International Journal of Research Studies in Management

2023 Volume 11 Number 13, 11-20

Effectiveness of primary health care services in one

municipality in the Province of Batangas

Urbano, Den Den V.

Graduate School, Lyceum of the Philippines University - Batangas, Philippines (dvurbano@ceu.edu.ph)
Tamayo, Ma. Rosario B. ISSN: 2243-7770
Graduate School, Lyceum of the Philippines University - Batangas, Philippines (chery_tamayo@yahoo.com.ph) Online ISSN: 2243-7789

OPEN ACCESS
Received: 30 November 2023 Revised: 20 December 2023 Accepted: 31 December 2023
Available Online: 31 December 2023 DOI: 10.5861/ijrsm.2023.1161

Abstract

This study evaluates primary health care services in Bauan, Batangas, utilizing a
non-experimental, descriptive research approach. Respondents, predominantly aged 40-50,
male, and college undergraduates, primarily reside in Barangay Manghinao Proper. The
effectiveness of services, spanning Maternal and Child Health, Immunization, Nutrition,
Environmental Sanitation, Reproductive Health, and Family Planning, is generally positive.
No significant differences emerge based on age and sex, except for educational attainment,
where distinctions arise in the Expanded Immunization Program. Notably, barangay-level
variations are evident, with significant differences in the Nutrition Program and
Reproductive/Family Planning, and high significance in Maternal and Child Health,
Immunization, and Environmental Sanitation. Recommendations include establishing a 24/7
municipal facility for indigent residents, rigorous monitoring of child immunization,
intensified iodized salt promotion, and enhanced dengue prevention efforts. Additionally, the
study advocates for reinforcing natural family planning and overall family program
implementation. The proposed action plan awaits discussion and potential implementation by
the Local Government of Bauan. Future research should focus on strategies to augment
primary health care effectiveness in the region.

Keywords: primary health care services, information education campaign, effectiveness

© The Author(s) / Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs CC BY-NC-ND

Urbano, D. D. V., & Tamayo, M. R. B.

Effectiveness of primary health care services in one municipality in the Province of

Batangas

1. Introduction

Primary Health Care is defined by the World Health Organization (2021) as a “whole-of-society approach to
health that aims at ensuring the highest possible level of health and well-being and their equitable distribution by
focusing on people’s needs and as early as possible along the continuum from health promotion and disease
prevention to treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care, and as close as feasible to people’s everyday
environment." Primary health care plays a vital part in icing the overall health and well- being of individualities
and communities. It serves as the first point of contact for individualities seeking healthcare services and is
essential in addressing their introductory health requirements. In the Philippines, like in numerous developing
countries, primary health care faces multitudinous challenges that hamper its effectiveness and hamper the
achievement of optimal health issues for the population (Ferrer et al., 2005).

To meet the challenge, PHC focuses on the numerous and linked facets of physical, mental, and social health
and well-being while addressing the full range of health factors. It provides whole-person care for health
requirements across the lifespan rather than only for a selection of certain conditions. Primary health care
ensures that patients will receive quality, complete care that is as close to their daily circumstances as possible,
ranging from promotion and prevention to treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care (WHO, 2021). Likewise,
formulating the operation approach of the PHC has spelled significant adaptations and conformance in the
governance of health development, encouraging the cooperation of government with colorful parts of civil
society similar as nongovernment associations (NGOs) and people's associations (POs) among others. It likewise
enabled other sectors to take an active part in responding to the health conditions of the community. Secondly, it
emphasized the involvement of colorful programmatic areas to ensure effective operation of health, weaving
health into socio- profitable development, and making for an intertwined perspective.

Thirdly, it supported prioritizing promotive and preventative aspects of health, rather than investing coffers
substantially on restorative care. therefore, as beforehand as 1978, “there was a coincident trouble to give
precedence attention to the eight essential rudiments of health care similar as education on prevailing health
problems and the styles of precluding and controlling them; creation of acceptable food force and proper
nutrition; introductory sanitation and creation of an acceptable force of safe water; motherly and child care,
including family planning; immunization against the major contagious conditions; forestallment and control of
locally aboriginal conditions; applicable treatment of common conditions and injuries; and provision of essential
medicines (Bautista, 2001).

