Title: Structure and Agency Influencing Community Health Care Workers During the COVID-19

Pandemic in Northern Philippines: A Phenomenological Analysis

Author/s: Acusnsion et.al
Date of Publication: May 5, 2022

Abstract:
In underdeveloped nations like the Philippines, community health workers (CHWs) are especially
important in the pandemic response. Interdisciplinary research that focus on their first-hand experiences
are few, nevertheless. This study, which was framed in accordance with Giddens' structuration, sought to
describe the lived experiences of CHWs as well as the role of structure and agency to the difficulties,
driving forces, and coping mechanisms of CHWs in developing grassroots policies for the improvement
of healthcare delivery in Cagayan, Northern Philippines. Forty-six (46) study participants were
purposefully chosen using the phenomenological method. A semi-structured interview guide was used to
elicit their narratives during Focus Group Discussions (FGD), and their comments were verbatim
transcribed. The findings showed that the CHWs faced numerous difficulties, including under
preparedness, a novel understanding of space, COVID-19's personal and societal repercussions, including
fear and discrimination, and a lack of human and financial resources. They are still driven to help their
community, though. As a result, CHWs are effective contributors to Cagayan's COVID-19 response.

Sources: https://www.richtmann.org/journal/index.php/ajis/article/view/12916
Reflection
It’s not that long since COVID-19 has been a big hurdle to the society, economy, and
development of the health care system. Until now, there are still cases in several areas that are active. It’s
true now that here in Davao, we are conducting face-to-face classes, with standards and guidelines,
however, some hospitals still have some cases of the virus. Up until now, I am experiencing hardships
because of this virus. It is still a hindrance that neglects our development as a country.
In the northern Philippines or in Luzon, they are still conducting online-classes there including the
medical courses, especially, the nursing. One of the main reasons why the healthcare system here in the
Philippines doesn’t have good improvements, is that medical practitioners and scholars lack the skill and
compassion to initiate nursing care, especially community health nursing community-based skills.
Moreover, up until now we have a lack of appreciation for our community health nurses that’s why it
alters their motivation in some way. These circumstances lead to total burnout since the aggravating
factors was mention in the academic journal which are; faced numerous difficulties, including under
preparedness, a novel understanding of space, COVID-19's personal and societal repercussions, including
fear and discrimination, and a lack of human and financial resources.
Curiosity always strikes in my mind as a student nurse. Why do we still have these types of
problems? What I mean is, it’s been so long since we developed ways to cope with the stimulus or
problems in the health care system, and still ended up in these never-ending conclusions. Should I blame
this on the government? To the people or community who are not actively participating in community
health programs? Or to myself? Ton questions pop up in my brain. For the thousand years that we have,
we should’ve been able to cut across the boundary as one.