COVID-19 vaccination knowledge, attitudes, risk perception, and intention among health workers in a district in Manila, Philippines

Background@#Vaccination is an effective public health measure. Health workers, who are at risk of acquiring infectious diseases due to their occupation, are important targets of vaccination. However, previous studies have shown varying rates of vaccine uptake among health workers. @*Objective@#This study aimed to determine the knowledge, attitudes, risk perceptions, and intention towards COVID-19 and vaccination of Filipino health workers in the city of Manila, Philippines. @*Methodology@#The study employed a sequential mixed methods design. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on the study variables. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the level of COVID-related knowledge, attitude, risk perception, and intention to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Logistic regression was performed to identify the factors that were associated with intention. @*Results@#Majority (89.4%) had a good knowledge of COVID-19 but had little to moderate knowledge of COVID-19 vaccines. Around half reported feeling unsure about the safety and efficacy of the vaccines while the remaining half expressed intent to get the vaccine. Logistic regression analysis showed that the odds of intention to get vaccinated were higher among those with positive perceived self-efficacy, behavioral intention, external cues to action, perceived vaccine efficacy, and good knowledge on COVID-19 infection prevention. @*Conclusion@#Health workers play a crucial role in the promotion of public health measures such as vaccination to control the spread of COVID-19. The study confirms the need for strengthening education and communication strategies focusing on the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines to prevent the spread of false information and promote vaccine uptake among health workers.

Association of knowledge and risk perceptions of Manila City school teachers with COVID-19 vaccine acceptance

Background and Objective@#In addressing vaccine acceptance, teachers may play a pivotal role as educators and models of behavior, as they serve as reliable sources of information. Thus, this study aimed to determine the association between knowledge and risk perception of teachers and their acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine. @*Methodology@#This study utilized an analytic, cross-sectional design. Seven hundred and seven public secondary school teachers in Manila City, Philippines accomplished the online self-administered questionnaire. The study was guided by the Health Belief Model (HBM). Multiple logistic regression was used to determine the factors associated with acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine. @*Results@#Respondents had a high knowledge on COVID-19 mode of transmission (95.2%), signs and symptoms (92.9%), diagnosis (57.6%), treatment (98.9%), and prevention (92.2%). They had a high risk perception (>69.2%) pertaining to four constructs (Perceived Susceptibility, Perceived Severity, Perceived Benefits, Cues to Action) of the HBM. Low risk perception of barriers was observed (66.1%). The majority (92.5%) are willing to accept the COVID-19 vaccine. Respondents who teach health-related subjects (94.4%) garnered more vaccine acceptors compared to teachers of non-health-related subjects (91.6%). After adjusting for sex, age, highest educational attainment, and subjects taught, Cues to Action remained to be associated with COVID- 19 vaccine acceptance. @*Conclusion@#Although high levels of knowledge and risk perceptions were observed, only Cues to Action had a significant association with COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. Hence, they need external cues, from physicians or the Food and Drug Administration, to accept the COVID-19 vaccine.

Assessment of the research capacity of the Centers for Health Development, Philippine Department of Health

@#<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>BACKGROUND:</strong> In 2012, the Philippine Department of Health (DOH) established the Health Systems Research Management (HSRM). One of the HSRM components is increasing the research capacity of the Centers for Health Development (CHD) which is the regional office of the DOH.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>OBJECTIVE:</strong> To determine the research capacity of CHDs and to describe research input, research process, and research output.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>METHODS:</strong> A descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed. The data were collected using self-administered questionnaire with the Regional Director as the CHD respondent. The research capacity level was determined using rating scale measurement. Based on the ratings, each CHD was assigned a score with the corresponding capacity level: excellent (85-100%); good (70-84%); fair (51-69%); poor (<50%).</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>RESULTS:</strong> Fourteen (82%) of the 17 CHDs participated in the study. The institutional capacity level of the CHDs was poor in the areas of research management (43.0%) and in structure/ organization/ monitoring/ evaluation (30.0%), while it was fair in the area of resource mobilization (54.5%). Research input, research process, and research output were found to be lacking.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>CONCLUSION:</strong> The capacity level of the CHDs in the various aspects of institutional research ranged from poor to fair. Specific areas under research input, research process, and research output that need improvement were identified which can be used as benchmark for capacity-building activities and as information-base against which the effectiveness of these activities in the CHDs can be evaluated.</p>

Correlates of health literacy among Filipinos aged 50-70 years old belonging to low-income families in a selected community

@#<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>OBJECTIVE:</strong> A number of studies worldwide have shown that health literacy is vital in the improvement of health status of individuals as well as in the effective implementation of health programs. In the Philippines, however, data regarding the level of health literacy among Filipino adults are yet to be gathered. This study then aimed to describe the health literacy level and to determine the correlates of health literacy among Filipino adults aged 50 to 70 years old belonging to the lower socioeconomic class in a selected community.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>METHODS:</strong> An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted, utilizing data from the study of Briones, M. et. al in 2015, among selected Filipino adults in a barangay in Pasig City.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>RESULTS:</strong> Ninety-four percent of the study participants had problematic/inadequate health literacy level. The factors found to be statistically associated with having problematic / inadequate health literacy were having at most high school level education, and not being able to visit a medical doctor in the past 12 months. Nonetheless, being self-employed made an individual less likely to have a problematic/inadequate health literacy.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>CONCLUSIONS:</strong> There was a high proportion of individuals who had problematic/inadequate health literacy among 50 to 70 years old in the study area. Socio-economic characteristics such as educational attainment and healthcare access were shown to be associated with an individual's level of health literacy. Despite the extensive health information available to the public, the level of health literacy still remained to be poor. This indicates that there is a need to evaluate if said information are easily accessed, understood, appraised and applied by individuals to make sound health decisions.</p>

Factors associated with newborn screening compliance among mothers who gave birth in Quezon City lying-in clinics

BACKGROUND: Newborn screening (NBS) detects genetic and metabolic conditions that may be present in a newborn before clinical symptoms manifest. Early detection and treatment prevents catastrophic health outcomes. It was introduced into the public health delivery system with the enactment of the Newborn Screening Act of 2004. However, there still seems to be a trend of noncompliance.OBJECTIVE: The study sought to determine the prevalence of NBS compliance in Quezon City lying-in clinics (LICs) between 2010-2015 and the factors that are associated with compliance of mothers with NBS.METHODS: An analytic cross sectional study design was utilized. Records of 710 mothers who gave birth in Quezon City LICs were randomly selected. Multiple logistic regression was used to determine if the mothers' age, civil status, PhilHealth membership, gravidity, and parity were associated with NBS compliance.RESULTS: A 6-year prevalence of NBS compliance of 36.6% was found. PhilHealth members were more likely to comply with newborn screening (AOR=4.1; 95%CI: 2.9 - 6.0). Moreover, the odds of compliance among married mothers were higher than unmarried mothers (AOR=1.6; 95%CI: 1.1 - 2.3). Finally, primiparous mothers were more likely to comply than multiparous mothers (AOR=1.5; 95%CI: 1.0 - 2.1). Age and gravidity were not found to have statistical association with NBS compliance.CONCLUSION: The higher odds of compliance among PhilHealth members was expected since they can avail of NBS for free. Ninety-five percent of primiparous mothers included in the study were primigravid; they are more likely to go to prenatal checkups when NBS information is given, according to literature.