Kinds of resources generated by community health workers in sustaining community health in the Municipality of Guimbal, Iloilo

Abstract

This study is about the Kinds of Resources Generated by Community Health Workers in Sustaining Community Health in the Municipality of Guimbal, Iloilo. Specifically, it aims to answer the following objectives: 1) to determine whether or not CHWs generate/acquire resources to sustain community health 2) to be able to know the kinds of resources generated/acquired by Community Health Workers 3) to determine what community conditions motivated the CHWs to generate/acquire resources in sustaining community health and 4) to determine whether the age, educational attainment, and civil status of the CHWs are associated with the kinds of resources they generated/acquired. To answer the first, second and third objectives, the researchers used Frequency and Percentage Distribution Table. On the other hand, a Spearman’s Correlation was used to respond to the fourth objective which is to determine whether age, educational attainment, and civil Status of the Community Health Workers are associated with the kinds of resources they generate/acquired. Results showed that Community Health Workers generated/acquired different kinds of resources in sustaining community health. These resources include natural (herbal garden, processed herbal medicine, communal garden, trees, and water), financial (money), physical (health center, children’s playground, basketball court, and medical equipments) social (good relationship, respect, cooperation, trust and understanding), and human (skills and knowledge about health that people developed through the help of the CHWs). The underlying community conditions that motivated the CHWs to accumulate or acquire the five kinds resources is due to the fact that it is part of their requirement as a CHWs, their community is lacking the different health needs (medicines, medical apparatus, money and others), and as project that the community expects them to fulfill. Lastly, CHWs’ demographic profile like age, civil status and educational attainment are strongly associated with the kinds of resources they acquired except for the physical resources. The researchers suggested that this study will serve as a future references in studies in line with the work of the Community Health Workers. The researchers also recommended others to conduct a comparative study about CHWs of different Municipalities, or a gender analysis of the nature of CHWs’ work to address the issue on why most of the CHWs are comprised of women. The study is also a good ground for advocacy campaign to make the government realize the needs of the CHWs. Lastly, it would be better if the CHWs will be trained and oriented about different mechanics of resource generation to enhance their strategies in acquiring resources.