Description of Areca Nut Use in a Cordilleran Community

Ramona E. Abat, J.C. Pascual. University of the Philippines- Manila, Philippine General Hospital, Philippines

Background: In certain populations in South and East Asia, the use of areca nut is strongly interwoven into local art and craft, folklore, social customs, religious practices, and cultural rituals. Descriptive data about areca nut use in certain Asian countries have been described in published material. In the Cordilleran region, Philippines, areca nut is a commonly used and abused substance among adults and adolescents alike. To date, however, no published studies have been made describing areca nut use in Cordillera or on prevalence of use or medical effects of the areca fruit except for anecdotal reports and personal experiences.

Aims: This study aims to describe areca nut use in a Cordilleran community in terms of historical perspective, biopsychosociospiritual meanings of use, procurement of the substance for use in rituals, and biopsychosocial effects of the substance.

Design and setting: This is a qualitative ethnographic study conducted in a municipality of Ifugao in collaboration with the barangay health workers.

Participants: Constituents of a municipality in Ifugao who had been using areca nut for at least a year were interviewed in focus group discussions with 8 to 10 participants per group.

Results: Results of this study will provide the needed baseline data in the Philippines for future studies concerning the still increasing use of areca nut in Philippine tribal regions.