HEALTH THREAT

FAMILY AS BASIC UNIT OF THE SOCIETY

These are the conditions that make it more
WHAT IS A FAMILY? likely for accidents, disease or failure to thrive
or develop to occur.
Basic unit in society, and is shaped by all
forces surrounding it.
A family refers to two or more individuals FORESEEABLE CRISIS
joined or related by ties of blood, marriage or These are anticipated periods of unusual
adoption and who constitute a single demand on the family in terms of time or
household, interact with each other in their resources.
familial roles and who create and maintain a
common culture (Bailon- Reyes, S.)
WELLNESS POTENTIAL
Is a unit of interacting persons bound by ties of
blood, marriage or adoption. This refers to states of wellness and the
Two or more people who live in the same likelihood for health maintenance or
household (usually), share a common improvement to occur depending on the desire
emotional bond, and perform certain of the family.
interrelated social tasks (Spradly & Allender,
1996). NURSING IMPLICATION
"The family is composed of two or more
The CHN must formulate a personal definition
persons who are joined together by bonds of
of Family & be aware of the changing definition
sharing and emotional closeness and who
held by other disciplines, professionals and
identify themselves as being part of the
family groups.
family"- Friedman et al. (2003)
There are many types of families. They
change overtime as a consequence of BIRTH,
THE FAMILY IS CONSIDERED AS A UNIT OF
DEATH, MIGRATION, SEPARATION and
SERVICE FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS
GROWTH OF FAMILY MEMBERS.
The family is considered as the "natural and
fundamental unit of society”. FAMILY
The family as a group generates. prevents,
tolerates and corrects health problems within STRUCTURE
its membership.
The family acts as the basic care provider. It Is NUCLEAR FAMILY
the family that works to achieve certain health
goals. Family of marriage, parenthood or procreation
The health problems of the family are Composed of husband, wife and immediate
interlocking. children- natural, adopted.
o Illness in one member affects the
entire family and is functioning. DYAD FAMILY
The family is the most frequent focus of health
Consisting only of husband and wife such as
decisions and actions in personal care.
the newly married couples and “empty
The family Is an effective and available
nester”.
channel for much of the community health
nursing efforts.
o Improved community health Is realized EXTENDED FAMILY
only through improved health of Consisting of 3 generations, which includes
families. married siblings and their families and/or
grandparents.
HEALTH AS A GOAL OF FAMILY HEALTH
CARE
BLENDED FAMILY
Results from union where one or both spouses
HEALTH DEFICIT bring a child or children from a previous
This refers to conditions of health breakdowns marriage into new living arrangements.
or advent of illness in the family.
 COMPOUND DEMOCRATIC
A man has more than one spouse Everybody is involved in decision making
PD # 1083 Code of Muslim Personal Laws of
the Philippine DECENT

Cultural norms, which affiliate a person with a

COHABITING FAMILY particular group of kinsmen for certain social
“Live-in” arrangement between an unmarried purposes.
couple who are called common-law spouses &
children/child from. PATRILINEAL
Affiliates a person with a group of relatives
SINGLE PARENT who are related to him though his father.
Results from death of spouse separation or
pregnancy out of wedlock. BILATERAL
Both parents
GAY/LESBIAN (OTHER TYPES)
Homosexual couple living together with or MATRILINEAL
without children
Related through mother

NO-KIN (OTHER TYPES)

AUTOCRATIC
A group of at least two people sharing a
Unquestioning obedience rather than healthy
relationship and exchange support who have
development is fostered.
no legal or blood tie to each other.

LAISSEZ-FAIRE
FOSTER (OTHER TYPES)
“Full autonomy”
Substitute family for children whose parents
are unable to care for them.
MATRICENTRIC
Functional Type:
The mother decides/takes charge in absence
Family of Procreation – Refers to the family of the father
you yourself created Ex: Father is working overseas
Family of Orientation – Refers to the family
where you came from PATRICENTIC
The father decides / takes charge in absence
DECISION IN THE FAMILY (AUTHORITY)
of the mother

PATRIARCHAL RESIDENCE
Full authority on the father or any male
member of the family. PATRILOCAL
Ex: Eldest son, Grandfather
Family resides / stays with / near domicile of
the parents of the husband
MATRIARCHAL
Full authority of the mother or any female MATRILOCAL
member of the family.
Live near the domicile of the parents of the
Ex: Eldest sister, grandmother
wife

EGALITARIAN ACKERMAN VIEWS OF FUNCTION OF

Husband and wife exercise a more or less FAMILY
amount of authority, father and mother
Insuring the physical survival of the species
decides.
Transmitting the culture, thereby insuring
man’s humanness
 PHYSICAL FUNCTIONS THE FAMILY AS A UNIT OF CARE
Physical functions of the family are met Rationale for Considering the Family as a Unit of Care:
through parents providing food, clothing and
shelter, protection against danger provision for The family is considered the natural and
bodily repairs after fatigue or illness, and fundamental unit of society.
through reproduction. The family as a group generates, prevents,
tolerates and corrects health problems within
AFFECTIONAL FUNCTIONS its membership.
The health problems of the family members
The family is the primary unit in which the child are interlocking
tests his emotional reactions The family is the most frequent focus of health
decisions and action in personal care.
SOCIAL FUNCTIONS The family is an effective and available
channel for much of the effort of the health
Includes:
worker.
Providing social togetherness
Fostering self-esteem FAMILY AS A SYSTEM
Personal identity tied to family identity
Families are Interdependent -
Providing opportunity for observing and
Interdependence of family member
learning social and sexual roles
Families Maintain Boundaries - Result from
Accepting responsibility for behavior
shared experiences and expectations. These
Supporting individual creativity and initiative.
boundaries link the family together in a bond
that excludes others. This is not to say that
UNIVERSAL FUNCTION OF THE FAMILY
family boundaries cannot be permeable. An
DOODE
example is a family that has special family
Reproduction – For replacement of members cookout on Sundays. (Shared experiences and
of society: to perpetuate the human species. expectations).
Status Placement of individual in society Families Exchange Energy with their
Biological and Maintenance of the Young Environments - Linkages to outside
and dependent members community (input and output relationship)
Socialization and care of the children Families are Adaptive - One of major roles of
Social control community health nurse is to help restore the
equilibrium, keep family stable within the
FAMILY AS CLIENT environment.
Families are Goal-Oriented - Families exist for
Significance of working with families: a purpose. This is to establish a place where
family members can develop
The family is a critical resource. The members
have the capability to promote health &
wellness.
Any dysfunctions (illness, injury, separation)
that affects one or more members will affect
other/s as a whole.
The family plays a role in case finding. Health
problems vis-à-vis health risk to all members.
The family takes part in improving nursing care

CHARACTERISTICS OF A FAMILY AS A
CLIENT

The family is a product of time and place

The family develops its own lifestyle
The family operates as a group
The family accommodates the needs of the
individual members
The family relates to the community