Sexual Beliefs and Reproductive Health of Indigenous Filipinos: the Higaonon of Bukidnon and the Ata Manobo of Davao

The indigenous peoples (IP) of the Philippines face great disadvantage in terms of social and health services, particularly in reproductive health (RH). The Higaonon community of Bukidnon and Ata-Manobo of Davao reflect this disparity. A participatory action research guided by grounded theory, postmodern and feminist frameworks validated that there is lack of awareness and understanding of RH concepts in the two IP communities. Unique traditional practices for contraception and sexual beliefs across generations have been described. Amid the changing social milieu, some traditional contraceptive practices and sexual traditions are now generally unaccepted in the communities. Misconceptions on family planning modalities and sexual abuse by husbands were reported to interfere with sustainability of RH programs implemented by both local government and nongovernmental groups. These conditions reflect the two IP communities‟ paternal culture and the men‟s and community leaders‟ desire to have big families—compensation to the perceived insidious extinction of their culture, tradition and history.