Antibiotic-related meanings, experiences and information sources of women in the economic margins of urban Manila
International Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare
ISSN: 2056-4902
Article publication date: 7 November 2018
Issue publication date: 21 February 2019
Abstract
Purpose
Drawing insights from the culture-centered approach (Dutta-Bergman, 2004; Dutta, 2007), the purpose of this paper is to explore the meanings of, experiences with, and information sources for antibiotics among at-risk yet understudied populations in urban and economic margins in the Global South.
Design/methodology/approach
Given the exploratory purpose of this paper, it used qualitative approach specifically focus group discussions with mothers, guardians and female senior citizens from Manila, Philippines.
Findings
Antibiotics had multiple meanings – from purposes and modes of acquisition to side-effects. Experiences with antibiotics were not only tied to financial difficulties, but also in administering antibiotics to children or wards and managing side-effects. Furthermore, medical doctors were the most accessed and preferred sources of antibiotics-related information.
Originality/value
To date, this paper is one of the few to argue that knowing the conditions into which antibiotics are situated in the Global South is critical for strengthening global public health campaigns and policies against antimicrobial resistance a and reducing global health inequity.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The author acknowledges the support of De La Salle University thru a New PhD Grant (03N 1TAY16-2TAY17). Likewise, the author is grateful to barangay officials, social development officers, mothers, guardians and senior citizens who organized and joined the FGDs for their time, trust and friendship.
Citation
Bernadas, J.M.A.C. (2019), "Antibiotic-related meanings, experiences and information sources of women in the economic margins of urban Manila", International Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare, Vol. 12 No. 1, pp. 3-15. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJHRH-06-2018-0039
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited