Health seeking behaviour of indigenous people living in Urban areas in Surigao City, Philippines

This study was conducted to determine and provide documentation on the ethnomedicinal plants and health-seeking behavior of the members of Mamanwa tribe who settled in Surigao City. A combination of purposive sampling and focus group discussion approach to thirty-seven (37) participants was done to gather the data needed. Twenty-seven medicinal plants belonging to 20 families dominated by family Lamiaceae and Asteraceae were identified. The majority of these plants are cultivated and available at the backyard of the respective houses of the participants. The leaves are the parts of the plant that is commonly used that are taken orally. More than half of the participants declared that the juice of these identified plants is usually used for medicine. There are about 22 identified illnesses that can be treated from these medicinal plants. This study demonstrates that there are different kinds of medicinal plants that can treat common illnesses that are present within Surigao City. The knowledge and practices on how to use them plays a significant role in sustaining their health especially now that they are settling in urban areas. Further, the support from the local government is also crucial for the conservation and sustainability of these medicinal plants. published by the Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences | JBES