Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Protocol For A Trial Assessing The Impacts Of School-Based Wash Interventions On Children’S Health Literacy, Handwashing, And Nutrition Status In Low- And Middle-Income Countries, Stephanie O. Sangalang, Shelley Anne J. Medina, Zheina J. Ottong, Allen Lemuel G. Lemence, Donrey Totanes, John Cedrick Valencia, Patricia Andrea A. Singson, Mikaela Olaguera, Nelissa O. Prado, Roezel Mari Z. Ocaña, Rovin James F. Canja, Alfem John T. Benolirao, Shyrill Mae F. Mariano, Jergil Gyle Gavieres, Clarisse P. Aquino, Edison C. Latag, Maria Vianca Jasmin C. Anglo, Christian Borgemeister, Thoomas Kistemann

Development Studies Faculty Publications

Diarrhea, soil-transmitted helminth infection and malnutrition are leading causes of child mortality in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). To reduce the prevalence of these diseases, effective interventions for adequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) should be implemented. This paper describes the design of a cluster-randomized controlled trial that will compare the efficacy of four school-based WaSH interventions for improving children’s health literacy, handwashing, and nutrition. Interventions consisted of (1) WaSH policy reinforcement; (2) low-, medium-, or high-volume health education; (3) hygiene supplies; and (4) WaSH facilities (e.g., toilets, urinals, handwashing basins) improvements. We randomly allocated school clusters from the intervention …

Mapping Routine Measles Vaccination In Low- And Middle-Income Countries, Alyssa N. Sbarra, Simon I. Hay, Stephen S. Lim, Jonathan F. Mosser, Veincent Christian F. Pepito, Local Burden Of Disease Vaccine Coverage Collaborators, 634 Co-Authors

Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health Publications

The safe, highly effective measles vaccine has been recommended globally since 1974, yet in 2017 there were more than 17 million cases of measles and 83,400 deaths in children under 5 years old, and more than 99% of both occurred in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Globally comparable, annual, local estimates of routine first-dose measles-containing vaccine (MCV1) coverage are critical for understanding geographically precise immunity patterns, progress towards the targets of the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP), and high-risk areas amid disruptions to vaccination programmes caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Here we generated annual estimates of routine childhood MCV1 …

Global Burden Of Cardiovascular Diseases And Risk Factors, 1990-2019: Update From The Gbd 2019 Study, Gregory A. Roth, Veincent Christian F. Pepito, Gbd-Nhlbi-Jacc Global Burden Of Cardiovascular Diseases Writing Group, 608 Co-Authors

Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health Publications

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), principally ischemic heart disease (IHD) and stroke, are the leading cause of global mortality and a major contributor to disability. This paper reviews the magnitude of total CVD burden, including 13 underlying causes of cardiovascular death and 9 related risk factors, using estimates from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2019. GBD, an ongoing multinational collaboration to provide comparable and consistent estimates of population health over time, used all available population-level data sources on incidence, prevalence, case fatality, mortality, and health risks to produce estimates for 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2019.

Prevalent cases …

A Cross-Sectional Study On The Burden And Impact Of Migraine On Work Productivity And Quality Of Life In Selected Workplaces In The Philippines, Nel Jason L. Haw, Ian Theodore Cabaluna, Germaine Erika Kaw, Joanna Feliz Cortez, Maria Pamela Chua, Kristel Guce

Health Sciences Faculty Publications

Background

Migraine imposes a substantial personal and economic burden to many working age individuals. This study aimed to evaluate the burden and impact of migraine on work productivity in selected workplaces in the Philippines.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among employees suspected or diagnosed with migraine February to May 2020. Volunteer employees were screened for migraine using the ID-Migraine™ test. Eligible employees were tested for migraine severity and impact on work productivity using the Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) questionnaire. Quality of life was measured using the Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire and additional questions on triggers, coping mechanisms, workplace assistance, …

Global Burden Of 369 Diseases And Injuries In 204 Countries And Territories, 1990–2019: A Systematic Analysis For The Global Burden Of Disease Study 2019, Theo Vos, Christopher J L Murray, Arianna Maever L. Amit, Veincent Christian F. Pepito, Gbd 2019 Diseases And Injuries Collaborators, 1026 Co-Authors

Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health Publications

Background

In an era of shifting global agendas and expanded emphasis on non-communicable diseases and injuries along with communicable diseases, sound evidence on trends by cause at the national level is essential. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) provides a systematic scientific assessment of published, publicly available, and contributed data on incidence, prevalence, and mortality for a mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive list of diseases and injuries.

