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Health
Quarter 3 – Module 5:
Misconceptions, Myths, and Beliefs
about Common Communicable Diseases
Health – Grade 8
Quarter 3 – Module 5: Misconceptions, Myths and Beliefs about Common
Communicable Diseases

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Published by the Department of Education – Region XI

Regional Director: Allan G. Farnazo
Assistant Regional Director: Maria Ines C. Asuncion

Development Team of the Module

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Jeselyn B. Dela Cuesta Elsie E. Gagabe

Printed in the Philippines by ________________________

Department of Education – Region XI

Office Address: DepEd Davao City Division, E. Quirino Ave.,

Davao City, Davao del Sur, Philippines
Telefax: (082) 224 0100
E-mail Address: [email protected]
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Health
Quarter 3 – Module 5:
Misconceptions, Myths, and Beliefs
about Common Communicable Diseases
Introductory Message
For the facilitator:
As a facilitator, you are expected to orient the learners on how to
use this module. You also need to keep track of the learners' progress
while allowing them to manage their own learning at home.
Furthermore, you are expected to encourage and assist the learners as
they do the tasks included in the module.

For the learner:

As a learner, you must learn to become responsible of your own
learning. Take time to read, understand, and perform the different
activities in the module.
As you go through the different activities of this module be
reminded of the following:
1. Use the module with care. Do not put unnecessary mark/s on any
part of the module. Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the
exercises.
2. Don’t forget to answer Let Us Try before moving on to the other
activities.
3. Read the instructions carefully before doing each task.
4. Observe honesty and integrity in doing the tasks and checking
your answers.
5. Finish the task at hand before proceeding to the next.
6. Return this module to your teacher/facilitator once you are done.
If you encounter any difficulty in answering the tasks in this
module, do not hesitate to consult your teacher or facilitator. Always
bear in mind that you are not alone. We hope that through this material,
you will experience meaningful learning and gain deep understanding
of the relevant competencies. You can do it!

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 Let Us Learn

Perhaps you’ve heard about “do-it-yourself” treatment or alternative

medication on certain diseases, which at some point made you believe that
it’s very effective and that there is nothing wrong if you follow it. However,
there is no scientific or medical study which proves that such practice is really
safe. Hence, there are lots of cases or situations wherein many people who
resorted to that kind of practice suffered health problems and their lives were
at risk. Today, you will learn lessons that will help you understand issues on
common communicable diseases. This module seeks to achieve the learning
competency Discusses the most common communicable diseases -
misconceptions, myths, and beliefs about common communicable
diseases (H8DD-IIIb-c18).
We will focus our learning objectives on the following:
1. Discuss the most common communicable diseases -
misconceptions, myths, and beliefs about common
communicable disease; and
2. Correct misconception, myths and beliefs about common
communicable diseases.
Let’s get started!

Let Us Try
IS IT A YES OR NO?
Direction: Read the selection below then answer the questions (A & B). Write
your answer on a whole sheet of paper.
READ ME!
One summer in Barangay Ompao, Dr. Carreon had a patient who was bitten
by a dog. Before attending to the patient and providing medication, he asked the
patient if he has already applied first aid treatment right away. He’s surprised with
the patient’s response. Instead of remedying it with running water and soap, he
chose to rub a garlic clove on his wound. He mentioned he got the idea from one of
his neighbors.
Since the incident occurred days before he went for a checkup, Dr. Carreon
asked him if there were noticeable changes in the behavior of the dog that bit him.
The patient then replied that they killed the dog right after what happened.

Courtesy: Dr. Lean Alessandro B. Carreon, Municipal Health Officer

Brgy. Ompao, Municipality of Tarragona, Province of Davao Oriental

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Questions:

A. Write √ on your chosen answer.

1. Can a garlic cure or heal a dog bite? ( ) yes ( ) no

2. Is following a friend’s or neighbor’s advice
about do-it-yourself medication right? ( ) yes ( ) no
3. If you were the patient, will you kill the dog? ( ) yes ( ) no
4. If you’re the patient, will you wait for couple
of days before seeing a doctor or specialist? ( ) yes ( ) no
B.
1. Have you heard a story similar to what you’ve read in the previous
activity? Please share it___________________________________________________
2. Do you think the story that you’ve read is a fact? Why or Why
not?______________________________________________________________________
3. If you were the doctor, what will be your response to the
patient?___________________________________________________________________

Let Us Study

Some Facts & Fallacies (Misconceptions, Myths and Beliefs) About

Common Communicable Diseases

FACT Communicable diseases can spread through physical contact with an

infected person, contact with a contaminated surface or object, bites from
insects or animals capable of transmitting the disease (ex. Mosquito), and
travel through the air.
FALLACY Communicable diseases can be transmitted through distant eye-to-
eye contact.
FACT There are some communicable diseases that have NO cure, yet. These
include: HIV/AIDS, Ebola, etc.
FALLACY Durian fruit is clinically proven to heal Dengue Fever.

