Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome and Cardiovascular Risk Factors among Community Health Workers in Selected Villages in the Philippines

Abstract

Community health workers, as in many other countries, are the front liners in the delivery of primary health care at the grassroots level, both in urban and rural communities in the Philippines. The term CHWs embraces a variety of community health aides who are selected, trained and are working in the communities from which they come. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), CHWs should be: (1) members of the communities where they work, (2) selected by the communities, (3) answerable to the communities for their activities, (4) supported by the health system but not necessarily as part of its organization, and (5) should have shorter training than professional workers. 1In the Philippines, CHWs refer mainly to Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) although CHWs can also include Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNSs), Rural Health Midwives (RHMs) and Mother Leaders (MLs). In some areas of the country, there are MLs who perform the same roles as BHWs. Mostly females, BHWs are volunteers who are supposed to be accredited by the Local Health Board (LHB) and who have been trained to provide primary health care services in the community in accordance with the guidelines promulgated by the Department of Health (DOH). 2 The number of health workers in the community is set by the DOH. It is determined by the ideal ratio of BHWs relative to the number of households, provided that the total number of BHWs nationwide shall not exceed one percent (1%) of the total population. 2 BHWs, usually of age 20 to 45 years, play significant roles in providing primary health care in the communities they serve. 1 A study conducted in Camarines Sur in the Luzon island in the Philippines reported that majority of BHWs

The Prevalence and Risk Factors of Hypertension among the Urban Population in Southeast Asian Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Eight studies were cross-sectional studies, and only one used a prospective cohort study design. All studies were conducted in the SEA region: three in Malaysia [ 14 , 18 , 19 ], two in Myanmar [ 15 , 17 ], and one each from Singapore [ 20 ], Thailand [ 21 ], Indonesia [ 16 ], and the Philippines [ 22 ]. Based on study settings, six studies were conducted among a community [ 14 – 17 , 21 , 22 ], two were school based [ 18 , 19 ] and one was in a clinic setting [ 22 ].…”

“…All studies were conducted in the SEA region: three in Malaysia [ 14 , 18 , 19 ], two in Myanmar [ 15 , 17 ], and one each from Singapore [ 20 ], Thailand [ 21 ], Indonesia [ 16 ], and the Philippines [ 22 ]. Based on study settings, six studies were conducted among a community [ 14 – 17 , 21 , 22 ], two were school based [ 18 , 19 ] and one was in a clinic setting [ 22 ]. For the targeted population, two studies were conducted among school-going adolescents [ 18 , 19 ], two were among those aged > 15 years [ 15 , 16 ], and the remaining five studies were conducted among adults [ 14 , 16 , 17 , 21 , 22 ].…”

“…Based on study settings, six studies were conducted among a community [ 14 – 17 , 21 , 22 ], two were school based [ 18 , 19 ] and one was in a clinic setting [ 22 ]. For the targeted population, two studies were conducted among school-going adolescents [ 18 , 19 ], two were among those aged > 15 years [ 15 , 16 ], and the remaining five studies were conducted among adults [ 14 , 16 , 17 , 21 , 22 ]. All the studies have their diagnostic criteria for hypertension, as shown in Table 2 .…”

“…Of the nine articles, only eight were included for meta-analysis of the PPE [ 14 – 20 , 22 ]. One article was not included in the meta-analysis as the whole sample was hypertensive [ 21 ].…”

“…That study also confirmed that low education and socioeconomic levels were associated with hypertension among the urban population. The other associated factors were high BMI and increased waist circumference [ 16 ], dyslipidaemia [ 16 , 22 ], and smoking [ 22 ].…”