Availment of Health Programs and Services in the Pre-Pandemic (COVID-19) Conditions in the Philippines

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the communication factors in the availment of health programs and services. The study was conducted in two selected villages in Rizal, Nueva Ecija, Philippines namely, Barangay Poblacion Centro and Barangay Casilagan. Purposive sampling was used to select the survey sites. The two villages differ from each other in terms of geographical location. Poblacion Centro is located 1 km away from the health center while Casilagan is about 10 km away from the town proper. The number of respondents in each village depended on the total number of mothers who had children aged 0-7 years. The 136 respondents were determined using Slovin’s formula. Two sets of questionnaires were prepared: one for the opinion leaders or key informants, and another for the mother-respondents. The survey method using a questionnaire was utilized to gather the needed data. Results showed that the age of respondents ranges from 19-50 years old and the mean age was 32. Most respondents reached high school with a monthly income of below P5,000. Interpersonal contact with the health workers, televisions, and posters were their sources of information about health programs and services. Prevention of communicable and non-communicable diseases was often discussed by the health workers and respondents using the Filipino language in their conversation. Vaccination of infants and children, pre-natal/post-natal/childbirth services, free general consultations/access to secondary and/or tertiary health care, prevention and management of communicable and non-communicable diseases were sometimes seen on television or heard over the radio also in the Filipino language. Likewise, the same programs mentioned above including basic dental/oral hygiene, and family planning/reproductive health were sometimes read by the respondents in the different print materials. These print materials were written in Filipino and came from government agencies. Interpersonal media ranked first as the most preferred communication modality of the respondents to disseminate information about health programs and services. The communication modalities used by the LGU in the dissemination of information were home visits (individual approach), general assembly meetings (group approach), and television (mass approach). The language used in the dissemination of information is easy to understand, information is accessible, health workers are conducting home visitations and municipal/barangay health centers are using posters were among the factors that facilitated the respondents in availing the services. Complete medical facilities and equipment, presence of doctors and nurses, and good quality service of medical personnel also helped in the availment of health programs. On the other hand, the distance from the health center hinders them from availing the services because of the problem of transportation fare. Problems encountered by the respondents in availing health programs and services include lack of medicines for serious illnesses/diseases, no money for transportation fare and some medical personnel is not approachable. Finally, the socio-demographic and communication characteristics of the respondents had a significant relationship with availing of health programs and services.