Demographic changes between countries, different age groups distribution, threat factors, and profitable and
epidemiological surrounds; all make it hard to establish a unique primary healthcare system that suits each
country.” (Alzaied & Alshammari, 2016). In the Philippines, local government units are required to provide
primary healthcare services as per RA 7160, also known as the Local Government Code of 1991. These services
encompass various health programs such as immunization, maternal health, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria
eradication, among others. The World Health Organization (WHO) in 2018 emphasized the importance of
strengthening primary healthcare as the cornerstone of the Philippine Health System Reform and the Universal
Healthcare Act. This is viewed as the most cost-effective approach to achieving universal health coverage in line
with the government's Philippine Health Agenda of "All for Health towards Health for All." Several studies have
been examined, including Santiago et al.'s (2019) research on decentralizing primary healthcare to provinces and
municipalities, Bliss (2021) investigation into the connection between decentralization and public health
expenditures and family planning.

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 Effectiveness of primary health care services in one municipality in the Province of Batangas
Primary health care in the Philippines confronts a myriad of challenges, ranging from limited access to
healthcare services and inadequate infrastructure to health workforce shortages and health inequities. These
problems hinder the provision of comprehensive and accessible care to all individuals and contribute to
suboptimal health outcomes. Addressing these challenges requires a multi-faceted approach that includes
investments in healthcare infrastructure, equitable distribution of healthcare resources and professionals, policy
reforms to enhance healthcare financing and coverage, and initiatives to address health disparities and promote
health equity. By prioritizing and addressing these issues, the Philippines can strengthen its primary health care
system, improve health outcomes, and move closer to achieving universal health coverage and the Sustainable
Development Goals related to health and well-being (Yu et al., 2022).

On the other hand, over the once many decades, the significance of health motifs in the Philippines has
increased. The Philippine Constitution of 1987 guarantees the right to health, which is supplied in the country
through a binary healthcare system that combines the public and private sectors. Health services are handed by
government installations under the control of the public and external governments, which get funding
substantially from levies (Palmer et al., 2006). As a result of the Local Government Code of 1991's devolution of
health services, local government units now directly provide and manage health services such as public health
initiatives, preventive and promotional care, and primary and secondary general hospital services. The mayor-led
municipal government oversees the municipal health system (composed of RHUs and BHSs). The management
of municipal hospitals, medical facilities, health centers, and BHSs is the responsibility of the municipal
government.

In addition, a local health board has been established in each province, city and municipality, and it's led by
the principal superintendent of that area. Its part is to advise the original principal superintendent and the local
legislative council (sangguniang bayan) on subjects pertaining to health. In agreement with the Local
Government Code of 1991, the DOH is still represented by DOH representatives on all local health boards. The
Rural Health Unit (RHU) serves as the main source of free introductory healthcare for pastoral communities
around Batangas City. Thus, conventions with at least one croaker including acceptable nursers and levy workers
have the sole responsibility of looking after a community of thousands of people whilst at the same time having
only a limited number of coffers at their disposal. As similar, the quality of primary health services remains
fugitive or inapproachable to utmost of the population, especially those living in the pastoral and poverty-
stricken areas of the province.

Also, the COVID- 19 epidemic that started in rural China has had a significant impact on how the PHC is
being enforced there. In order to contain the epidemic, interpreters had to take on a significant increase in
workload, and the PHC System saw a drop in patient volume. In order to concentrate on the pivotal public health
duties of shadowing, webbing, and tutoring in remote regions, interpreters reported a significant shift in their
work down from seeing and treating cases at exclusive COVID- 19 conventions. The added trouble, threat, and
fiscal pressure PHC interpreters faced caused great stress and solicitude among the medical staff, especially
those working in vill conventions. Due to the lack of phone or online medical app discussion options, face- to-
face PHC services were drastically elided, which interpreters attributed to the fact that the maturity of their cases
was old and unfit or unintentional to switch. In discrepancy to the non-COVID-19 respiratory tract conditions
that they frequently treated before to the epidemic; interpreters viewed COVID-19 as being outside of their area
of expertise.

