Men are primarily responsible for the transmission of HIV because of their participation in risk-taking activities such as unsafe sex (i.e. homosexual and/or heterosexual) and drug injections. Men, particularly men having sex with other males, were identified by the DOH-HIV Serologic Surveillance as one of the subpopulations with the highest risk of acquiring HIV. This can be attributed to their behavior towards safe sex, masculinity and their partner. The main objective of this study was to conduct a formative and qualitative assessment on HIV and AIDS among MSM (men who have sex with other males) in the Philippines by identifying the constructions of their sexual identities and their sexual behaviors and risks using the following themes: social mobility; and, health seeking behaviors. Multiple methods have been utilized in this study such as environmental scoping, key informant interviews and focus group discussion sessions in four selected sites in the Philippines. A Delphi technique was also used to solicit opinion of experts in the field of medical, allied medical and social sciences. Results of this study showed that MSM is a vulnerable and susceptible sub-population group to STI, HIV and AIDS due to the complexities of understanding their own sexualities, the gap between their actual and ideal health seeking behaviors and various sexual experiences that brought about the dynamics of sexual proclivities. The study recommends a strong programmatic design for intervention among MSM to become positive agents of change in STI, HIV and AIDS education.

Human ; Male ; Heterosexuality ; Unsafe Sex ; Safe Sex ; Masculinity ; Homosexuality, Male ; Population Groups ; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; Philippines ; Sexual Behavior ; Sexual Partners ; Sexual And Gender Minorities

BACKGROUD

In 1995, RA 7883 was enacted stating the incentives and benefits which can be provided for BHWs. In the advent of the Universal Health Care, the role of the BHWs will be crucial more than ever and to ensure the sustainability of the program is an urgent concern. There is a need to identify the hindrances in the provision of incentives and benefits for the BHWs in coming up with recommendations on how to improve it.

METHODOLOGY

Focus group discussions on selected BHWs and key informant interviews on policy makers and implementors were conducted to assess the reinforcing and hindering factors on the provision of incentives and benefits for the BHWs.

RESULT

The report outlines key factors affecting BHWs in Oriental Mindoro. While the BHW organization has potential to offer incentives, it needs stronger oversight from the Local Government Unit (LGU) to be effective. NGOs, provide crucial funding for training BHWs in remote areas. Political interference in appointing BHWs, with frequent changes in leadership, disrupts the program's stability. Training opportunities are limited by a lack of funding, leaving many BHWs undertrained. Additionally, local ordinances that offer benefits to BHWs often fail due to unclear policies, changing local leadership, and insufficient budgets.

CONCLUSION

The BHW program continues to face persistent challenges in the provision of incentives and benefits, largely due to the lack of clear, comprehensive, and enforceable policies and guidelines.

Human ; Health Services Needs And Demand

The World Health Organization (WHO) enjoins its member states to harness the potential contribution of Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) through its integration into national health systems [1]. Over the years, the demand for TCIM has significantly increased, providing a large part of health care services for the majority of the population, especially those in developing countries. Known as the Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act (TAMA) of 1997, RA8423 was enacted to improve the quality and delivery of health care services to Filipinos through the development and integration of TCIM into the national health care delivery system; however, several identified issues hinder the attainment of the objectives of the law [2]. In contrast, three countries have shown great progress in establishing systems, standards, and guidelines in improving the quality, safety, and efficacy of traditional products, practices, and practitioners [5-24]. The study used the interpretive/constructivist epistemological perspective first to explore the health policy issues of the TAMA utilizing the policy analysis triangle by Walt and Gilson in 1994 [3]. The themes which emerged from the review were used to identify and describe the models, facilitators, and barriers to the integration of traditional medicine into the national health systems in China, India, and Thailand. Multiple realities, descriptions, and experiences of populations were assessed through meta-synthesis. Finally, in the in-depth interviews, the results of the meta-synthesis were laid out to the participants to draw out policy ideas and strategies and determine which can be applied in the Philippine setting. The themes regulation, financing, country contextualization and stakeholder involvement, medical pluralism, and research were the identified gaps of the TAMAand were used as basis in looking into the models, facilitators, and barriers to the TCIM integration in China, India, and Thailand. The findings from the meta-synthesis guided the in-depth interviews which looked into its application to the Philippine setting.

Integrative Medicine