Health perception and practices of mothers regarding management of folk illnesses (usog, kulam and bati) in selected municipalities of Cavite

The study utilized the descriptive method non-experimental type of research. The total population in study was 80 mothers, ages 26 years old and below to 50 years old and above, and drawn using purposive sampling technique. The researchers formulated the questionnaire used, which consisted of three (3) sections such as: a) demographic data, b) health perceptions, and c) practices regarding management of folk illnesses. The statistical treatments used for data analysis were frequency, mean, standard deviation, f-test, t-test and Pearson’s r. The following conclusions were drawn: 1) Majority of the respondents were 39 to 49 years old, Catholic, had a monthly income of below P10,000, able to finish high school and lived with the presence of older person at home; 2) The level of health perceptions of mothers regarding management of folk illnesses (usog, kulam and bati) varied from good to very good; 3) The level of health practices of mothers regarding management of folk illnesses (usog, kulam and bati) ranged from practiced to a lesser extent to practiced to a moderate extent; 4) The health perceptions of mothers regarding management of folk illnesses were the same when they were grouped according to presence of older person at home; 5) The health practices of mothers regarding management of folk illnesses were different when they were grouped according to age, religion, socio-economic status, educational background, presence of older person at home and geographical location; 6) Health perceptions are significantly related to the health practices of mothers regarding management of folk illnesses (usog, kulam and bati) in selected municipalities of Cavite