I.

INTRODUCTION

Malnutrition continues to be one of the most common health problems in many poor
communities in the Philippines. In Brgy. Mananga, Tabunok, Cebu, many families live in poverty
and struggle to meet their daily needs, especially food. Because of this, some children grow up
weak, underweight, and more prone to getting sick. They lack the proper nutrients needed for
their body to grow strong and healthy. This situation is not only a health concern but also affects
the children's performance in school and their future well-being.

As student nurses, we understand the importance of assessing the health status of families
in the community. We chose the P. family for this case study because their children showed
signs of malnutrition. Our goal is to learn more about their situation, identify the health problems
they are facing, and help them through education and care. We aim to promote better health by
working closely with the family, encouraging healthy habits, and connecting them with available
health services in their barangay.

Specifically, this study aims to:

 Collect the baseline information of the family, including age, sex, education, and source
of income.
 Identify the health problems present in the family, especially those related to
malnutrition.
 Assess the environmental, economic, and social factors that may affect the family’s
health.
 Determine if there are health threats, health deficits, or potential wellness conditions.
 Prioritize the family’s health problems based on urgency and impact.
 Create and implement a Family Nursing Care Plan to address the identified problems.
 Promote healthy habits and preventive practices to reduce the risk of illness.
 Encourage the family to take an active role in improving their health through simple and
practical steps.

There is really in need for the government, institutions, as well as us student nurses to focus
on how these poor voice out their concerns that can affect their lives. The ways and the means
that enable the poor to join and work towards better future are the focus of health and
development

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 II. BASELINE INFORMATION

NAME AGE SEX RELATIONSHIP RELIGION TRIBE EDUCATIONAL

ATTINMENT
Mr. P 42yo Male Father Roman Bisaya Elementary
graduate
Catholic
Mrs. P 39yo Female Mother Roman Bisaya Elementary
graduate
Catholic
Child 1 7yo Male Eldest Roman Bisaya Grade 1
Catholic
Child 2 5yo Female Second Roman Bisaya N/A
Catholic
Child 3 4yo Male Third Roman Bisaya N/A
Catholic

Address: Sitio. Mananga, Brgy. Tabunok 2, Talisay City, Cebu

Head of the family: Father

Source of income: Pedicab Driver (daily wage) and laundry service

Combined Income: PHP 3,000/month (approximate)

Behavior: The family was cooperative and hospitable enough during the course of assessment.

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 III. INITIAL DATA BASE

A. Family structure and Characteristics

According to them they can only eat three times a day. Sometimes there are inadequacy in
terms of the amount and quality of foods they are eating. Canned goods, instant noodles, and
soy sauces are their usual viands. Sometimes they have rice sometimes they don’t have.They
buy on markets or in just neighbor sari-sari store. They also eat fish like bolinao, and
matambaka.

When the children are free, they usually play with their neighbors on the riverside . Mrs. P
used to stay outside their house under the tree when she wants to rest. Mr. P seldom stays on
their house. He always works at streets, roads, and in public spaces within Tabunok, Talisay
City.

B. Socio – economic and Cultural Characteristics

According to the family, the sources of their income are their works as a pedicab driver
and laundry service. The father is a pedicab driver and the mother doing laundry services. The
money earned by them are the only means for them to eat three times a day. But sometimes if
they are short they eat 2 times a day. Mrs. M is the one who is in charge for the budget of their
income. There is a time that their income is not enough for their necessities.

Mr. P finished elementary education and his wife also. For the kind of educational
attainment they have, they don’t expect much for their family. They just want to live a simple life
with their 3 children. The religion of the family is Roman Catholic and they are Bisaya.

C. Home and Environmental Factors

The P. family resides in a single-room dwelling constructed from light and salvaged
materials such as plywood, tarpaulin, and galvanized sheets. Their home is situated in a
densely populated area of Sitio. Mananga, where most households lack formal land tenure and
access to basic amenities. The house has poor ventilation and limited space, with no distinct
separation between the sleeping, cooking, and living areas. There is no proper kitchen setup,
and their utensils and cookware are stored near the floor, where dirt and pests can easily
contaminate them.

Family uses a communal water pump for their daily water needs, and although they
attempt to boil drinking water, this is not always consistent due to the cost of fuel. Waste

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management is also a challenge, garbage is disposed of near the back of the house without
segregation, and water collects in uncovered containers and pots. The surrounding environment
is cluttered, with narrow pathways, uneven flooring, and various hazards that could cause injury,
especially to the younger children. Despite these challenges, the family tries to maintain
cleanliness within their capacity but lacks the resources to make structural or environmental
improvements.

D. Health Status and Medical History

The P. family often experiences common illnesses like colds, cough, and fever,
especially among the children. Because of their limited income, they only go to the health center
when someone in the family is seriously sick. Most of the time, they treat illnesses at home
using leftover medicines or herbal remedies. The mother shared that they don’t always have
money to buy the right medicines or go for check-ups.

During a recent visit to the barangay health center, the children were checked and found
to be underweight. Based on their weight and height, the nurse said that they are not growing
properly for their age. This means the children are suffering from malnutrition. Even though the
family tries to eat two to three meals a day, the food they eat lacks the nutrients that children
need to grow healthy and strong. This could be because they usually eat rice with soy sauce or
vegetables and rarely eat fish, meat, or eggs. Only the 7-year-old child has a normal weight for
his age, while the younger children are considered underweight.

Client Weight Height Classification of BMI Interpretation

Mrs. M 39 kg 146 cm Normal (18.3) Normal

Child 1 23 kg 125 cm Normal (14.72) Normal

Child 2 13.8 kg 102 cm Underweight (13.26) Underweight

Child 3 12.2 kg 96.5 cm Underweight (13.11) Underweight

The table shows that only Mrs. M has and child 1 has a normal BMI, and that other
children were underweight. These findings indicate that the family suffers from malnutrition.
Even though Mrs. M mentioned that they manage to eat three times a day, still it was not
enough because their food were insufficient to satisfy the needs of their growing body. The

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father of the family were not included in the table, because he was not there during the home
visitation.

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IV. SPOT MAP