Key Informant Interview Guide – Barangay

Key Informant: Kagawad Zarah B. Cabiles, Kagawad ng Kalusugan, Brgy. San Roque, Pateros

Objectives:

1. To determine the leader’s perception about the current health status of the senior
citizen community of Pateros
2. To determine the perceived problems of the senior citizens of Pateros and the
government actions toward them.
3. To determine current services the senior citizens are able to avail of and determine the
how these services are received by the community.
4. To determine the resources available for the baranggay and how they are allocated

 
Guide Questions:
1.       What do you think is the current health status of the older persons in your
community? (Sa inyong sariling palagay, ilarawan n’yo po ang kalagayang pangkalusugan ng
mga nakatatanda sa inyong komunidad?)
 
                The informant said that the senior citizens in their barangay are generally faced with
chronic lifestyle diseases. She said that the “younger” senior citizens, those who just turned 60
until age 69 are still able to participate in activities of the barangay compared to those who are
“older” who just stay at home and are unable to move around by themselves.
 
2.       What are the current health problems of the older persons in your community? Do you
think they are aware of their health problems? (Anu-ano po ang mga problemang
pangkalusugan na kasalukuyang hinaharap ng mga nakatatanda sa inyong komunidad? Sa
palagay ninyo po ba ay alam ng mga nakatatanda sa inyong komunidad ang mga problemang
pangkalusugan na kanilang kinahaharap?)
 
                The informant enumerated the current health problems of senior citizens of Barangay
San Roque are lifestyle diseases. She said that hypertension is the most prevalent in their
barangay, followed by diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The informant said
that the senior citizens are aware of their current conditions although not all of them have
sought medical help.
 
3.       What are the causes of those health problems? Are they aware of those causes? What do
you think are the older persons doing to address those causes? (Anu-ano po ang mga
kadahilanan na nakapagdudulot ng mga nasabing problemang pangkalusugan ng mga
nakatatanda? Alam po ba ng mga nakatatanda sa komunidad ang mga kadahilanang ito? Sa
inyong palagay, ano po kaya ang mga ginagawa ng mga nakatatanda upang tugunan ang mga
kadahilanang iyon?)
 
                 The informant said that the main causes of these diseases are lifestyle choices
of senior citizens. Cigarette smoking is very prevalent in the community, even in the
elderly population. The informant also said that the people in their community also fond
of eating salty and fatty foods. According to the informant, the senior citizens were
aware of these risk factors but they do not think of it as a pressing problem. The
informant said that they think more of their financial problem rather than their health
problems. The informant added that the elderly only address their health problems by
going to the health center for consultation if they feel the symptoms of their diseases.
 
4.       As kagawad for Health of Brgy San Roque, what programs do you think would help
address the health needs of the older persons in your community? Do you think that those
needs are being attended to by health center? How could we be of help in implementing those
programs? (Bilang kagawad para kalusugan ng barangay, anu-ano po ang mga programang sa
tingin ninyo ay makakatugon sa pangangailangang pangkalusugan ng mga nakatatanda sa
komunidad? Nagagampanan po ba ng health center ang mga programang iyon? Sa inyo pong
palagay, paano po kami makatutulong upang maisagawa ang mga programang iyon?)
 
The informant said that as the kagawad for health in Brgy San Roque, she is the one who
communicates primarily with the health center regarding the health problems of all
members of their community. She says she maintains a constant communication with
the members of the Masikap Health Center team. The informant mentioned different
programs of the barangay office to address the health concerns of the elderly such as
blood pressure monitoring, Operation Timbang and referral to the health center.
According to the informant she thinks that the health center is doing their part in
addressing the health needs of the elderly population in their community. The
informant said that the best ways that the student nurses can help the health center in
promoting the programs to the community are through information dissemination and
health teaching.
 
5.       What services of the health center are available to the older persons in your community?
Do you think that they are aware of those services? What other services do you think should be
made available to them? (Bilang tagapangasiwa ng health center, anu-ano po ang mga
serbisyong pangkalusugang nakahanda para sa mga nakatatanda? Sa inyong palagay, alam po
ba ng mga nakatatanda ang mga serbisyong iyon? Anu-ano pa pong mga serbisyo ang sa
palagay po ninyo ay dapat pang ilaan para sa mga nakatatanda?)
 
                The Masikap Health Center has different health services and programs available
to the senior citizens of Brgy San Roque. According to the informant services such as
immunizations, dental services, laboratory services, and radiology services are available
for senior citizens of their community. The other health centers within Pateros also have
specialty clinics that address problems of the Pateros citizens such as the Diabetes Clinic
and Cardiology Clinic. The informant said that she thinks the senior citizens of San
Roque are sufficiently informed about these available services. She said though, that the
residents do not frequently visit the health center for consultations. According to the
 informant, most of the time, the significant others of the elderly bring them to consult
private practitioners. She also added that the citizens see the schedule of the specialty
clinics as inconvenient because they are only open on specific days. She also said that
these services are not offered in the Masikap Health Center so the distance is another
setback for the senior citizens.
 
6.       What benefits do the older persons receive from the health center? Do you think that
they are aware of those benefits? What other benefits do you think should be made available
to them? (Anu-ano po ang mga benepisyong natatamo ng mga nakatatanda sa health center?
Sa palagay ninyo po ba ay alam ng mga nakatatanda ang mga nasabing benepisyo? Anu-ano
pa po ang mga benepisyong sa tingin ninyo ay dapat pa pong mailaan sa mga nakatatanda?)
 
The informant says the senior citizens enjoy the same 20% discount they receive in
purchasing medicines and other basic services in availing the services of the health center. She
adds that the senior citizens are aware of these benefits although they do not avail of them
often. She says that these services must be made more accessible to senior citizens since
according to her going to different places is becoming a problem to the senior citizens.