Structure and Agency Influencing Community Health Care Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Northern Philippines: A Phenomenological Analysis

Abstract

Community Health Care Workers (CHWs) play a crucial role in the pandemic response, especially in developing countries like the Philippines. However, there is a lacuna of interdisciplinary studies exploring their first-hand experiences. This study framed in Giddens' structuration aimed to describe the lived experiences of CHWs along with the role of structure and agency to the challenges, motivations, and coping strategies of CHWs in crafting grassroots policies for the enhancement of healthcare delivery in Cagayan, Northern Philippines. Employing the phenomenological method, forty-six (46) study participants were purposively selected. Their narratives were elicited through Focus Group Discussion (FGD) using a semi-structured interview guide, and their responses were transcribed verbatim. Results revealed that the CHWs experienced many challenges: unpreparedness, a new concept of space, personal and social consequences of COVID-19, particularly fear and discrimination, and limited human and material resources. However, they remain motivated to serve their community. Thus, CHWs are potent actors in the COVID-19 response of Cagayan, Northern Philippines.