DESCRIPTION OF THE STUDY

INTRODUCTION
Our aim in conducting this study is to identify the needs of a community in order to provide services
appropriate to those needs. In addition to that, all the data and information that we had gathered from the
people in the community is established adequately to identify their needs and priorities in support of
planning decisions. It should take into account some of the cultural, economic and physical conditions that
make up the community. Our experience while in the community is really memorable for all of us.
Moreover, it serves as an eye opener for us nursing students that can provide us with excellent opportunities
to practice community health nursing, enhance our global perspective, and increase our cultural awareness
of vulnerable populations.
The vision is to create an environment which enables and empowers nurses, especially community public
health nurses, to provide comprehensive health and social care to individuals and populations within the
remit of their individual roles and particular cultural contexts in collaboration with relevant others to
achieve improved, effective public health for all.
Perceptions about the community, individual, population or group. In most cities of developing countries,
the poor have few or no opportunities to acquire a house in a conventional housing standards. Most housing
developments in urban areas are intended for middle-income or high-income groups. Housing created for
low-income families cannot meet the demand of the fast growing urban poor. Also, the houses provided are
often still too expensive for the income groups for which they are intended. As a consequence, the urban
poor in developing countries tend to live as tenants in overcrowded and dilapidated slums or as squatters in
spontaneously developed settlements erected without authorization from the Government and without
permission from the owners of the land. At present, millions of people, sometimes more than half of a
country's urban population, live as squatters on the city outskirts or on land within the city not used for
other purposes.
In the community we surveyed, some of the families had set up homes along the side of the local cemetery
often blocking the original entrances. Majority of the homes were properly owned with decent structures.
The homes were modest and the streets were clean. The small street that leads to the center of the
community was small and often filled with tricycles, children, women doing their laundry, people bathing
by the local free flow faucet, and the occasional car. The people were curious about our presence and often
asked us the purpose of our visit. When greeting individuals they were often accommodating and welcomed
our questions. The people of the community were friendly, talkative, curious and asked for medical help
and services.
Community health nursing is a field of nursing that is a blend of primary health care and nursing practice
with public health nursing. The community health nurse conducts a continuing and comprehensive practice
that is preventive, curative, and rehabilitative. The philosophy of care is based on the belief that care
directed to the individual, the family, and the group contributes to the health care of the population as a
whole. The community health nurse is not restricted to the care of a particular age or diagnostic group.
Participation of all consumers of health care is encouraged in the development of community activities that
contribute to the promotion of, education about, and maintenance of good health. These activities require
comprehensive health programs that pay special attention to social and ecological influences and specific
populations at risk. The selected community was Saliyan, Abucay in Balanga, Bataan. Our group was split
into two teams and we did a spot map of the community. According to our data gathered, the number of
population is 291 spot houses, and family surveyed was 258 families.
HISTORY OF SALIAN
Salian is a barangay of the philippine municipality Abucay in the province Bataan in Central Luzon which
is part of the Luzon group of islands. It is 119 kilometers from Manila or within 50-km radius from Manila
Bay. It is ideal for habitation, lowland rice cultivation and fish farming. The word Salian came from
Pampaguenos, which means bilihan or sari-sari store. The municipality Abucay with a population of
about 38,554 and its 9 barangays belong to the partly urban areas in the Philippines.
While some of the barangays developed modern urban structures, some others, especially those which are

seated in the outlying areas, remained rural. Sources of income among the people in Salian mainly comes
from agricultural products including rice, corn, root crops, vegetable and various kinds of fruits found in
the area. Other sources of income also includes transport services, carpentry, and construction labors.
People in Salian are usually friendly and warm-hearted. Their fiesta celebration is held in every 29 th of
April. Abucay is governed by Mayor Ana D. Santiago and Vice mayor Ma. Khristine G. Dela Fuente
together with the municipal councilors. The Barangay Captain of Salian is headed by Brgy. Captain Tomas
Baino.
Abucay is a third-class municipality in the province of Bataan, Philippines. The mainly
agricultural and fishing town is located on the eastern part of the Bataan Peninsula, along Manila Bay, with
a total land area of 7,972 hectares (19,700 acres). Its westernmost elevated section is located within the
Bataan National Park. The municipality is about 113 kilometres (70 mi) from Manila. It is accessible via
the Bataan Provincial Expressway, off Exit 25, or the parallel National Road in Bataan.
Abucay originated from "abu-kinaykay" meaning "digging the ashes or fire debris". A Spaniard arrived in
the town amid a big fire that destroyed properties. The natives were busy digging the debris with shovel
("kinaykay").
One of the oldest churches in the Philippines is St. Dominic de Guzman Parish Church. The first Abucay
Church which was established in 1587 and was administered by the Dominicans in 1588. The present
church was built sometime in the early 1600s, the exact year is still unknown. The Church was badly
damaged by the earthquake of September 16, 1852 and again by a fire in 1870. Father Jose Diego Pelaez
rebuilt the church. The church still houses the bells donated in 1839 and 1859. The five bells of the Abucay
Church were restored on January 17, 1978 by U.S. Naval Base Facility in Subic Bay, Zambales province
according to a historical marker in the church. The Parish of St. Dominic de Guzman has a population of
19,501 Catholics. Its patron saint is Saint Dominic de Guzman and the town's feast day is August 8. The
present parish priest is Msgr. Victor C. Ocampo succeeding Father Antonio Quintos in 2011. The church
belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Balanga under the Vicariate of St. Dominic de Guzman.