Methods

GBD estimates incidence, prevalence, mortality, years of life lost (YLLs), years lived with disability (YLDs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) due to 369 diseases and injuries, for two …

Global Burden Of 87 Risk Factors In 204 Countries And Territories, 1990–2019: A Systematic Analysis For The Global Burden Of Disease Study 2019, Christopher J L Murray, Veincent Christian F. Pepito, Gbd 2019 Risk Factors Collaborators, 938 Co-Authors

Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health Publications

Background

Rigorous analysis of levels and trends in exposure to leading risk factors and quantification of their effect on human health are important to identify where public health is making progress and in which cases current efforts are inadequate. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 provides a standardised and comprehensive assessment of the magnitude of risk factor exposure, relative risk, and attributable burden of disease.

Methods

GBD 2019 estimated attributable mortality, years of life lost (YLLs), years of life lived with disability (YLDs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) for 87 risk factors and combinations of …

Global Age-Sex-Specific Fertility, Mortality, Healthy Life Expectancy (Hale), And Population Estimates In 204 Countries And Territories, 1950–2019: A Comprehensive Demographic Analysis For The Global Burden Of Disease Study 2019, Kaja M. Abbas, Haidong Wang, Veincent Christian F. Pepito, Gbd 2019 Demographics Collaborators, 725 Co-Authors

Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health Publications

Background

Accurate and up-to-date assessment of demographic metrics is crucial for understanding a wide range of social, economic, and public health issues that affect populations worldwide. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 produced updated and comprehensive demographic assessments of the key indicators of fertility, mortality, migration, and population for 204 countries and territories and selected subnational locations from 1950 to 2019.

Methods

8078 country-years of vital registration and sample registration data, 938 surveys, 349 censuses, and 238 other sources were identified and used to estimate age-specific fertility. Spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression (ST-GPR) was used …

Field Evaluation Of Recombinant Antigen Elisa In Detecting Zoonotic Schistosome Infection Among Water Buffaloes In Endemic Municipalities In The Philippines, Jose Ma. M. Angeles, Yasuyuki Goto, Masahi Kirinoki, Elena A. Villacorte, Kharleezelle J. Moendeg, Pilarita T. Rivera, Yuichi Chigusa, Shin-Ichiro Kawazu

Biology Faculty Publications

In this study, we investigated the use of recombinant antigens thioredoxin peroxidase-1 (rSjTPx-1) and tandem repeat rSj1TR in evaluating the antibody positivity rates of Schistosoma japonicum infection among water buffaloes from four endemic areas in the Philippines, two municipalities with high endemicity (Calatrava, Negros Occidental and Catarman, Northern Samar) and two municipalities nearing elimination with no cases of human schistosomiasis (Talibon and Trinidad, Bohol). These recombinant antigen ELISA assays were compared with other diagnostic tests including SEA-ELISA, FECT, and fecal-based PCR. Results showed that rSj1TR-ELISA has the highest agreement with PCR in all study areas. Furthermore, significant positivity rates among …

Epidemiological Profile And Transmission Dynamics Of Covid-19 In The Philippines, Nel Jason L. Haw, Jhanna Uy, Karla Therese L. Sy, M.R.M Abrigo

Health Sciences Faculty Publications

The Philippines confirmed local transmission of COVID-19 on 7 March 2020. We described the characteristics and epidemiological time-to-event distributions for laboratory-confirmed cases in the Philippines recorded up to 29 April 2020 and followed until 22 May 2020. The median age of 8212 cases was 46 years (IQR 32–61), with 46.2% being female and 68.8% living in the National Capital Region. Health care workers represented 24.7% of all detected infections. Mean length of hospitalisation for those who were discharged or died were 16.00 days (95% CI 15.48–16.54) and 7.27 days (95% CI 6.59–8.24). Mean duration of illness was 26.66 days (95% …

