Profile, Problems and Needs of Barangay Health Workers in Catarman, Northern Samar: Basis for Program Enhancement

This study was designed and conceptualized to determine the profile, problems and needs of Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) in Catarman, Northern Samar. Specifically, this study aimed to document the socio-demographic profile of the respondents, measure the degree problems encountered by the BHWs, determine the level of needs of the Barangay Health Workers to better improve their duties and responsibilities, and ascertain if there is a significant relationship between the degree of problems and level of needs of the BHWs in performing their duties when grouped according to demographic profile. As to the socio-demographic profile of the respondents, out of 183 BHWs, the majority are 33 years old and above with 80 frequencies; female with 183 frequencies, married with 149 frequencies, college level with 117 frequencies, more than 12 years with 99 frequencies, composed of 7-9 family members with 113 frequencies, and gross family income of 5,001 -10,000 with 93 frequencies. The overall problems encountered by barangay health workers in performing their duties and responsibilities have a grand mean of 4.02, which is considered often problematic. The overall level of BHWs' needs to better perform their duties and responsibilities has a grand mean of 4.42, which is considered very high. As to the significant relationship between the degree of problems and the level of needs of the BHWs in performing their duties when grouped according to demographic profile, none of the variables showed a significant relationship between the dependent and independent variables.