At this juncture, this urged the researcher to conduct this study with the end of contributing to the
improvement of the primary health care services handed in the municipality of Bauan in the Province of
Batangas. The study took off by first determining the effectiveness of the primary health care services handed by
the local health unit of the municipality as perceived by the residents and grounded on the findings,
recommended an action plan that may be used as inputs in policy improvement that's concentrated on the
provision of better health care services in the province. This was also intended to give precious inputs that may
be used by the Department of Health in assessing the position of effectiveness of ongoing healthcare services.

International Journal of Research Studies in Management 13

Urbano, D. D. V., & Tamayo, M. R. B.
Subjectively, since studying public administration requires to seek the effectiveness and solutions to the
problems encountered to each governmental programs and services offered to the public, this became a challenge
to the researcher since he came from the academe; to open his eyes on the different wonders of public service
and this brings the researcher a new dimension of learning and realizations beyond the corners of the classroom.
In relation to the recent pandemic that we’ve experienced and observed the dependency of the marginalized
sector to access rural health units and public hospitals. Hence, the researcher assume that this is a call for
everyone to focus on improving that health care system in the country beyond the passage of Universal Health
Care Law of 2018. As such, the researcher came up to this study to determine the effectiveness of the primary
health care services offered in the municipality of Bauan and formulate suggestions to enhance the existing
health care programs.

Objectives of the Study - The study aims to assess the effectiveness of the primary health care services in the
municipality of Bauan, Batangas. More specifically, to; describe the profile of the respondents in terms of age,
sex, educational attainment, Barangay; assess the effectiveness of the primary health care services with regard to
maternal and child health programs, expanded program on immunization, nutrition program, environmental
sanitation, reproductive health and family planning programs; test the significant difference on the effectiveness
of primary health care services when respondents were grouped according to profile variables; and lastly propose
an action plan to enhance the effectiveness of the primary health care services in the municipality of Bauan,
Batangas.

2. Methods

Research Design - A survey, a non-experimental, descriptive research method was used in this study, as it
provided descriptive details on the effectiveness of primary health care services offered in the Municipality of
Bauan, Batangas. The essence of the survey method can be explained as “questioning individuals on a topic or
topics and then describing their responses” (Jackson, 2011). Also, the descriptive method is widely used in most
branches of science, as well as in the researches concerning social sciences topics. A descriptive study is one in
which information is collected without changing the environment. It is used to obtain information concerning the
current status of the phenomena to describe "what exists" with respect to variables or conditions in a situation
(Posinasetti, 2014). This method was applied prominently on this study because it supported the aim of
determining the effectiveness of primary health care services in the Municipality of Bauan, Batangas.

Participants of the Study - A Convenience Sampling was used in the selection of the respondents. It
afforded the researcher to include all the residents that were availing of primary health care services in rural
health units during the data gathering period as respondents of the study. The respondents were chosen from a
total population of 31,477, distributed in the selected barangays within the municipality namely; Barangay
Aplaya, 8,038; Poblacion II, 3,148; Manghinao Proper, 10,789; Santa Maria, 5,129; San Teodoro, 1,788 and
Sinala, 2,585. At 95 percent level of confidence and a 5 percent margin of error, the sample size calculator
revealed that the recommended sample size for this study was 305.

Barangay Number of Participants

Barangay Aplaya 78
Barangay Manghinao Proper 105
Barangay Poblacion IV 31
Barangay Santa Maria 50
Barangay San Teodoro 17
Barangay Sinala 25
TOTAL 305

A total of three hundred five (305) residents from the selected Barangays in the Municipalities of Bauan
were asked to participate as respondents of this study. Their experience and perception of the primary care
services offered by the rural health units served as the backbone of this study.