Mapping Geographical Inequalities In Access To Drinking Water And Sanitation Facilities In Low-Income And Middle-Income Countries, 2000–17, Aniruddha Deshpande, Robert C. Reiner Jr, Veincent Christian F. Pepito, Arianna Maever L. Amit, Local Burden Of Disease Wash Collaborators, 665 Co-Authors

Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health Publications

Background

Universal access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities is an essential human right, recognised in the Sustainable Development Goals as crucial for preventing disease and improving human wellbeing. Comprehensive, high-resolution estimates are important to inform progress towards achieving this goal. We aimed to produce high-resolution geospatial estimates of access to drinking water and sanitation facilities.

Methods

We used a Bayesian geostatistical model and data from 600 sources across more than 88 low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) to estimate access to drinking water and sanitation facilities on continuous continent-wide surfaces from 2000 to 2017, and aggregated results to policy-relevant …

Analyses Of The Expression, Immunohistochemical Properties And Serodiagnostic Potential Of Schistosoma Japonicum Peroxiredoxin-4, Minh-Anh Dang-Trinh, Jose Ma. M. Angeles, Kharleezelle J. Moendeg, Adrian Miki C. Macalanda, Thu-Thuy Nguyen, Luna Higuchi, Shotaro Nakagun, Masahi Kirinoki, Yuichi Chigusa, Yasuyuki Goto, Shin-Ichiro Kawazu

Biology Faculty Publications

Background

Schistosoma japonicum, which inhabits the mesenteric vein of the mammalian hosts for about 20 to 30 years, is subjected to the oxidative stresses from the host defense mechanism during their intra-mammalian stages. To counteract this host immune attack, the parasite utilizes their antioxidant system for survival inside the host. Peroxiredoxins (Prxs), thiol-specific antioxidant proteins, play an essential role for protecting the parasite against oxidative stress by reducing hydrogen peroxide to water. Only three types of 2-Cys Prxs have been previously characterized in S. japonicum whereas a fourth Prx has been identified for Schistosoma mansoni as Prx-4. A sequence …

Estimating Global Injuries Morbidity And Mortality: Methods And Data Used In The Global Burden Of Disease 2017 Study, Spencer L. James, Veincent Christian F. Pepito, 536 Co-Authors

Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health Publications

Background While there is a long history of measuring death and disability from injuries, modern research methods must account for the wide spectrum of disability that can occur in an injury, and must provide estimates with sufficient demographic, geographical and temporal detail to be useful for policy makers. The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2017 study used methods to provide highly detailed estimates of global injury burden that meet these criteria.

Methods In this study, we report and discuss the methods used in GBD 2017 for injury morbidity and mortality burden estimation. In summary, these methods included estimating cause-specific mortality …

Previous And Active Tuberculosis Increases Risk Of Death And Prolongs Recovery In Patients With Covid-19, Karla Therese L. Sy, Nel Jason L. Haw, Jhanna Uy

Health Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: There is a growing literature on the association of SARS-CoV-2 and other chronic conditions, such as noncommunicable diseases. However, little is known about the impact of coinfection with tuberculosis. We aimed to compare the risk of death and recovery, as well as time-to-death and time-to-recovery, in COVID-19 patients with and without tuberculosis.

