Abstract 12773: Sources of Health Information and Health-Seeking Patterns of Filipinos in Rural Communities in the Philippines

Abstract

Background: Rural healthcare delivery and access have various obstacles due to limited infrastructure for health promotion, limited health information sources, reliance on medical advice from multiple sources, and a lack of skilled rural healthcare practitioners. The disparity in access to healthcare is ultimately why healthcare in rural communities is inadequate. Aims: This cross-sectional study describes sources of health information and health-seeking behaviors (e.g., type of healthcare provider, response to illness) of adults (aged ≥ 18) living in rural, largely underserved communities in the Philippines. Methods: Participants completed a survey assessing health information sources and health-seeking habits. Descriptive statistics and χ 2 -tests were used to compare age groups (young vs. old 60]) and sex. Results: Surveys were completed by 1203 persons (65% female, age 50 ±18 years). The preferred source of health information was friends and family (57%), followed by social media (28%) and healthcare providers (15%). Participants said they sought healthcare largely from physicians (60%), herbalists (12%), nurses (5%), and quack doctors (5%) or a combination of providers (12%). When they were ill, the majority (70%) visited a healthcare provider, while 48%, 39%, and 30% self-medicate, sought advice from a rural health clinic, or pray, respectively. There were no variations in the sources of information, care provider preferences, or illness response between the sexes. Younger persons were more inclined to seek health information on social media and from a physician. By contrast, older persons were more likely to seek advice from friends and relatives and contact a herbalist or quack physician. Conclusions: Our results highlight the need for well-structured programs and campaigns to address the population's demands understandably. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of enhancing the quality of information available to rural communities and integrating friends and relatives, social media, and healthcare providers to provide evidence-based health information. Finally, more research is required to identify why so many people sought medical advice from friends and family members rather than licensed healthcare professionals.