Data Gathering Instrument - The questionnaire that the researcher utilized was an adopted instrument from

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 Effectiveness of primary health care services in one municipality in the Province of Batangas
a dissertation concerning the same topic which was developed based on the national programs provided by the
Department of Health to determine the effectiveness of the selected primary health care services provided by the
Municipality of Bauan, and served as the primary instrument for data collection in this study. To ensure that each
item was pertinent to the study, experts validated the survey questionnaire. There were two parts to the
questionnaire. The respondents' profile in terms of their available demographic information was the subject of
the first section. The subsequent part centered around the adequacy of essential medical care administrations.
The Likert Scale Method was used to give equivalent verbal interpretations of the gathered numerical data
meaning and interpretation. The score on the scale was the average of the weight assigned to the particular
response made by the respondents. To be able to interpret the responses on the scale, the following range of
mean and their corresponding adjective ratings was observed: 3.50 – 4.00 for Highly Effective (HE); 2.50-3.49
for Effective (E); 1.50-2.49 for Less Effective (I); and 1:00-1.49 for Not Effective (NE). The questionnaire
contained a confidentiality clause whereby respondents were informed that their answers will be treated with
utmost privacy in compliance with Data Privacy Act of 2012.

Data Gathering Procedure - Before the data gathering activity, a letter of request for permission to conduct
interviews along with the approved survey questionnaire was submitted to the Office of the Municipal Mayor for
proper endorsement followed by submission of the letter of request addressed to the Barangay Captains of the
selected barangays. Upon approval of the request, the distribution of the survey instruments was followed.
Patients availing of primary health care services in the rural health units were asked to participate in the survey.
Before the conduct of the survey, the nature of the study and the survey questionnaire itself was explained.
Adequate time was given to ensure that all the questions in the survey form have been fully understood and
answered by the respondents. A total of 305 respondents successfully answered the survey questionnaire. The
data collected from these questionnaires were statistically processed followed by the generation of various
statistical tables.

Ethical Considerations - During the conduct of the study, a letter of permission, included in the survey
questionnaire, was presented to the research participants as it is deemed important to establish trust by ensuring
the anonymity and confidentiality of all respondents. The informative data gathered through the survey
questionnaire were derived from the residents of the selected barangays availing primary health services and
were dealt with in absolute confidentiality. In addition to the confidentiality clause, the respondents were
informed of their right to withdraw their participation even in the middle of answering the questionnaire and
interview. Fortunately, all 305 respondents cooperated and completed answering the survey questionnaire.

Data Analysis - To perform data analysis, several statistical tools were used. Frequency distribution was
used to determine the profile of the respondents in terms of age, sex, educational attainment, and the respective
barangay where the respondent resides. Weighted means and ranking was used to assess the effectiveness of
primary health care services offered in the municipality of Bauan with regards to maternal and child health
program, expanded program on immunization, nutrition program, environmental sanitation, reproductive health
and family planning program. The normality status of the data was tested vis-à-vis the result of the Shapiro-Wilk
Test which revealed that the p-values of two major variables are less than 0.05 which means that the data set is
not normally distributed. Consequently, the Mann Whitney U and Kruskal Wallis test were used to test the
significant difference in the effectiveness of primary health care services when grouped according to profile
variables. By and large, data sets will be processed using a statistical software known as PASW version 26 to
further interpret the results of the study using an alpha level of 0.01.

3. Results and discussion

Table 1 presents the distribution of the respondents profile. As to age, most of them falls on the age bracket
of 40 to 50 years old with a frequency of 90 or 29.5 percent while the least was 18 to 28 years old (17%). This
result is thought to be due to the fact that most of the residents of the surveyed households were in their 40s and
50s at the time of the survey. It was also noted that the 18- to 28-year-old group often refused to provide data

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Urbano, D. D. V., & Tamayo, M. R. B.
because they had never used health services or had little knowledge of most government health services, in
addition, this age bracket is often college students and young professionals who already returned to face-to-face
classes and work. This reasoning was consistent with the findings of Schriver et al. (2014), who found that
younger people have little or no complete understanding of the aims and activities of government health
programs.

