Lived Experiences of Community Health Officers in Policy Advocacy for Health System Strengthening: Basis For Awareness Program

This study explored the lived experiences of Community Health Officers (CHOs) in policy advocacy for health system strengthening at the selected government hospital. Guided by a descriptive phenomenological design and Colaizzi’s method of analysis, in-depth interviews were conducted with nine CHOs selected through purposive sampling. Findings revealed that CHOs perceive policy advocacy as both empowering and challenging. Their roles extend beyond service delivery to include community representation, participation in planning activities, collaboration with local government units, and contribution to policy implementation. Participants identified barriers such as limited institutional support, heavy workload, insufficient policy literacy, and hierarchical decision-making structures. Despite these constraints, CHOs demonstrated resilience through coping strategies including peer collaboration, reflective practice, and sustained commitment to community welfare. Advocacy efforts were perceived to contribute to improved coordination, enhanced service accessibility, and strengthened community engagement. The study underscores the need for structured awareness and capacity-building initiatives to enhance CHOs’ advocacy competencies. Based on the findings, an awareness program grounded in participants' lived experiences is proposed to strengthen their roles as policy advocates and support sustainable improvements to the health system.