Subjects: Volunteers of the public social activities, officials of authorities and the social, political organizations in Hoa phu commune during 11/ 1998 - 9/2000. The results: 91,42% total households have contacted and discussed with the health volunteer. The discussion comprised the health education and communication for discussion comprised the health education and communication for disease prevention 93,75%), propagandization of the family planning (7,29%).
Community Health Aides ; Residence Characteristics

The data collected from a survey that was conducted in January 2000. Main measurements included: the rate of communes where there are medical doctor(s), professional level, age, sex, the reasons promote them to work at communal level and their opinion about current position. The survey found that rate of commune with presence of medical doctor(s) is 50%. All of medical doctors who are working in communes are general doctors and have been appointed to head of communal health center (CHC). Rate of doctors who are satisfactory about their position is low. Most of them have expectation to joint to government official system, to be trained to improve the knowledge and to receive the investigation and advanced equipment for CHC, meet the requirement in primary health care for people.
Primary Health Care ; Community Health Aides

An evaluation of activity model of village health as socialization in 3 communes of Thai Nguyen province has shown that the people’s knowledge of environmental hygiene and reconstruction of hygienic facilities. The mother and children protection and care were improved. The morbidity rate was significantly reduced. The quality of the village health workers was good. The model of the village health was affirmed effectively and practicably.
Public Health ; Community Health Aides ; Orientation ; Socialization

In order to evaluate community health practitioners, activities through community clients, a household interview survey was done at eight areas in four counties surrounding Daegu city. A total of 1,016 households were interviewed on health service utilization, home visiting activities, work within the health posts, antenatal care and so on. The activities of community health practitioners were mostly curative services either within or out of the health post. Activities of the community health practitioners were related to their past experience as nurses/ midwives/public health nurses and attitudes to health maintenance and promotion. Activities related to preventive services are strong1y recommended.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Community Health Aides/standards* ; Community Health Aides/utilization ; Female ; Human ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Korea ; Middle Age ; Pregnancy ; Quality Assurance, Health Care ; Questionnaires

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to assess the community capacity building ability of health promotion workers of public health centers and to identify influential factors to the ability. METHODS: The subjects were 43 public officers from 16 public health centers in Busan Metropolitan City. Questionnaire was developed based on 'Community Capacity Building Tool' of Public Health Agency of Canada which consists of 9 feathers. Each feather of capacity was assessed in 4 point rating scale. Univariate analysis by characteristics of subjects and multivariate analysis by multiple regression was done. RESULTS: The mean score of the 9 features were 2.35. Among the 9 feathers, 'Obtaining resources' scored 3.0 point which was the highest but 'Community structure' scored 2.1 which was the lowest. The mean score of the feathers was relatively lower than that of Canadian data. The significant influential factors affecting community capacity building ability were 'Service length', 'Heath promotion skill level', 'Existence of an executive department' and 'Cooperative partnership for health promotion'. According to the result of multiple linear regression, the 'Existence of an executive department' had significant influence. CONCLUSIONS: Community capacity building ability of subjects showed relatively lower scores in general. Building and activating an executive department and cooperative partnerships for health promotion may be helpful to achieve community capacity building ability.
Adult ; Community Health Aides/*organization & administration ; Community Health Centers/*organization & administration ; Female ; Financial Management ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Health Promotion/*organization & administration ; Humans ; Interpersonal Relations ; Korea ; Leadership ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Public Health Administration

This article discuss and answers the two questions which have relevance to the Philippine situation - first, the ethics of difficult life-- and- death decisions, and secondly, new and neglected aspects of the moral responsibility of Filipino doctors for the '80's.
BIOETHICS ; COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS

Background: Mental Health Literacy (MHL) is considered a vital determinant of mental health and has the ability to benefit both individual and public mental health. To thoroughly measure the different aspects of mental health literacy and determine level of knowledge in the community, a MHLS-Filipino version is required. Objective: This study aimed to validate the Mental Health Literacy Scale – Filipino (MHLS-F) version among Community Health Workers in a rural and an urban health center in CaLaBaRZon. Study Design: This is a methodological study that was conducted among rural and urban health workers Patients and Methods: The guidelines provided by Beaton was used as template for the process of translation and crosscultural adaptation. The first phase involved Translation and Cross- cultural Adaptation of the Mental Health Literacy Scale from English to Filipino Version (MHLS-F). The instrument was simultaneously forward translated from English to Filipino by two independent translators from the Sentro ng Wikang Filipino. Back translations into English were done by two independent translators. The expert review committee discussed discrepancies found between the original items and the back-translated version of the questionnaire through a small group discussion and evaluated the content validity. Judgement on each item was made based on the computed i- CVI. The pre-final translated questionnaire was pre-tested on 5 rural and 5 urban community health workers with similar characteristics to the study population. Suggestions or alternative wording were documented and forwarded to Sentro ng Wikang Filipino for editing and proofreading. After synthesis of all reviews, the Mental Health Literacy Scale – Filipino Version was finalized. The final version was administered to 220 Community Health Workers from the Santa Rosa CHO and San Juan MHO. Psychometric properties on internal reliability using Cronbach’s Alpha was used as complementary procedure for determining the final structure of the instrument. Results: All six domains of MHLS were translated into Filipino without any major problems. The Final Mental Health Literacy Scale- Filipino Version has 26 items under 3 subscales. It has an acceptable content validity and satisfactory internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha 0.730). Conclusion MHLS was successfully cross-culturally adapted into Filipino. The MHLS-F has good validity and reliability in assessing knowledge and attitude in mental health among community healthcare workers
Community Health Workers

