1. No category

DEMOGRAPHIC AND HEALTH DATA
 For Demographic information Filipinos are included in the Asian American/Pacific
Islander category and are considered the second largest Asian American group in the
United States. Even though California, New York, Hawaii have the largest Asian
American population, Florida is the eighth highest with 2.1% according to
the department of health.
 Alachua County in which Gainesville is its largest city has an Asia American population of
4.2 % (Alachua County Department of Community Support Services, 2005). This is
double the rate for the state. This may be attributed to the University of Florida and the
large amount of Filipino nursing families (2-4 hundred) that was brought to the area by
Shands Hospital @ UF between 2001-2005 (Gala Beach, Employment Director, Shands
at UF, Personal communication, June 25, 2011).
HHS
5: HHS, Personal Conversations
FILIPINOS IN GAINESVILLE
 Because the Asian American/Pacific Islander community is so small, not
much is know on when they came to Gainesville and what percentage is
Filipino. According to Aragon the earlier Filipinos came to Gainesville as
spouses of veterans. Mrs. Aragon’s mother came to Gainesville almost 30
years ago as the wife of a navy officer who was stationed in the
Philippines.
Personal Conversations
COMMUNITY RESOURCES AVAILABLE
PAGASA and the UFFSA have a Barrio Fiesta once a year where
students perform the traditional folk dances of the Philippines
one of which is “Tinikung
PAGASA
 PAGASA was established in
1994 and means “hope”
 the acronym is Pilipino
American Association of
Gainesville and Surrounding
Areas.
 They have a social/ get
together monthly.
6: PAGASA, 7: UFFSA, Personal Conversations
UFFSA
 the Filipino Student
Association at the University
of Florida
LANGUAGE AND CULTURE
•
In the Philippines more than 100 dialects are spoken but Filipino or
Tagalog is the national language, and English is the second official
language. English is used to conduct internal and global business and
legal transactions. Among Filipino Americans, a combination of
English/Tagalog or “Tag-Lish” a hybrid language, is spoken by many and
used in health education.
•
Filipinos are not confrontational they will walk away from an argument;
they speak politely and in a gentle tone, and avoid any conflict their
communication is highly contextual.
•
Non verbal communication is very important to Filipinos and they are
comfortable with silence, do not always maintain eye contact and often
learn best if shown a task then asked to demonstrate.
A: Purnell,
RELIGION AND FAMILY BELIEFS
•
The majority of the Filipino population is catholic. However, there are very
superstitious and still believe in some of the “old ways”
•
Fathers are the head of the families and the providers, whereas mothers are
considered soft and calm who take care of the domestic needs and promote the
development of ones emotions and values
•
Multigenerational households are accepted arrangements where respect and love for
parents and older family members are taught and expected of the children,
•
An important belief to be aware of as a healthcare worker is that they believe in family
centered decision making, which contributes to the beliefs that a patient should not
be informed of a terminal illness, preferring to protect them from despair and allowing
them to maintain hope.
•
Dating at an early age is discouraged and sex education or sex is not openly
discussed. It is desired that women remain chaste until marriage and pregnancy out
of wedlock is frowned upon and shames the family.
A: Purnell, Personal Conversation
FILIPINO HEALTH ISSUES
•
 Filipino women have the life expectancy 81.5
years in comparison to that of Asian American
women with that of 85.8 years the highest of
any other ethnic group in the U.S.
•
•
There are still many things that influence the
health of many Filipinos like lack of medical
care/doctor visits, language/cultural barriers
as well as a lack of insurance.
Many conditions such as terminal illness,
mental illness, unwanted pregnancies,
HIV/AIDS as well as criminal offenses and
divorce are not shared with outsiders unless
trust has been developed.
•
•
Asian American/Pacific Islander’s are
most at risk for the following health
conditions: cancer, heart disease, stroke,
unintentional injuries (accidents), and
diabetes.
There is a high prevalence rate also have
a high prevalence of the following
conditions and risk factors: chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease, hepatitis
B, HIV/AIDS, smoking, tuberculosis, and
liver disease.
TB is 24 times more common in Asians
than in Whites and SIDS is the fourth
leading cause of infant mortality
5: HHS, CDC, A: Purnell
HEALTH CARE PRACTICES
•
Filipinos do not seek medical attention usually until an illness is advance, often
they accept minor illnesses stoically and as a natural imbalance that will run its
course naturally and disappear.
