Pira, J. J. R. (2019). A comparative analysis of causative factors for low healthcare service access in the 3 Municipalities of Abra (Unpublished master's thesis). Public Management Development Program, Development Academy of the Philippines.

Public Management Development Program Middle Managers Class Batch 19 Thesis (MMC)--Development Academy of the Philippines.

The Department of Health's mission and vision is aimed towards establishing a healthcare system that would further decrease mortalities and morbidities, thereby producing the healthiest citizens in Southeast Asia by 2022, and in Asia by 2040. This was supported by the establishment of functional healthcare provider networks that would provide quality and accessible essential healthcare products and services at any given place and time. In light of this, the Capstone Project aimed (a) to identify specific root causes of patient factors and external factors that resulted to low healthcare service access, and (b) to determine possible ways to address these factors and further increase healthcare utilization rates that would eventually decrease mortality rates within the areas. The Capstone Project utilized quantitative and qualitative methods that were aimed in answering specific objectives A and B, respectively. The study was held in the three municipalities of Abra, namely, Danglas, Boliney, and Langiden; and respondents were selected using the Survey Monkey Method. Specific objective A was answered through the conduct of a perceptive survey among 372 respondents, within the age range of 20 to 90 years old, proportionally distributed in the three municipalities. The data was analyzed using percentage proportions of their responses. While for specific objective B, it was answered through the conduct of focus group discussions among the Local Chief Executives, Barangay Captains, Barangay Health Workers and Municipal Health Officer/Public Health Nurse from the respective municipalities, where data was treated using thematic analysis. Out of the 371 respondents, 71% (265) were females and 29% (107) were males. Majority of the respondents represented the 41-60 age group (56%, 207), followed by the 20-40 age group (33%, 123), and the 61-and-above age group (11%, 42). As to the municipality distribution of respondents, Danglas had 141 (38%), Boliney had 123 (33%), ad Langiden had 108 (29%). Results on Patient Factor delays revealed the females were more predisposed as compared to males; and the older working age group was the most predisposed, while the senior citizens age group was the least. Although results were the same in proportions in the different municipalities, the municipalities of Langiden and Boliney had the highest predisposition with 19.75% and 19.11% respectively. For the top 3 ranked External Factors: in Danglas - nakakalimutan magpa check-up kaya ginagamot ang sarili was their top, followed by distance and fare; in Boliney - walang doctor sa health center, transportation, fare and cost for healthcare service were their top; and in Langiden - transportation was their top, followed by distance, and then, fare. The study was able to identify which population were more prone to be affected with patient factors delays in making decisions to seek consult. Also, it was able to compare the three municipalities and elicit specific differences a to what external factors mostly affected their decisions to access the healthcare services in their respective areas. With all information gathered, specific and realistic solutions were proposed in action plans in order to address the identified issues and concerns that will increase healthcare service utilization, thus eventually decreasing the incidence of mortality rates.