Methods: We created a 4:1 propensity score matched sample of COVID-19 patients without and with tuberculosis, using COVID-19 surveillance data in the Philippines. We conducted a longitudinal cohort analysis of matched COVID-19 patients as of May 17, 2020, following them until June 15, 2020. The …

Mapping Geographical Inequalities In Oral Rehydration Therapy Coverage In Low-Income And Middle-Income Countries, 2000–17, Kirsten E. Wiens, Robert C. Reiner Jr, Arianna Maever L. Amit, Veincent Christian F. Pepito, Local Burden Of Disease Diarrhoea Collaborators, 702 Co-Authors

Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health Publications

Background

Oral rehydration solution (ORS) is a form of oral rehydration therapy (ORT) for diarrhoea that has the potential to drastically reduce child mortality; yet, according to UNICEF estimates, less than half of children younger than 5 years with diarrhoea in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) received ORS in 2016. A variety of recommended home fluids (RHF) exist as alternative forms of ORT; however, it is unclear whether RHF prevent child mortality. Previous studies have shown considerable variation between countries in ORS and RHF use, but subnational variation is unknown. This study aims to produce high-resolution geospatial estimates of relative …

The Network Structure Of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among Filipina Migrant Domestic Workers: Comorbidity With Depression, Melissa R. Garabiles, Chao K. Lao, Brian J. Hall

Psychology Department Faculty Publications

Background

Labour migrants are exposed to potentially traumatic events throughout the migration cycle, making them susceptible to developing mental disorders. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is often comorbid with depression. Comorbidity worsens the course of illness, prognosis, treatment response, and increases suicidal risk. Using network analysis, this study examined the structure of PTSD and depression in a sample of migrant domestic workers, an especially vulnerable community of labour migrants. This study sought to derive the central or most important symptoms, strongest edges or relationships among symptoms, and bridge symptoms between PTSD and depression.

Methods

Data were obtained from 1,375 Filipina domestic …

Experiences And Satisfaction Of High-Risk Mothers Who Gave Birth In Select Facilities In Legazpi City, Philippines, Maria Stephanie Fay S. Cagayan, Veincent Christian F. Pepito, Rita Mae Ang-Bon, Erlidia F. Llamas-Clark

Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health Publications

Among the interventions implemented to curb maternal mortality in the Philippines, service delivery networks (SDNs) have been one of the most important. However, due to their recent implementation, frameworks to assess the quality of care they provide have not yet been established. To address this need, we had formulated the Integrated Patient-Centered Health Service Framework and used it to explore the satisfaction of mothers who gave birth in select facilities Legazpi City Philippines. We conducted key-informant interviews with 14 mothers. We found out that they were satisfied with the quality of care during pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, and post-partum; however, the quality …

Consistency Of Ever Reported Risky And Sensitive Behaviors Among Early Adolescents In A Nationally Representative Longitudinal Study: Results From The First 2 Waves Of The Longitudinal Cohort Study Of The Filipino Child, 2016 To 2018, Nel Jason L. Haw

Health Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: An ongoing cohort study on adolescents in the Philippines presents a unique opportunity to update current literature by measuring the level of reporting consistency on these behaviors and determine predictors of reporting inconsistency.

Methods: This study was a secondary analysis of the first 2 waves of the Longitudinal Cohort Study on the Filipino Child (LCSFC), a nationally representative cohort of Filipino adolescents throughout the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) implementation period, that is, age 10 in 2015 until age 24 in 2030, to measure the impact of SDG-oriented policies on the country’s future economic and health outcomes. This …

Mapping Geographical Inequalities In Childhood Diarrhoeal Morbidity And Mortality In Low-Income And Middle-Income Countries, 2000–17: Analysis For The Global Burden Of Disease Study 2017, Robert C. Reiner Jr, Veincent Christian F. Pepito, Local Burden Of Disease Diarrhoea Collaborators, 628 Co-Authors

Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health Publications

Background

Methods

Global Injury Morbidity And Mortality From 1990 To 2017: Results From The Global Burden Of Disease Study 2017, Spencer L. James, Veincent Christian F. Pepito, Global Burden Of Disease Collaborators, 595 Co-Authors

Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health Publications

Background
Past research in population health trends has shown that injuries form a substantial burden of population health loss. Regular updates to injury burden assessments are critical. We report Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2017 Study estimates on morbidity and mortality for all injuries.

