BACKGROUND<p>The Ifontok people are an ethnolinguistic group in the Mountain Province of the Philippines, for whom constructing and occupying a new house symbolizes the fulfillment of personal aspirations and reflects cultural traditions and beliefs that shape community life, worldviews, and social behavior.p>OBJECTIVE<p>This study examined the house construction rituals of the Ifontok people and their influence on health beliefs, highlighting the interconnectedness of culture, environment, and well-being.p>METHODS<p>A qualitative ethnographic design was employed. Six participants were interviewed between February 2021 and June 2022 until data saturation was reached. Colaizzi’s seven-step method was used for the systematic analysis of cultural experiences.p>RESULTS<p>The Ifontok perform rituals before, during, and after house construction, as well as upon occupying a new home. Rooted in traditional beliefs, these rituals aim to ensure structural stability, invite prosperity, and safeguard holistic health. Beyond their symbolic function, the rituals serve as rites of passage that foster psychological reassurance, emotional resilience, and social cohesion. They frame health as a balance of physical, mental, and spiritual well-being, while adaptive strategies address challenges in sustaining these practices amid modern influences.p>CONCLUSION<p>Ifontok house construction rituals integrate practical building practices, spiritual beliefs, and communal welfare. They promote mindful living, psychological well-being, and environmental awareness, offering insights for educators and healthcare practitioners working with Indigenous communities.p>
Human ; Health ; Ceremonial Behavior ; Rituals ; Holistic Health

BACKGROUND<p>Medication safety is a global priority, yet in the Philippines, particularly in rural hospitals, it remains underexplored. Nurses are at the frontline of safeguarding patients, often working under resource constraints.p>OBJECTIVE<p>This study explored nurses' perspectives on medication safety in rural Philippine hospitals, while focusing on systemic barriers, emotional and ethical challenges, and strategies employed to sustain safe practice.p>METHODS<p>Aqualitative design was used that employed focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews (KIIs) with staff nurses in rural hospitals. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify themes and subthemes emerging from participants' experiences.p>RESULTS<p>Three themes emerged: (1) Building Responsibility and Skills (accountability, verification, documentation, and mentorship); (2) Keeping Patients Safe and Reducing Mistakes (protecting patient care, overcoming systemic barriers); and (3) Handling Emotions and Challenges in Giving Medicine (coping with guilt, moral distress, and reliance on teamwork). Findings revealed that nurses sustain safety through vigilance and accountability but are constrained by chronic understaffing, interruptions, moral distress, and limited training access.p>CONCLUSION<p>Medication safety in rural Philippine hospitals is shaped by nurses' competence, emotional resilience, and teamwork, but remained fragile without systemic supports. Implications included equitable workforce policies, supportive errorreporting cultures, and strengthened continuing professional development opportunities. Strengthening safety also required shifting from individual responsibility to organizational and system-level accountability.p>
Human ; Hospitals, Rural ; Nurses ; Patient Safety ; Philippines ; Qualitative Research

<p style="text-align: justify;" data-mce-style="text-align: justify;">Postpartum depression is a condition that is commonly experienced by postpartum women after childbirth. Determination and detection of factors influencing postpartum depression will help mothers explore evidence-based strategies for early prevention and treatment. A quantitative descriptive survey design was utilized in the study. Data was collected through stratified random sampling. The childbearing mothers in four selected communities of Bontoc, Mountain Province: upland, riverside, AlBaGo, and central Bontoc were the respondents of the study. Data gathered utilized a self-made questionnaire based on journals and research studies about postpartum depression. Results of the study showed that the respondents considered the impact on the extent of factors causing postpartum depression among child bearing mothers. There is a significant difference on the extent of factors influencing postpartum depression among child bearing mothers when grouped according to civil status but no significant difference when grouped according to age, educational attainment and employment status. The respondents ranked the suggested measures to prevent postpartum depression as: 1) psychological, 2) physical and;3) social. Promoting the mental health and well-being of mothers and families through implementation of an evidence-based strategy in the Municipal and Provincial health units can prevent or reduced Postpartum depression. Early interventions on postpartum depression promoted maternal recovery and strong foundations for postpartum mothers. This includes educating mothers, planning health education programs, focusing on early detection, and distributing behavioral change communications through flyers, brochures, and training materials.p>
Human ; Depression, Postpartum ; Depression