Personal Hygiene Practices Among IPS Community in Panaytayan: An Assessment

Abstract

This research study provides an in-depth assessment of the personal hygiene practices prevalent among the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) community of Panaytayan, aiming to document, analyze, and understand their traditional and contemporary hygiene behaviors. Recognizing the gap in literature regarding the specific hygiene practices of IPs and the impact of socio-economic factors on these practices, this study employs a descriptive method of research. The primary objective is to catalog the range of personal hygiene practices, including bathing, oral care, handwashing, hair care, and clothing hygiene, within the Panaytayan community, and to explore the underlying cultural, environmental, and economic influences that shape these practices. The study concluded that personal hygiene practices are seldom practiced by the Hanunuo Mangyan of Panaytayan. The result may be due to some social, economic, cultural, financial, and knowledge barriers, such as water scarcity, inadequate sanitation, discrimination, poverty, and limited access to hygiene products,  education and services Thus, with the highlighted needs for each indicator reflected as results on the answered questionnaire, it is suggested that an extension activity should follow this research endeavor, which will focus on information dissemination on the importance of always practicing the personal hygiene practices and put more efforts on providing the community meaningful inputs that should change their mindset on the importance of being holistically healthy. The proposed extension program is entitled “Project BODY”: B-athe regularly, O-ral Hygiene, D-ress clean, and Y- clean your hands). The main objective of this initiative is to improve the personal hygiene practices of the Mangyan community residing in specific areas of Panaytayan, Mansalay.