Health Factors & Disease
Environmental & nutritional factors that impact health in the Philippines
Water pollution in a river in the Philippines.
Air pollution in Metro Manila, the capital of the Philippines.
Environmental Factors
Clean air and adequate water supply, safe use and disposal of chemicals, and stable climates, are physical, chemical, and biological environmental factors that have the potential to directly affect the health of a population. Environmental factors contribute to approximately eight percent of the global burden of disease, and the risks are greatest among poor women and children (Skolnik, 2016). The Philippines has a high poverty rate, with approximately 40%, or about 100 million, of the urban population of the Philippines living in slums, and more than 40% of Filipinos living on less than $2 a day (Asian Century Institute, 2014).
Common environmental factors that affect the health of Filipinos in the Philippines, include poor water sanitation and hygiene. In the Philippines, water pollution and poor sanitation and hygiene contribute to approximately 6,000 deaths, and 17% of the reported disease cases in the country (World Bank, 2007). Diseases such as diarrhea, schistosomiasis, typhoid, cholera, and Hepatitis A are attributed to the lack of clean water and hygiene and sanitary practices in the Philippines (World Bank, 2007). The prevalence of disease is attributed to the gap in basic sanitation facilities in rural and urban households in the country. In the Philippines, only 59% of rural households have access to basic sanitation facilities, versus 80% in urban households (World Bank, 2007). For households with septic tank systems, many are poorly maintained or constructed, with less than 1% of septic tanks being properly maintained in the country (World Bank, 2007). In order to combat water pollution and to improve sanitation and hygiene measure, the government of the Philippines has implemented regular monitoring of bottled water and water refilling stations throughout the country by the Department of Health (World Bank, 2007). In addition, the government has implemented a Water Quality Management Program that monitors the water quality of surface and groundwater, in rivers, lakes, and bays in all regions of the Philippines (World Bank, 2007).
Another common environmental factor that affects the health of Filipinos in the Philippines, is air pollution. Approximately 5% of disease cases and 4% of reported deaths are attributed to poor air quality in the Philippines (World Bank, 2007). Acute and chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, and cardiovascular diseases are common illnesses caused by lack of clean air in urban and rural areas of the country. It is estimated that over 18 million people live in cities within the Philippines with dangerous levels of airborne particulate matter, which is caused by overpopulation and pollution from motor vehicles and factories within those cities (World Bank, 2007). Tobacco smoke, use of carbon monoxide for cooking and in households, contributes to the prevalence of indoor air pollution. Recent measures were implemented throughout the country to combat air pollution within the country. Coal-fired power plant closures and the phaseout of leaded gasoline usage throughout the country, has led to the improvement in air quality (World Bank, 2007). The Philippines government has also established hydrocarbon emission standards for motor vehicles nationwide (World Bank, 2007).
Nutritional Factors
A proper nutrition, from birth to adulthood, is important to maintain good health throughout a lifetime. Proper nutrition from birth has been proven to strengthen one’s immune system and improves a person’s ability to learn and be productive in society (Skolnik, 2016). The nutritional status of the Philippines is alarming, with the two common nutritional concerns being malnutrition and obesity.
Protein-energy malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies are the leading nutritional concerns for the citizens of the Philippines (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2010). Approximately 34% of children under the age of five in the Philippines are malnourished, which puts them at greater risk of mortality, cognitive deficits, and illness (Fanta Project, 2014). In addition, 45% of deaths for children under the age of five is attributed to malnutrition (Fanta Project, 2014). The typical diets of Filipinos were found to be inadequate for energy and nutrients, therefore the body utilizes protein as an energy source, causing protein-energy malnutrition (FAO, 2010). With the high incidence of poverty in the Philippines, many Filipinos are unable to afford food and basic needs. It is estimated that approximately 28 million Filipinos are unable to afford nutritious food for their families (FAO, 2010). Factors such as population displacement due to climate change or natural disaster-prone areas of the country, food price increases, food insecurity, and contaminated water supply, contribute to the lack of nutrition in the country (Fanta Project, 2014).
In addition to malnourishment, obesity and overweight is a growing nutritional concern in the Philippines. Overweight and obesity is a growing concern for citizens of all ages, but tends to affect older women and children more often, which contributes to the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in the country (FAO, 2010). Approximately 27% of women and 4.8% of children under the age of five are considered overweight or obese (Fanta Project, 2014).
In an effort to improve the nutritional status of the country, the Philippines government has implemented the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition. The Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition is a joint effort with national government agencies and local government units, that provides health activities and programs in an effort to spread evidence-based nutrition-specific interventions and actions to communities nationwide (Fanta Project, 2014). Some program highlights aim to promote breastfeeding, complementary feeding, technical assistance and support for water and sanitation, providing technical assistance in nutrition, and promote nutrition service delivery to communities.
Research Article: Food Sources and Nutrient Intakes of Filipino Working Adults
The research study I found was published in the journal Nutrients in April 2020 and was conducted by researchers Imelda Angeles-Agdeppa and Ma. Rosel S. Custodio. A research study was conducted on 1,264 working Filipino adults, from the age of 19 to 59 years old, that held different occupations in different job sectors. Participants were asked to record the types and frequency of foods they consumed in a two-day period, and then asked to fill out a global physical assessment questionnaire by the World Health Organization. Based on the dietary information provided by the participants, the study found that the consumption of fats, proteins, and salt were excessively high, and the consumption of fruits and vegetables were relatively low. In addition, nutrients such as iron, folate, riboflavin, calcium, vitamin C, and thiamin were highly inadequate in their diets. The findings of the study concluded that the energy and nutrient intakes of working Filipino adults was sub-optimal and that their diets consisted of few nutrient-dense foods, thus contributing to the growing problem of malnutrition in the country. This research study proves that the Philippines government’s implementation of and the continued support of nationwide nutrition-based health programs is important to the citizens of the Philippines in order to improve the country’s overall health status.
References
Angeles-Agdeppa, I., Custodio, M. (2020, April). Food sources and nutrient intakes of Filipino working adults. Nutrients, 12(4), 1009. doi:10.3390/nu12041009
Asian Century Institute. (2014). Impact of disease on the Philippines’ development. Retrieved from https://asiancenturyinstitute.com/development/390-impact-of-disease-on-the-philippines-development
Fanta Project. (2014, April). Philippines. https://www.fantaproject.org/sites/default/files/download/Philippines-Nutrition-Profile-Apr2014.pdf
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). (2010). Philippines: Nutrition country profiles. Nutrition and consumer protection. http://www.fao.org/ag/agn/nutrition/phl_en.stm#:~:text=Malnutrition%20in%20the%20Philippines%20is,consequent%20impact%20on%20nutritional%20status.
Skolnik, R. (2016). Global health 101 (3rd ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
World Bank. (2007, June). Philippines environment monitor: Environmental health. http://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/ar/588621468333585945/pdf/408560PH0Environ0Monitor0200601PUBLIC1.pdf