Community Health Assessment Overview

Study Notes

A community assessment identifies the assets, needs and resources of a community to guide actions that improve community health.
Involves gathering primary data from direct sources and secondary data from existing records or reports.

Ocular Survey/ Windshield Survey:
- A rapid observational method conducted by driving or walking through the community to assess:
  - People (demographics, behavior)
  - Environment (condition of housing, infrastructure)
  - Existing facilities (availability of health resources)
Participant Observation:
- Purposeful immersion into community life to observe:
  - Formal activities like barangay assemblies or church meetings
  - Informal settings such as sari-sari stores or schools
  - Helps understand community values, norms, priorities, and power structures
Surveys:
- Used to collect data when no prior information is available.
- Surveys empower the community by making them aware of health problems, encouraging participation, and fostering a sense of ownership.
- Types:
  - Comprehensive Needs Assessment (random sampling)
  - Problem-Oriented Assessment (purposive sampling)
Informant Interviews:
- Interviews with key informants (nurses, community leaders) or ordinary members to gather perceptions about health.
- Structured or unstructured interviews
Community Forum:
- Open meetings where people can express their views on health issues, influence decision-makers, and validate secondary data
Focus Groups:
- Smaller, homogeneous groups to assess the specific needs of particular population segments

Vital Events Registry:
- Registration of births, marriages, and deaths is mandated by the Civil Registration Law (Act 3753) and Local Government Code (RA 7160).
- The PSA (Philippine Statistics Authority) serves as the central repository for these records.
- Birth and death events must be reported within 30 days, with specific guidelines for who is responsible (facility administrator, attending physician, parents, etc.).
Health Records and Reports:
- Field Health Service Information System (FHSIS):
  - A government-mandated system for recording health data at local levels, such as Barangay Health Stations (BHS) or Rural Health Units (RHUs).
  - Data recorded is used for monitoring health programs, priority setting, and decision-making.
- Target Client Lists: These are used by health workers to track eligible populations for various health services (prenatal care, family planning, tuberculosis control, etc.).
- Disease Registries:
  - Listings of individuals diagnosed with specific diseases for monitoring purposes (e.g., HIV/AIDS, cancer, diabetes).
Census Data:
- Conducted every 10 years to provide information on population, employment, family income, etc., which can be used for assessing community health needs.

These tools are critical for:
- Planning and decision-making at various levels (barangay, municipal, district, etc.).
- Monitoring health programs and evaluating their effectiveness.
- Empowering communities by involving them in the process of identifying and addressing health needs.