Capeding, T. P. J. Z. (2017). Using the dimensions of access barriers framework to reduce neonatal deaths in Tagapul-an, Samar (Unpublished master's thesis). Graduate School of Public and Development Management, Development Academy of the Philippines.

Graduate School of Public and Development Management. Health Systems and Development. Batch 7 Thesis (MPM-HSD)--Development Academy of the Philippines.

Neonatal deaths are an important of a health status. A high neonatal mortality rate is an indicator of a poor performing health system. Tagapul-an is a Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Area (GIDA) municipality that has a high neonatal mortality rate at 23.8 neonatal deaths per 1,000 live births, almost double the national average. One of the causes of the high neonatal mortality rate id the problem of access to health services. The study determined which barriers to access are present in the municipality using the dimensions of access barriers framework; employed community consultation strategies to implement the interventions; and identified the performance gasp of the interventions using the ANC4 completion rate as proxy measure of access. Using the dimensions of access barriers framework, the community identified geographic accessibility, acceptability, and availability as access barriers to healthcare in Tagapul-an. To address geographic accessibility, the following initiatives were implemented; the Rural Health Unit-Barangay Health Station Transport Service (RHU-BHS), the Barangay Health Transport Service, and the expansion of antenatal care consults in January to August 2107 as compared to the same period in 2016. In conclusion, community engagement strategies can be an effective approach to address healthcare access barriers through identification of perceived relevant operational gaps and implementation of applicable interventions.