Cultural Practices Related to the Prevalence of Non-Communicable Diseases among Pregnant Women

The study determined the cultural practices related to the prevalence of non-communicable diseases among pregnant women in Baao, Camarines Sur. Specifically, it sought answers to the demographic profile of the respondents in terms of age, educational background, family monthly income, religion, number of pregnancies, age of gestation, and non-communicable diseases during pregnancy, the cultural practices related to the prevalence of non-communicable diseases along lifestyle practices, socio-economic background, environmental influences, and genetic predisposition, the significant relationship between the demographic profile of the respondents and these cultural practices, and the measures that could be proposed to address the cultural practices affecting the prevalence of non-communicable diseases among pregnant women.
The study utilized the descriptive-correlational method using a structured questionnaire checklist as the data-gathering instrument. The respondents of the study were 95 pregnant women with non-communicable diseases from 22 out of 30 barangays in Baao, Camarines Sur, using purposive sampling, while 2 barangays refused to participate. The cultural practices related to the prevalence of non-communicable diseases among pregnant women is highly practiced along socio-economic background (3.82), lifestyle practices (3.61), genetic predisposition (3.61), and environmental influences (3.58), indicating that most respondents actively adhere to protective, health-promoting behaviors rather than potentially risk-enhancing traditions, although some specific traditional beliefs and practices still persist.
The statistical tests revealed that age, educational background, and the type of non-communicable disease during pregnancy had a significant relationship with cultural practices along lifestyle, socio-economic background, environmental influences, and genetic predisposition, while family monthly income, religion, number of pregnancies, and age of gestation showed not significant relationship. Based on the identified gaps, the prenatal health education program “Ligtas na Pagbubuntis Pagunawa sa Paniniwala at Hindi Nakakahawang Sakit” was developed as a necessary and appropriate intervention to modify high-risk practices and strengthen protective behaviors related to non-communicable diseases among pregnant women.

cultural practices; non-communicable diseases; pregnant women

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