Philippines

Barangay Health Workers’ Perceived Factors that Affect Performance in Health Service Delivery in Five Upland Municipalities of Cavite

This study in the Philippines looked at what helps and what hinders the work of barangay health workers, who are key volunteers in local health services. It found that they are highly committed and actively involved in community health activities, but many face challenges such as limited pay, personal financial strain, lack of supplies, and competing family responsibilities. … [Read more...] about Barangay Health Workers’ Perceived Factors that Affect Performance in Health Service Delivery in Five Upland Municipalities of Cavite

This study looked at whether communities in the Philippines are ready to use community health workers together with digital tools to improve health services. It found that people trust community health workers and strongly support this idea, and many are open to using digital tools. However, contact with health workers is still limited, and concerns remain about data privacy … [Read more...] about Integrated Community-Based Primary Healthcare Model to Strengthen Universal Health Coverage: Evidence from CHW Readiness, Service Quality, and Digital Health Acceptability in Selected CALABARZON LGUs

A study followed the use of UpToDate, a clinical decision tool, by community health workers (CHWs) in rural and remote areas over three years. While CHWs liked the tool, actual use was low and declined over time, affected by power outages, heavy workloads, and limited device access. CHWs mainly used it for learning and building professional credibility rather than at the point … [Read more...] about Adoption of an Electronic Decision Support Tool for Capacity Building of Community Health Workers: Mixed Methods Study

A study in Tanzania showed that community health workers (CHWs) can play a big role in preventing and managing noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes and heart disease when they are well-trained, confident, and have the right tools. In the Philippines, barangay health workers (BHWs) face similar challenges; limited training, lack of equipment, and little involvement in … [Read more...] about Strengthening Community Health Workers’ Role in Noncommunicable Disease Prevention: Lessons From Tanzania for the Philippine Public Health System

This study explored how community health workers (CHWs) in the Philippines practice self-compassion while dealing with personal and emotional challenges. Through interviews with nine CHWs, the research found that being kind to themselves, staying self-aware, and drawing strength from spirituality and social connections helped them stay resilient. Family support and faith played … [Read more...] about Embracing Self-Compassion: An Interpretative Phenomenological Study of Community Health Workers Providing Basic Psychosocial Support in an Urban Setting