Methods
We reviewed results for injuries from the GBD 2017 study. GBD 2017 measured injury-specific mortality and years of life lost (YLLs) using the Cause of Death Ensemble model. To measure non-fatal injuries, GBD 2017 modelled injury-specific incidence and converted this to prevalence and years lived with disability (YLDs). YLLs and YLDs were summed to calculate …

Effect Of Mindfulness On Empathy And Self-Compassion: An Adapted Mbct Program On Filipino College Students, Reginald Paul R. Centeno, Karina Therese G. Fernandez

Psychology Department Faculty Publications

Attending college is meaningful for many young adults. This period is marked by physical, emotional, and psychological changes that can have both positive and negative effects on college students. The last two decades have seen an alarming increase in the number of college students who suffer from mental health conditions, such as depression, suicide, anxiety, and alcohol abuse. It is recommended that actions to support the students’ wellbeing must be creative and evidence-based. Research suggests that a mindfulness-based intervention may be an effective strategy to address mental health conditions among college students. This study was done to examine the efficacy …

Service-Learning As Global Citizenship Education: Acting Locally On Global Challenges And Concerns, Genejane M. Adarlo

Health Sciences Faculty Publications

Service-learning is a method of teaching that is increasingly used in higher education. Studies are few though on how local placements in service-learning can bring about global citizenship and promote social justice. Hence, this study used multi-sited ethnography to examine the teaching-learning process of service-learning to better understand the construction of civic identity and sense of agency among students when this method of teaching was approached within the larger context of social justice. Study participants included students taking part in service-learning efforts for literacy and maternal health from Miriam College and Ateneo de Manila University, respectively. Data were gathered and …

Addressing The Covid-19 Nutrition Crisis In Vulnerable Communities: Applying A Primary Care Perspective, Madeline Mae A. Ong, Ronnah Marie Ong, Gladys Kaye Reyes, Lourdes S. Tanchanco

Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health Publications

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and subsequent public health interventions have disrupted food systems all over the world. In the Philippines, where stringent lockdown rules have been implemented, households living in poverty have had to rely largely on food aid in the form of food packs distributed by local governments and private donors. An evaluation of the commonly distributed food items reveals a diet that addresses acute hunger but does not contain sufficient nutrients to promote and maintain health. Such a diet puts low-income households at a greater risk of acute and chronic disease. The negative health impact of commonly …

Physician Empathy In Public And Private Internal Medicine Residency Training Programs In Pasig City, Rafael Carlos C. Aniceto, Dave Ryan A. Dela Cruz, Mary Stephanie M. Dofitas, Kenneth Brian M. Fernando, Melody Hope L. Lee Yu, Joseph Anthony Lachica

Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health Publications

Research Question:
What are the levels of patient-perceived and self-assessed physician empathy among internal medicine (IM) residents in two tertiary hospitals in Pasig City? Is there a significant difference in patient-perceived and self-assessed physician empathy levels between public and private tertiary hospitals?

Background:
Empathy is important because it has been speculated to have a positive effect on patient outcomes; it is a skill that can be learned and developed.

Objectives:
This study obtained quantitative measurements of patient-perceived and self-assessed physician empathy. Empathy levels between public and private tertiary hospitals were compared.

General Study Design:
This study utilized a quantitative cross-sectional …

Factors Affecting Vaccine Hesitancy Among Families With Children 2 Years Old And Younger In Two Urban Communities In Manila, Philippines, Julius Migriño Jr, Billy Gayados, Karen Rachel Joyc Birol, Lorelie De Jesus, Christopher Willis Lopez, Winona Colleen Mercado, Jan-Mark Caezar Tolosa, Joeylyn Torreda, Glaze Tulagan

Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health Publications

Objective: The study aimed to determine the factors that influence vaccine hesitancy among parents and caregivers of children 2 years old and younger in selected urban communities in Manila, Philippines.

Methodology: The study used a cross-sectional study design with a modified questionnaire adapted from the SAGE Working Group on Vaccine Hesitancy. Self-administered surveys were conducted in two highly urbanized barangays (smallest administrative divisions) in Manila, Philippines.