Table 1
Percentage Distribution of the Respondents Profile
Age Frequency Percentage %
18-28 years old 52 17.0
29-39 years old 88 28.9
40-50 years old 90 29.5
51 years old and above 75 24.6
Sex
Male 183 60.0
Female 122 40.0
Educational Attainment
Elementary Graduate 10 3.3
High School Undergraduate 9 3.0
High School Graduate 124 40.7
College Undergraduate 128 42.0
College Graduate 34 11.1
Barangay
Barangay Aplaya 78 25.6
Barangay Manghinao Proper 103 33.8
Barangay Poblacion II 32 10.5
Barangay Santa Maria 49 16.1
Barangay San Teodoro 18 5.9
Barangay Sinala 25 8.2

In terms of sex, the study was dominated by male which comprised of 183 (60%) while female got forty
percent. This finding is does not matched with the recent data released by city population (de, 2020) male and
female population of the municipality are almost equal where Males comprised the 49.6% of the total population,
while 50.4% are females. In the latest population count the percentages has an equivalent data of 45,041 and
45,709 respectively. It was also observed from the result that most of the respondents are college undergraduate
with a frequency of 128 or 42 percent while there are nine (9) who obtained high school undergraduate. This
finding may be attributed to the fact that in the municipality of Bauan, the prevalent educational attainment for
learners is primarily high school graduates thus, most of the respondents are from this age group since the
Municipality has several High Schools like its Technical High School Located in Manghinao Proper and its
Vocational High School located in the highland area of the municipality. Also, this finding is in connection with
the study of Curtin, Presser & Singer (2000) where they expounded that in general, more educated and more
affluent people are more likely to participate in surveys than less educated and less affluent people.

Lastly, as to the respondents barangay, most of them are from Barangay Manghinao Proper with 33.8
percent and the least was from Barangay San Teodoro. This result was quite obvious since Barangay Manghinao
Proper is the most populous barangay in the Municipality of Bauan, it was also observed that most of the
residents living in the urban area of the municipality were located in this barangay, in addition to the number of
subdivisions, villages and townhouses located in the vicinity of the barangay. On the other hand, barangay San
Teodoro was one of the least populous barangays in the municipality since this is located in the outskirt of the
municipality, the result also attests the location of the barangay since the only access going here is thru a
National Road passing through the municipality of San Pascual, leading to the municipality of Alitagtag.
Currently, the local government is working for an access road from this barangay going to its nearby barangay,
Cupang.

Table 2 shows the summary table on the effectiveness on Primary Health Care Services. The over-all
composite mean of 3.07 indicates that it is effective in general. Among the program cited, Maternal and Child

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 Effectiveness of primary health care services in one municipality in the Province of Batangas
Health Program topped on the list, followed by Reproductive and Family Planning Program and Environmental
Sanitation with mean score of 3.28, 3.13 and 3.09 respectively. These findings were supported by the United
Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals where in these calls to have a safer child delivery and less global
maternal mortality rate by 2030. Also, the best way to achieve this ambitious target is to: ensure all women have
access to contraception to avoid unintended pregnancies; provide all pregnant women with skilled and respectful
care in a safe environment during delivery; and make sure women with complications have timely access to
quality emergency obstetric care.

Table 2
Table on Effectiveness on Primary Health Care Services
Indicators Weighted Mean Verbal Interpretation Rank
Maternal and Child Health Program 3.28 Effective 1
Expanded Program on Immunization 2.96 Effective 4
Nutrition Program 2.91 Effective 5
Environmental Sanitation 3.09 Effective 3
Reproductive and Family Planning Program 3.13 Effective 2
Composite Mean 3.07 Effective
Legend: 3.50 – 4.00 = Highly Effective; 2.50 – 3.49 = Effective; 1.50 – 2.49 = Less Effective; 1.00 - 1.49 = Not Effective

These findings were also tracked in a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) report
(2012) in consonance with the 2011 Family Health Survey of the Philippine government found out that from
2006 to 2011 maternal mortality increased from 162 to 221 per 100,000 live births. Family planning (FP)
services are a major contributor to rising maternal mortality. The Philippines lags behind other Southeast Asian
countries in the provision of FP services, largely due to national policy challenges and years of limited support
for the provision of FP and reproductive health services.