•
Often times the decision to seek medical care is that of a family decision. This
includes the nuclear and extended family.
•
Pain is often not complained about is is viewed as part of living an honorable life
and a opportunity to reach a fuller spiritual life, so as a healthcare worker offer
and encourage pain medication educating to the advantages.
•
They place a high value on cleanliness, and often times take aromatic baths for
both pleasure and to restore balance. It is believed that a bad body odor is bad
for the heath and to be unkempt and disorderly is shameless.
•
Western medicine is acceptable and familiar but folk medicine/healers are also
consulted, but are not as common here in the united states. Utilizing a primary
care physician or a linguistically and ethnically congruent practitioner will often
improve the Filipinos acceptance and learning .
A: Purnell
Both the birth and death are significant and moments for the Filipino family. But a
loved one’s death is much more ritualistic and extended.
Births
 Pregnancy is a family and community
affair. Everyone gets involved
especially grand parents. Fathers are
involved in the baby showers and
birthing if they want to be. There is no
exclusion. Children are celebrated and
everything is centered on the children.
The christening is a very big
celebration in the Filipino culture, this
usually occurs before the first birth
Deaths
 After a loved one dies for most Filipinos there is
three stages of grieving. The first nine days then
the 40 day followed by a one year mourning
period.
 First stage is the nine-day novena (prayer) is held
every evening after the Holy Mass.
 Second celebration is the 40 day mourning
period (soul goes to heaven after 40 days )
 Last is the one year mourning often the Filipino
culture holds that the “longer the grief, the
better.” so for most frequently a year and often
beyond that, men will wear a black ribbon and
women will dress in black to indicate they are in
mourning .
 Then on the first anniversary a celebration mass
is held.
 rituals surrounding death as very “showy.”
Women are expected to grieve very openly -publicly sobbing, swooning, fainting, and/or
hugging the casket of the dead person -- while
men are typically more reserved considered
disrespectful to show emotions that are anything
but “somber and depressed.”
STRENGTHS OF THE FILIPINO CULTURE
•
•
Most Filipino families function within an
extended family structure with strong
emphasis on interpersonal dynamics,
group harmony and loyalty, respect for
elders and authority, and maintenance of a
natural support system by a complex
process of building
interdependent/dependent relationships
and family roles
Caring for aging relatives is integrated over
time into these relationships, and
interdependence is deeply embedded in
the culture. Caring for others is a complex
skill that is learned throughout
Pakikipagkapwa-Tao which is regard for
others, it is a word Filipinos live by. They
regard others with dignity and respect,
and deal with them as fellow human
beings. Pakikipagkapwa-tao is
manifested in a basic sense of justice
and fairness, and in concern for others. It
is demonstrated in the Filipino's ability to
empathize with others, in helpfulness
and generosity in times of need.
Pakikipagkapwa-tao results in
camaraderie and a feeling of closeness
one to another
1:crvp, personal discussion.
STRUGGLES FILIPINOS ENCOUNTER
• One of the Filipino's greatest strengths is also their weakness, they are
family focused and centered but this can be their flaw in extremes.
Excessive concern for the family creates an in-group to which the Filipino is
fiercely loyal, to the detriment of concern for the larger community or the
common good.
• Their lack of discipline incorporates several related qualities for example
their casual and relaxed attitude towards time and space which displays
itself in lack of precision and compulsiveness, in poor time management
and procrastination.
• The Filipino's are also generally passive and lacking in initiative. They will
wait to be told what has to be done.
1: crvp, Personal Conversation
REFERENCES
A. Purnell, L. D. (2009). Guide to culturally competent
healthcare (second ed., pp. 128-142). Philadelphia,
PA: F.A Davis.
Find cdc website source
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Multiple conversations with Filipino
Gainesville community members:
Pamela Aragon, Agnes E, and Ruth
Tuazon.
http://www.crvp.org/book/Series03/III-7/chapter_iv.htm
http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Philippine_Culture
http://www.everyculture.com/No-Sa/The-Philippines.html
http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/templates/browse.aspx?lvl=2&lvlID=53
http://www.pagasagainesville.org/home2011/index.php
http://www.uffsa.org/