Stakeholders’ Awareness and Integration of Global and National Health Agenda in the Ilocos Norte’s Local Health System

Abstract

This study determined the stakeholders' level of awareness on the global, national and local health agenda as well as the extent of integrating the global and national health goals into the local health system. Qualitative and quantitative approaches were used in exploring the problem. Respondents are five groups of stakeholders: 1) public service providers, 2) private sector 3) educational institutions, 4) community leaders, and 5) service users. In determining the samples, total enumeration was employed to public service providers (Local Health Board) and health personnel (Municipal Health Office); heads of educational institution, officers of health-related NGOs and businesses (private) and community leaders. There were a total of 744 respondents. Purposive sampling was used for service users or those who availed of essential health services in the last 12 months who were intercepted during the study. A questionnaire was used in data gathering supplemented with documentary analysis on the vision of the Local Government Units to see the relevance to health agenda. The questionnaire was reviewed by knowledgeable evaluators from the health stakeholders. The researcher sought endorsement from LGUs to gather data from concerned departments and groups of stakeholders. The statistical tools used in the data analysis are frequency counts and means. Results of the study revealed that public service providers, community leaders and service users have “High” level of awareness on the Health Agenda and “High” level of perception on the Local Health System’s Integration of the City/Municipal Health Agenda. Those in the private sector and educational institutions had “moderate” level of awareness and perception on the integration of the global and national health agenda in the local health system.