 21st century has seen a rapid rise in emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) including coronaviruses that cause SARS, MERS and COVID-19, all of which have several levels of evidence indicating its origin from bats and other wildlife hosts. Furthermore, because of anthropogenic activities that alter ecosystem landscapes and facilitate sustained interaction between wildlife, livestock and humans, it is expected that the frequency of EIDs will continue to increase. In the Philippines, efforts for pathogen surveillance in wildlife populations including in bats remain fragmented. This indicates the need for increased research to monitor pathogens circulating in the wild. We present some of the local efforts initiated by UP Mindanao researchers in bat coronavirus surveillance and highlight some of the key findings, challenges, and future directions to enhance pathogen monitoring using a one-health approach. We also highlight the need to use metagenomic approaches to enable a comprehensive profiling of bat and wildlife pathogens, identify priority targets and facilitate the development of rapid diagnostics for routine surveillance
Treating “Madness”, Remembering Traditions: Postpartum Practices in Visayan Communities in North Cotabato, Mindanao
No full textEarlier studies that mentioned bughat commonly interpreted it as a relapse after suffering from an illness, perceived as women’s bodily reaction to childbirth or due to the violation of postpartum taboos. Using ethnographic approaches such as key informant interviews and participant observation, I examined the ways to address bughat, thereby preventing madness, in Visayan communities in North Cotabato and how these practices form community and reinforce their identity. I also discussed the importance of traditional healers in the community and the Ati (self-ascribed) from Antique, who frequently travel to Mindanao to sell their traditional medicine. By examining the aspects of illness, healing, and memory, this paper contributes to the blurring of ethnic divisions among the “settlers”, Bangsamoro, and Lumad (indigenous people), facilitates the flow of knowledge and materia medica, and reveals health and well-being as a collective concern in peasant communities of North Cotabato. This study then attempts to present people’s agency and creativity in addressing the health issues confronting them
The Relationship between Moral Distress and Quality of Care among ICU Nurses in a Tertiary Hospital in Zamboanga City
No full textMoral distress, stemming from conflicts between ethical judgment and external constraints, significantly affects Intensive Care Unit nurses, leading to diminished care quality and nurse turnover. This study investigated the correlation between moral distress and the quality of care rendered by ICU nurses at a tertiary-level hospital in Zamboanga City. The study used a cross-sectional correlational design with 47 ICU nurses from various units. Data were collected via validated instruments—the Moral Distress Scale and the Quality Nursing Care Scale ICU. Pearson\u27s correlation coefficient analyzed the relationship between moral distress and nursing care quality. The study’s findings indicate that ICU nurses at a tertiary-level hospital in Zamboanga City experience a low level of moral distress, with an overall mean frequency of 1.99 and a mean disturbance of 2.26. For the FMD and the QNCS-ICU, there was a moderate positive correlation between the two variables, r(32) = 0.465, p = 0.006. Meanwhile, for the DMD and the QNCS-ICU, there was a weak positive correlation between the two variables, r(32) = 0.354, p = 0.040. These findings suggest that an increase in moral distress, even at a lower level, correlates with a decline in the quality of nursing care. Effective stress management among ICU nurses is essential for reducing moral distress and enhancing patient care, while integrating patient and family feedback can further improve nursing practices. Hospital management should develop ongoing support programs to strengthen nurses\u27 well-being and performance. Furthermore, future research could explore these dynamics by utilizing qualitative methods, expanding sample sizes, and extending study durations, providing a more comprehensive understanding of how moral distress impacts nursing outcomes
Reexamining ‘Malasakit’: Some Philosophical Considerations in ‘Kalusugang Pantao’
No full textThis paper will contribute to the conceptualization of ‘Kalusugang Pantao’ (Human Health) through the reexamination of ‘malasakit’. The paper does not aim to provide an absolute idea of ‘malasakit’ or ‘kalusugang pantao’; instead, it aims to raise philosophical questions that we must consider in further understanding the two concepts. The methodology of this paper is mainly conceptual analysis. Given its philosophical nature, it will analyze the concepts of ‘malasakit’ vis-à-vis ‘kalusugang pantao’. The terms will be defined based on the KWF Diskyunaryong Filipino. Then, further analysis will be conducted based on the existing philosophical and scientific references. ‘Malasakit’, as synonymous with ‘andukha’ and ‘kalinga’, can be lexically construed as caring for the good sake of others. Landa Jocano views ‘malasakit’ as selfless concern and service for others. It comes from two Filipino terms: malasin (to view or to see) and sakit (pain, disease, or illness). Relating such ideas of ‘malasakit’ to ‘kalusugang pantao’, several philosophical questions could be formulated. These questions concern the boundaries of ‘malasakit’, the subject and object of ‘malasin’, the kind of ‘sakit’ that we are dealing with, the act of exercising ‘malasakit’, and the connection of ‘malasakit’ to the concept of ‘kalusugan’. Addressing these philosophical questions could further enhance our ideas of ‘kalusugang pantao’, which can be grounds for our medical response, public policies, and approaches to health. Based on the results and discussion, this paper recommends raising further philosophical questions about the other Filipino core values that we exhibit in the health sector. Future philosophy researchers may also reconceptualize ‘kalusugang pantao’ in its holistic sense. They may employ phenomenological methodology and experimental philosophy to further understand the Filipino social understanding of medical and health concepts as well as Filipino core values. Also, the paper recommends further consideration of the relation of these concepts to the emerging field of digital health and innovations in medical practice
Detection of Parastrongylus cantonensis (Rat Lungworm) in Rattus spp. from Three Major Public Markets in Davao City
No full textNeuroangiostrongyliasis, caused by the rat lungworm Parastrongylus cantonensis, is an emerging tropical disease. Research on P. cantonensis in rats has not yet been conducted in Davao City. This study aims to determine its incidence in Rattus spp. from three major public markets, establishing baseline data for potential health risks. The study employed a quantitative descriptive cross-sectional research design wherein rats were collected from three major public markets in Davao City using mechanical traps, then sedated and euthanized prior to dissection. Digested lung tissue was then centrifuged, filtered, and examined under a microscope to identify the presence of P. cantonensis. In a study conducted across three major public markets in Davao City, 66 rats belonging to the genus Rattus were identified, specifically R. norvegicus, R. tanezumi, and R. rattus. Among them, some tested positive for P. cantonensis, indicating an overall incidence rate of 4.54%. In urban areas, particularly markets, Rattus species play a crucial role in the persistence and spread of this significant zoonotic parasite. The urban environment provides abundant food sources, allowing rats to thrive and increasing their interactions with intermediate hosts like snails or slugs. This situation heightens the risk of zoonotic transmission, especially for those consuming raw or undercooked intermediate hosts. Given the rats\u27 importance as reservoirs of P. cantonensis, public health measures emphasizing proper food safety and hygiene are essential to reduce the risk. These interventions can significantly lower transmission chances and protect human health. It is recommended that community education programs that address the risks and prevention strategies for P. cantonensis should be done as they are crucial for raising awareness and promoting public health; to strictly implement of the existing program, with a focus on comprehensive rodent control measures and improved sanitation practices, particularly among vendors, to minimize public health risks; and for researchers to utilize advanced molecular diagnostic procedures with optimized protocols in parasite identification to enhance the reliability, accuracy, and precision of detecting P. cantonensis infections