This finding was also connected to the implementation of section 5 of Republic Act 11223 or the Universal
Health Care Law that was passed in 2019, whereas the Department of Health and the respective Local
Government Units (LGUs) shall endeavor to provide a health care delivery that would afford by every Filipino
and in section 6 the inclusion of the entire population of the country as members in the Philippine Health
Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and this was strengthen by Chapter IV of the said law that discusses the
delivery of Health Care Services to the Population. Meanwhile, Expanded Program on Immunization (2.96) and
Nutrition Program (2.91) rated the least. This was also one of the focuses of UNICEF wherein their organization
is promoting, and prioritizing prioritize marginalized and underserved communities, and strengthen the front-line
immunization workforce to reach them. We engage with communities to learn their values and needs around
quality vaccination services. In addition, UNICEF knows that immunization is one of the most effective public
health interventions, giving every child the opportunity to grow up healthy and reach their full potential.

Locally, there are no published studies to support nor refute this finding, however, national assessment on
immunization revealed that the country failed to reach its 95% target coverage, unlike its neighboring ASEAN
countries (Ulep & Uy, 2021) thereby giving the impression that immunization efforts in the country are still not
effective. Also, the latest study conducted in Pakistan in 2008 differed from the present study. It revealed that
immunization days have a negative impact on immunization coverage and that its effectiveness was hampered by
the inadequate mobility of health workers (Mangrio, Alam & Shaikh, 2008). Fortunately, in the Philippines or
particularly in the province of Batangas, the health workers are the main reason for the effectiveness of the
immunization program.

Table 4 displays the comparison of responses on the effectiveness on Primary Health Care Services when
grouped according to profile. It was observed that there is a significant difference on Expanded Program on
Immunization when grouped according to educational attainment was less than the alpha level. This means that
the responses differ statistically and based on the post hoc test conducted, it was found out that those who are
high school undergraduate assessed the above program more effective. The difference in responses on the
effectiveness of primary health care services when grouped according to age was also evident. These finding was

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Urbano, D. D. V., & Tamayo, M. R. B.
supported by the study of Ortiz et al. (2016) where higher ratings of primary health care services were associated
with an increase in age.

Table 3
Difference of responses on the effectiveness on primary health care services when grouped according to profile
Age F-value p-value Interpretation
Maternal and Child Health Program 0.762 0.516 Not Significant
Expanded Program on Immunization 0.408 0.747 Not Significant
Nutrition Program 1.562 0.199 Not Significant
Environmental Sanitation 0.389 0.761 Not Significant
Reproductive and Family Planning Program 1.082 0.357 Not Significant
Sex
Maternal and Child Health Program 0.424 0.516 Not Significant
Expanded Program on Immunization 1.275 0.260 Not Significant
Nutrition Program 1.051 0.306 Not Significant
Environmental Sanitation 0.118 0.731 Not Significant
Reproductive and Family Planning Program 2.519 0.114 Not Significant
Educational Attainment
Maternal and Child Health Program 0.493 0.741 Not Significant
Expanded Program on Immunization 3.434 0.009 Significant
Nutrition Program 2.025 0.091 Not Significant
Environmental Sanitation 1.009 0.403 Not Significant
Reproductive and Family Planning Program 1.259 0.286 Not Significant
Barangay
Maternal and Child Health Program 15.298 0.000 Highly Significant
Expanded Program on Immunization 4.154 0.001 Highly Significant
Nutrition Program 3.533 0.004 Significant
Environmental Sanitation 5.880 0.000 Highly Significant
Reproductive and Family Planning Program 3.592 0.004 Significant
Legend: Significant at p-value < 0.05

In terms of sex, it was observed that there was no significant difference on all selected primary health care
programs when grouped according to sex. While in terms of educational attainment, it was observed that there
was no significant difference in all primary health programs except for the Expanded Program on Immunization
when grouped according to educational attainment. This was observed since the computed p-values were less
than the alpha level and implied that the responses differ significantly. In addition, there was also significant
difference when grouped according to barangay. This significant difference lies on those who live in Santa.
Maria. This finding is highlighted with the result of the Homogenous Subsets where in the mentioned barangay
got the highest result among other participated barangays.

Table 4
Proposed action plan to enhance the effectiveness of the primary health care programs in Bauan
Programs/ Plans/ Office
Strategy Performance Indicator
Activities Responsible
Continuous Provision of Coordinate with the Local Chief Intensive care to mothers Local Chief Executive
Intensive pre-natal and Executive (LCE), Municipal Budget during pre-natal and Sangguniang Bayan
post-natal care to Office, the Sangguniang Bayan through post-natal stage continuously Budget Office
mothers the Municipal Health Office to source out provided. Municipal Health Office
fundings for the creation activities related
to the said provisions.