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 FACT Antibacterial products (soap, cleaning products, etc.) have no guarantee
on preventing all communicable diseases, because not all communicable
diseases are caused by bacteria.
FALLACY Reusing a disposable face mask is safe as long as you wash it
properly.
FACT If you think you are infected with a certain communicable disease,
better consult a doctor or a health specialist.
FALLACY There’s nothing wrong if you rely on a quack doctor (albularyo) or a
witchcraft, what matters is that he/it can cure your illness.

Let Us Practice

Correct Me If I’m Wrong!

Directions:

1. Based on the guide questions in the table below, interview a member of

your family (example: mother) or anyone from your home (example: uncle).

2. Assess the answers of your interviewee. Look for any myth, misconception
or belief from his/her answers. If you have found so, correct his/her answers
as well as give the FACTS on each corresponding answer. If none, just leave
it blank. Write your answer in a whole sheet of paper.
3. Then, politely discuss to him/her the facts about common communicable
diseases.

Name of Interviewer:_______________________________________________
Name of Interviewee: _______________________________________________
Relationship: (Example – Sister) _______________________
Interviewee Interviewer
Guide Questions: Fact/s_____________________________
1. What common communicable diseases ___________________________________
are you familiar with? Give at least 2. ___________________________________
Ans.__________________________________ ________________________
2. What do you think are the causes of Fact/s___________________________
these communicable diseases? ___________________________________
Ans.______________________________________ ___________________________________
__________________________________________ ___________________________________
__________________________________________ ___________________________________
__________________________ ____________________

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3. How can we prevent and/or cure these Fact/s_____________________________
communicable diseases? ___________________________________
Ans.______________________________________ ___________________________________
__________________________________________ ___________________________________
__________________________________________ ___________________________________
__________________________ __________________

Let Us Practice More

Tell Me The Truth!

Directions: Write or list other myths, misconceptions, and beliefs about

common communicable diseases that you have heard from other people
(relatives, friends, neighbors, etc.) or you have read from any social media
platforms (Facebook, Twitter, etc.). Then, correct each myth, misconception
or belief by writing down what is fact/s about it. Follow the table below! Write
your answer in a whole sheet of paper.
Other Myths, Misconceptions &
Beliefs Facts

Let Us Remember

 Some facts about spread of communicable diseases include: physical

contact with an infected person, contact with a contaminated surface
or object, bites from insects or animal, and travel through the air. There
is NO scientific evidence which proves that communicable diseases or
any diseases can be caused by disturbed spirits.

 If you don’t have any idea or knowledge about certain diseases, do not
self-medicate, or give any medication to other person whom you think
is infected with a disease. Thus, seek advice from a professional doctor.

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 Let Us Assess

Directions: Choose the letter of the correct answer. Write your

answer in a whole sheet of paper.

1.) Your younger brother laughed and shouted very loud near a Balete tree.
Few hours later, he got skin rashes. What will you do?
a. Go back to the Balete tree and ask an apology to the spirits who live in it.
b. Ask your friend for an ointment.
c. Immediately inform your parent/s and/or bring your younger brother to
the physician.
d. Look for an albularyo near your place.

2.) Which among the following is TRUE about HIV/AIDS?

a. HIV/AIDS can be transmitted through eye-to-eye contact
b. HIV/AIDS can be transmitted through unprotected sex.
c. ONLY homosexuals can be infected with HIV/AIDS.
d. Combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) can cure HIV/AIDS.

3.) Why do we need to rely on professional doctors than quack doctors,

particularly about concerns on common communicable diseases?
a. Professional doctors have undergone studies in medicine and medical
training.
b. Most of the professional doctors have pleasing personality.
c. Professional doctors are reliable because they have better communication
skills than the quack doctors.
d. Professional doctors have a stable job.

