Community-managed Health Programs for Better Health outcomes: Preliminary results of a community Participatory research in Murcia and Isabel, negros occidental, Philippines

Abstract

Background. Community-managed health programs (CMHPs) were designed to promote community selfdeterminaton in addressing health needs, but there is a need to evaluate how CMHPs can lead to beter outcomes while accommodatng changes in the natonal health system, which requires analysis of current CMHP interventons, insttutonal and community readiness, and points of interface with other health facilites. Objectve and Methods. This preliminary study aimed to guide an eventual effort to develop a framework to ensure CMHPs sustainably improve health outcomes. A preliminary analysis of results from a community partcipatory research was done in which baseline health characteristcs, related social determinants, level of involvement of CMHPs with the local government health system, and quality of life were documented through surveys, focus group discussions and key informant interviews, both in a community with an established CMHP (Murcia, Negros Occidental, Philippines), and a control area without a similar NGO sector (Isabela, Negros Occidental). Results. There was higher NGO and local government involvement among respondents in Murcia, use of traditonal medicine, and sense of awareness of the need to improve the water quality in Murcia, with noted persistence of sanitaton concerns, pinpointng the need to assess community partcipaton and the efciency of CMHPs. Conclusion. Further study is needed in measuring community partcipaton while considering its underlying cultural and socioeconomic contexts, in order to facilitate planning and implementaton of strategies that intend to address community-recognized health needs while sustainably improving health outcomes.