Results: The survey was completed by 110 respondents, comprised mostly of 20–39-year-old mothers. Most respondents (95.5%) believed that vaccines are protective however vaccine hesitancy rates among the respondents reached 36.4%.
Respondents who believed in …

Anaphylaxis Diagnosis And Management In The Emergency Department Of A Tertiary Hospital In The Philippines, Michelle Joy De Vera, Iris Conela Tagaro

Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health Publications

Background:
In the Emergency Department (ED), diagnosis and management of anaphylaxis are challenging with at least 50% of anaphylaxis episodes misdiagnosed when the diagnostic criteria of current guidelines are not used.

Objective:
Objective of our study was to assess anaphylaxis diagnosis and management in patients presenting to the ED.

Methods:
Retrospective chart review conducted on patients presenting to The Medical City Hospital ED, the Philippines from 2013–2015 was done. Cases were identified based on International Statistical Classification of Diseases, 10th revision coding for either anaphylaxis or other allergic related diagnosis. Cases fitting the definition of anaphylaxis as identified by the …

Recapitulating The Bayesian Framework For Neurosurgical Outpatient Care And A Cost-Benefit Analysis Of Telemedicine For Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Patients In The Philippines During The Pandemic, Kevin Paul Ferraris, Jared Paul Golidtum, Brian Karlo W. Zuñiga, Maria C G Bautista, Jose Carlos Alcazaren, Kenny Seng, Joseph Erroll Navarro

Graduate School of Business Publications

Objective: In the Philippines during recent months, a neurosurgical center that caters primarily to socioeconomically disadvantaged patients has encountered unprecedented changes in practice patterns brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, the usual task of outpatient care has shifted to the telemedicine format, bringing along all of its attendant advantages and gargantuan challenges. The authors sought to determine the responsiveness of this telemedicine setup to the needs of their disadvantaged patients and explored the application of Bayesian inference to enhance the use of teleconsultation in daily clinical decision-making. Methods: The authors used the following methods to assess the telemedicine …

Connecting Communities To Primary Care: A Qualitative Study On The Roles, Motivations And Lived Experiences Of Community Health Workers In The Philippines, Eunice Mallari, Gideon Lasco, Don Jervis Sayman, Arianna Maever L. Amit, Dina Balabanova, Martin Mckee, Jhaki Mendoza, Lia M. Palileo-Villanueva, Alicia Renedo, Maureen L. Seguin, Benjamin Palafox

Development Studies Faculty Publications

Background

Community health workers (CHWs) are an important cadre of the primary health care (PHC) workforce in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The Philippines was an early adopter of the CHW model for the delivery of PHC, launching the Barangay (village) Health Worker (BHW) programme in the early 1980s, yet little is known about the factors that motivate and sustain BHWs’ largely voluntary involvement. This study aims to address this gap by examining the lived experiences and roles of BHWs in urban and rural sites in the Philippines.

Methods

This cross-sectional qualitative study draws on 23 semi-structured interviews held …

The Chemical Lives Of Young Filipinos, Gideon Lasco

Development Studies Faculty Publications

Many young Filipinos are using a wide array of ‘chemicals’ that structure, and are structured by, their everyday lives. These chemicals - cosmetics, supplements, narcotics, beverages - range from local to foreign, cheap to expensive, licit to illicit; orally ingested to topically applied, and are used for different reasons in a variety of contexts. This chapter analyzes and seeks to make sense of the use of chemicals by young Filipinos.

Nasa Dugo (‘It’S In The Blood’): Lay Conceptions Of Hypertension In The Philippines, Gideon Lasco, Jhaki Mendoza, Alicia Renedo, Maureen L. Seguin, Benjamin Palafox, Lia M. Palileo-Villanueva, Arianna Maever L. Amit, Antonio L. Dans, Dina Balabanova, Martin Mckee

Development Studies Faculty Publications

Introduction: Understanding explanatory models is important for hypertension, a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke. This article aims to determine what adult patients with hypertension in the Philippines attribute their condition to, how these views might be explained and what the implications are for hypertension management. Methods: This is a qualitative study drawing on 71 semistructured interviews (40 initial and 31 follow-up) and four focus group discussions with patients diagnosed with hypertension. The setting was urban and rural low-income communities in the Philippines. Results: Four prominent perceived causes were identified—genetics, heat, stress and diet—for what patients refer to …