HEALTH WORKFORCE CAPACITY AND HEALTH SERVICE DELIVERY OUTCOMES IN RURAL HEALTH UNITS IN THE CALAMIANES GROUP OF ISLANDS

The study examined the health workforce capacity and health services delivery outcomes in Rural Health Units (RHUs) in the Calamianes Group of Islands. It employed a quantitative research design using descriptive and inferential statistical methods to determine the potential relationship among variables. A total of 200 clients/patients who utilized the RHU’s services in the Calamianes Group of Islands, such as Busuanga, Coron, Culion, and Linapacan, served as respondents. Their demographic profiles were analyzed in relation to their assessments of health workforce capacity and perceptions of health services delivery outcomes. Data were collected through a structured survey questionnaire. Findings show that the majority of respondents were aged 26 to 30 years, predominantly female, married, high school graduates, and unemployed. Respondents were equally distributed across the four municipalities. In terms of health workforce capacity, respondents reported a mean rating of 3.11 for staffing and availability of health workers, 3.28 for staff performance and workload, 3.30 for perceived competence, and 3.10 for availability and adequacy of health resources. Regarding health service delivery outcomes, the results showed a mean of 3.3 for expanded immunization, 3.35 for maternal care services, 3.23 for child health services, 3.54 for family planning services, and 3.19 for dengue prevention and control. Inferential analysis revealed that sex, civil status, highest level of educational attainment, and employment status had a significant relationship with both health workforce capacity and health services delivery outcomes in RHUs. In contrast, there were no significant relationships found between sex and place of residency. Based on the findings, the study recommends strengthening health workforce capacity through the hiring of additional personnel, optimizing staff scheduling, ensuring equitable workload distribution, and sustaining continuous training and professional development.