The Role of Neighborhood Talks (Tsismis) in Lay Discussions of Health Information in an Island Barangay in Western Visayas, Philippines

Abstract

Tsismis is heavily present in the Filipinos’ way of life. It enables community members to tap into information that directs beliefs, practices, and traditions. In geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, health information sharing is interpersonal. Through tsismis, health information becomes available through social networks, making the communication channel a viable source of engaging information and kinship. This study identified key informants through analyzing a social network of 270 edges composed of 116 actors determined through snowball sampling. Through thematic analysis, the key informant interviews reveal that tsismis has several functions within the community. First, it acts as a facilitator of experiential health knowledge, allowing members to utilize their lives as a personal vantage point to communicate health information. Second, it acts as a reinforcer of formalized community roles, expanding the reach of informational responsibilities. Third, tsismis acts as a validator of the use of herbal medicine, allowing community members not only to promote herbal medicine but also to verify its effectiveness. Fourth, it acts as a negotiator of treatment decisions, enabling members of the community to solicit and offer health advice contributing to the community’s collective welfare. The study further reveals that through tsismis, community members uncover social inequalities in health access, exposing barriers to health and well-being. Ultimately, tsismis acts as provider of relief and social support, enabling community-centered social development through community solidarity. These findings underscore the potential of tsismis and social networks as complementary health information systems in geographically isolated communities.