Objectives: Community health workers (CHWs) fill in the insufficiency of health professionals in low-income countries. The CHWs’ roles include health education of their constituents whose health they likewise take care. This study aimed to describe the concept and understanding of diabetes among CHWs in the Philippines. Methods: Fifty female CHWs currently working in rural and urban areas participated in six focus group discussions with guidance from Kleinman’s eight questions. With the written informed consent of the participants, discussions were recorded and transcribed by the Research Assistant. A multi-disciplinary team manually analyzed the data. Disagreements were discussed among them and the physicians provided clinical analyses and explanations on the results. Quotations of an important point of view were also presented. Pseudonyms were utilized to uphold anonymity. Results: CHWs were aged 32 to 72 years; older participants reside in rural areas. Majority were married, housekeepers, and high school graduates. Some CHWs and their family were suffering from diabetes or dyabetis, the disease of the rich according to them. Its causes were food and lifestyle, and believed to be hereditary. Complications lead to death. Amputation was feared the most. Diabetes is incurable. Persons with diabetes should take maintenance medicines, and seek physicians’ and family’s help. Together with the patient, the family must decide on its management. Balanced diet, healthy lifestyle, maintenance medicines, food supplements, and herbal plants were perceived treatments. The internist should lower blood sugar level as well as prolong life span. Proper diet and regular check-up prevent diabetes. Conclusions CHWs’ concept and understanding of diabetes reflect some of the biomedical causes, effects, treatment, and prevention of diabetes as well as its social determinants. The efficacy and safety of herbal plants in the treatment of diabetes, however, should be further studied. Training on diabetes care should be provided to address their fears of amputation, insulin injection, and complications.
Community Health Workers ; Philippines

Background and Objective: Within a decentralized health system, barangay health workers (BHWs) are often the first point of contact for Filipinos seeking care. Despite their importance, BHWs are neglected in the health value chain. The study seeks to examine the lived experiences of BHWs, particularly their journey in navigating their roles within the community and the health system that encompasses their day-to-day realities, challenges, motivations, and the meanings they derive from their work. Methods: The study draws on seven focus group discussions (FGDs) with BHWs (n=50), residents (n=7), and local government officials and health workers (n=7) of San Miguel, Bulacan. The qualitative data collected were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Findings show that BHWs perform many roles, which are not limited to health and are dependent on orders from their superiors. Guidelines are vague in appointing BHWs, with personal connections valued more than technical qualifications. Their accreditation is hardly conferred any significance. There is also a lack of formal and structured training. The informality of these processes leads to an absence of quality assurance on rendered health services. The non-provision of incentives and benefits stipulated in RA 7883 also places their health and lives at risk. Furthermore, BHW’s commitment to serve is used to excuse the inadequacy of their compensation and excessive workload. Conclusion BHWs take on diverse roles, from community organizers to healthcare providers, and are confronted with significant challenges encompassing politicization, inadequate training, and insufficient compensation. The study concludes with policy recommendations to improve the conditions of the neglected BHWs, with particular attention to coordinating, capacitating, compensating, career pathing, and connecting them to the health system.
community health workers ; universal health care ; Philippines

Primary Health Care is the essential care based on practical, scientifically sound and socially acceptable method and technology made universally accessible to individuals and families in the community through their full participation and at a cost they and the community can afford to maintain in the spirit of self-reliance and self-determination. Last September, 1978 at Alma Ata, an international conference on primaiy health care was done and they declared that Health is a fundamental human right and that the attainment of the highest possible level of health is a most important world wide social goal and that the people have the right and duty to participate individually and collectively in the planning and implementation of their health care.
Primary Health Care ; Health Promotion ; Community Health Workers