Strengthen/ Coordinate with the Local Chief Immunization program for Local Chief Executive
Intensification of the Executive (LCE), Municipal Budget infants 0 to 12 months Sangguniang Bayan
Immunization Program Office, the Sangguniang Bayan through strengthened and intensified. Budget Office
for Infants 0 to 12 the Municipal Health Office and Rural Municipal Health Office
months on a regular Health Units to source out fundings for the Rural Health Offices
basis creation activities related to the said
intensification.

Intensification of Coordinate with the Local Chief The Nutrition advocacy on Local Chief Executive
Nutrition advocacy & Executive (LCE) and Philippine modified diet and continuous Philippine Nutrifoods
dietary counselling on Nutrifoods Corporation through the PABASA Classes intensified Corporation
modified diet and Municipal Health Office to continuously and promoted. Municipal Health Office

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 Effectiveness of primary health care services in one municipality in the Province of Batangas
PABASA Classes conduct the said programs on a regular
basis.

Strict compliance of Coordinate with the Local Chief Food establishments Local Chief Executive
Food establishment, Executive (LCE), Sangguniang Bayan, inspection and training of Sangguniang Bayan
inspection and training Municipal Business Permit and Licensing food handlers will strictly Municipal Business Permit and
of food handling Office thru the Municipal Health Office to complied with. Licensing Office
revisit the existing guidelines for Municipal Health Office
enhancement.

Regular conduct of Coordinate with the Local Chief The pre-marital counselling Local Chief Executive
pre-marital counselling Executive (LCE), Municipal Social to pre-married couples Municipal Social Welfare and
to pre-married couples Welfare and Development Office through regularly in all Barangays in Development Office
for the promotion of the Municipal Health Office to regularly the Municipality. Municipal Health Office
responsible parenthood. schedule the said counselling.

4. Conclusions and recommendations

Based on the results, the respondents were 40 to 50 years of age, male, college undergraduate and the
majority were from Barangay Manghinao Proper. The primary health care service in the municipality of Bauan,
Batangas were effective in terms of the Maternal and Child Health Program, Expanded Program on
Immunization, Nutrition Program, Environmental Sanitation, Reproductive Health, and Family Planning
Program. There is no significant difference on the effectiveness of primary health care services when the
respondents are grouped according to age and sex. In terms of Educational Attainment, there is no significant
difference on all primary health care services except on the expanded program on Immunization. Lastly, in terms
of barangay, respondents have a significant difference on Nutrition Program and, Reproductive and Family
Planning Program while Maternal and Child Health Program, Expanded Program on Immunization, and
Environmental Sanitation are Highly Significant. An action plan is proposed to enhance the effectiveness of
primary health care services in the municipality of Bauan, Batangas.

The Local Government of Bauan, Batangas through the Local Chief Executive (LCE) and Sangguniang
Bayan may provide a municipal facility-based delivery to be opened on a 24/7 basis to accommodate indigent
residents.The Local Government of Bauan, Batangas through the Municipal Health Office may strictly monitor
and intensify a tracking system for the immunization of children 0 to 11 months. The Local Government of
Bauan, Batangas through the Municipal Health Office may intensify the promotion of iodized salt for prevention
of simple goiter, may continue to conduct self- testing to market and strict implementation of ASIN program.
The Local Government of Bauan, Batangas through the Municipal Health Office may intensify the conduct of
Information Education Campaign/Lecture, school misting on dengue prevention and monitoring of dengue cases
on the Municipality. The Local Government of Bauan, Batangas through the Municipal Social Welfare and
Development office, and Municipal Health Office may strengthen the family program with focus on the practice
of natural family planning methods and promotion of family planning services in the municipality. The
proposed action plan may be tabled for discussion for future implementation and evaluation thereafter. Future
researchers may conduct similar research on the impact of the primary health care services to the residents of
Bauan, Batangas.

5. References

Alzaied, T. A. M., & Alshammari, A. (2016). An evaluation of primary healthcare centers (PHC) services: The
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