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CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

The Philippines is a diverse nation composed of various ethnic and indigenous groups residing within its territory, all of which are considered valuable in nation building. Among these are the Aeta, also known as Ati or Agta in other parts of the country, usually residing in the mountainous parts. The Aeta being valuable components of the society, a clear picture of the group's practices with regards to healthcare, specifically pregnancy practices, needs to be known. Currently, a good amount of information about the Aeta is available. However, much of the available information is not necessarily healthcare-oriented.

The state of pregnancy is of great interest among healthcare students and professionals. However, there exists a void in the information available regarding pregnancy practices of the Aeta. In recognition of the equal importance of all the residents and citizens of the

Philippines, it is hard to discount the fact that the needs of indigenous people need to be addressed as well.

The Aeta community in Sitio Nagpana is a group that lives about fifteen kilometers away from the Barotac Viejo town proper. One Aeta midwife lives within the community who, in an article by Rodolfo P. Gumabong for The News Today (2006), mentioned that there are about 2 to 3 deliveries a month and that it is very seldom that a medical doctor comes to visit the Aeta community to check on the health of the residents. This, once again, is a clear example of the void that exists between the aim of delivering quality healthcare among indigents and the lack of available resources, including information, on the matter.

It is the aim of this study to find out, specifically, the pregnancy practices of the Aeta, and how much of these practices are affected by factors, such as age, income,

educational attainment, and the individual respondent's parity and gravidity.

In the hopes of having a healthier and better informed, though diverse, society, a formal research investigation is deemed necessary.

Statement of the Problem

The study aimed to ascertain the pregnancy practices of the Aetas in Sitio Nagpana, Barotac Viejo, Iloilo.

Specifically, it aimed to answer the following questions:

1. What is the level of pregnancy practices of the Aetas when they are taken as a whole and when they are classified according:

a. age

b. parity

c. gravidity

d. educational attainment

2. Are there significant differences in the level of pregnancy practices of the Aetas when they are classified according to aforementioned variables?

Hypothesis

To answer the problem, a null hypothesis is advanced:

1. There are no significant differences in the level of pregnancy practices of the Aetas when they are classified according to age, parity, gravidity, educational level and monthly income.

Significance of the Study

Conducting a study on the Pregnancy Practices of Aetas in Sitio Nagpana, Barotac Viejo will be beneficial to the following:

Members of the Community. This study will serve to benefit the community by helping them realize the great need of pregnant women of proper care during this time of their lives. This would help minimize the mortality rate in pregnant women and their children.

Government Officials. It is under the government's responsibility to ensure its people's common good and minimize, as much as possible, any threat imposed to their health. This study will serve as a guide to government officials which will be their basis for creating and implementing improved health care programs focusing on pregnant clients.

Health Practitioners. This study will aid health care practitioners in general to genuinely understand the sensitivity of the condition of their pregnant clients. Improved knowledge will help them clarify their client's misconceptions towards pregnancy while keeping intact the virtue of respect with regards to their traditions and culture. Furthermore, this will help them become more

aware of the different needs of their clients and respond to these needs competently.

Nurses. This study will help improve the nurse's skills in provision of quality care to their pregnant clients, taking in to consideration the client's culture.

Researchers. The researchers will be able to act as the integral part in the enhancement of health care services or practices being provided to pregnant clients. Also, this may encourage other researchers to go deeper with this study by conducting more researches related to pregnancy practices of different groups of people with their respective traditions and from various cultures.

Respondents. The respondents will be able to find clarification of their concepts towards pregnancy, thus, would further enhance their knowledge and skills and develop new ideas in providing self-care.

Scope of the Study

The coverage of this study is limited to Aeta mothers, who are currently pregnant or have previously been pregnant and are residents of Sitio Nagpana, Barotac Viejo, Iloilo. These Aetas were chosen as the respondents of this study, to identify the level of their practices with regards to pregnancy. The study covered the period of one month from July to August 2011 and was based on primary data sources which were information coming directly from the respondents' answers to the questions presented on the survey instruments.

Definition of Terms

The following terms are conceptually and operationally defined for the purpose of this study:

Aeta. The Aeta, popularly known as Negritos; Indonesians descendants of the Mundo tribe in central Panay. ( Philippine Information Agency, 2010.)

In this study the term Aeta