This study examined the prevalence of intimate partner violence (Intimate Partner Violence) and its associations with sexual agency among women and adolescent girls in the Philippines. Data came from the 2017 Philippines National Demographic and Health Survey (DHS), a nationally representative, cross-sectional survey of women and girls ages 15–49. Participants included 11,727 women and girls who reported having a current male partner. Survey measures included three indicators of Intimate Partner Violence (physical, sexual, emotional), ability to refuse sex, ability to insist on condom use, perception that a husband/boyfriend can be justified in hitting or beating his wife/girlfriend, and sociodemographic characteristics. Descriptive and multivariable statistical analyses were conducted, with survey weightings used to account for the complex survey design. Overall, 23.9% reported Intimate Partner Violence in their current partnership (10.1% physical violence, 3.4% sexual violence, 19.0% emotional violence), 11.2% believed a husband or partner could be justified in hitting or beating their wife, 10.5% reported being unable to refuse sex with their partner, and 20.4% were unable to ask their partner to use a condom. In multivariable analyses, experiences of sexual (OR .68; 95% CI .50, .92), physical (OR .83; 95% CI .68, 1.02), and emotional violence (OR .69; 95% CI .58, .81) were associated with lower adjusted odds of being able to ask a partner to use a condom. When placed in the same model, emotional violence had the strongest association with lower odds of negotiating condom use with partner (OR .70; 95% CI .57, .85). Perception that a husband/boyfriend can be justified in hitting or beating his wife/girlfriend was associated with lower ability to refuse sex and ask a partner to use a condom. Findings indicate a need for further investment in interventions to prevent Intimate Partner Violence and support the sexual health and agency of women and girls who have experienced Intimate Partner Violence in the Philippines.

Objective. A number of studies worldwide have shown that health literacy is vital in the improvement of health status of individuals as well as in the effective implementation of health programs. In the Philippines, however, data regarding the level of health literacy among Filipino adults are yet to be gathered. This study then aimed to describe the health literacy level and to determine the correlates of health literacy among Filipino adults aged 50 to 70 years old belonging to the lower socioeconomic class in a selected community. Methods. An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted, utilizing data from the study of Briones, M. et. al in 2015, among selected Filipino adults in a barangay in Pasig City. Results. Ninety-four percent of the study participants had problematic/inadequate health literacy level. The factors found to be statistically associated with having problematic / inadequate health literacy were having at most high school level education, and not being able to visit a medical doctor in the past 12 months. Nonetheless, being self-employed made an individual less likely to have a problematic/inadequate health literacy. Conclusions. There was a high proportion of individuals who had problematic/inadequate health literacy among 50 to 70 years old in the study area. Socio-economic characteristics such as educational attainment and healthcare access were shown to be associated with an individual’s level of health literacy. Despite the extensive health information available to the public, the level of health literacy still remained to be poor. This indicates that there is a need to evaluate if said information are easily accessed, understood, appraised and applied by individuals to make sound health decisions.

Underweight and overweight among under-5 children continue to persist in the island Province of Marinduque, Philippines. Local spatial cluster detection provides a spatial perspective in understanding this phenomenon, specifically in which areas the double burden of malnutrition occurs. Using data from a province-wide census conducted in 2014-2016, we aimed to identify spatial clusters of different forms of malnutrition in the province and determine its relative risk. Weight-for-age z score was used to categorize the malnourished children into severely underweight, moderately underweight, and overweight. We used the multinomial model of Kulldorff’s elliptical spatial scan statistic, adjusting for age and socioeconomic status. Four significant clusters across municipalities of Boac, Buenavista, Gasan, and Torrijos were found to have high risk of overweight and underweight simultaneously, indicating existence of double burden of malnutrition within these communities. These clusters should be targeted with tailored plans to respond to malnutrition, at the same time maximizing the resources and benefits.