4.) Which among the following is NOT TRUE about causes of common
communicable diseases _______________?
a. Drinking dirty water can cause numerous health concerns.
b. Close physical contact to a person infected with a communicable disease
may result to transmission of the disease.
c. Poor proper hygiene may cause communicable disease.
d. Disturbed spirits are one of the causes of some communicable diseases.

5.) Dengue Fever can be effectively prevented at home through:

a. Washing hands regularly.
b. Eating Durian always.
c. Wearing light clothes to drive away mosquitoes.
d. Covering and cleaning water containers, regularly.

6.) How are infectious diseases, such as colds and influenza, most commonly
spread?
a. Breathing viruses in air c. Hand-to-face contact
b. Drinking infected water d. Eating contaminated food

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7.) What are the ways to limit exposure to communicable diseases?
a. Washing your hands
b. Eating a balanced diet and participating in physical activity
c. Learning stress management techniques
d. All of the above

8.) Which among the following suggests a good first aid for a dog bite?
a. Put a garlic clove on the wound.
b. Let the patient drink an antibiotic capsule.
c. Wash the bite carefully with a soap and a clean running water.
d. Kill the dog.

9.) Which among the following is TRUE about prevention of bacteria or viruses
infection?
a. Before eating your meal, wash your hands only if there’s a dirt on eat.
b. The use of alcohol-based hand rubs will help in protecting you from
bacteria and viruses.
c. If your immune system is healthy, you don’t need immunization anymore,
such as vaccines because it’s dangerous.
d. I can stop taking antibiotics when I start to feel better.

10.) Your friend called you on the phone and told you that he went to a place
which is recently locked-down because few people there are infected with
COVID-19, but he insisted that he had no close physical contact with the
people in the establishment and followed safety protocols like wearing of face
mask and face shield. What will be your response to your friend?
a. Advise him to immediately inform concerned authorities and let them give
the right things to do.
b. Go to his place and talk to him personally on what to do
c. Tell him to just take medicine to boost his immune system
d. Just pray for him.

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 Let Us Enhance

Based on what you have learned from the readings above, discuss some
facts about common communicable diseases. Write your answer on a whole
sheet of paper.

1. Leading causes of common communicable diseases -

_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

2. Best preventions against common communicable diseases -

_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

Let Us Reflect
Today, you got to know some misconceptions, myths, and beliefs about
common communicable diseases and you have learned or discovered the facts
about it. Hence, you got important lessons which you can relate on,
particularly about issues on communicable diseases. Hopefully, you will build
more knowledge and understanding that will make you a person or citizen
who always advocates truth not just on issues about common communicable
diseases, but also in other health concerns.

Congratulations! You have accomplished the module and you did a

great job! Keep in mind to practice making good decisions for your nutrition
as you enjoy your adolescence to live a healthy life.

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Let’s Us Try:
A.
Evaluate your answers:
If you got 4 correct answers, then you really know the truth about some false beliefs
and practices.
If you got 3 correct answers, then you are not sure of the some false beliefs and
practices.
If you got 2 correct answers, then you need to focus, listen, and learn.
If you got 1 correct answer, then you are in danger, you practice a lot of false beliefs
and practices.
B. Answers may vary
Let’s Us Practice:
Criteria
( Your corrections or the facts that
you’ve learned about the
communicable disease/s that your Points
interviewee has experienced)
Content 5 points
Organization of words 5points
Accuracy 3 points
Grammar 2 points
TOTAL 15 points
Let’s Us Assess:
1. c. 6. c.
2. b. 7. d.
3. a. 8. c.
4. d. 9. b.
5. d. 10. a.
Answer Key
 References

Alameda County Public Health Department. (2018). Communicable Disease.

http://www.acphd.org/communicable-disease.aspx

THE HEPACART BLOG. (2018). Common Myths about Disease Prevention.

http://www.hepacart.com/blog/common-myths-about-disease-
prevention

UNILAB, INC. (2019). 10 Tips to Avoid Dengue at Home

http://www.unilab.com.ph/articles/10-tips-to-avoid-dengue-at-home

World Health Organization. (2019). 10 FACTS ON HIV/ AIDS

http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/hiv/facts/en/index1.html

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For inquiries or feedback, please write or call:

Department of Education –Region XI

F. Torres St., Davao City

Telefax: (082) 291-1665, (082) 221-6147

Email Address: [email protected]