Health status of the residents in occidental mindoro, Philippines: a way to make a healthy community.
OBJECTIVE
Even though Philippines is widely known as exporters of health workers in the world, the Occidental Mindoro province suffers from a lack of health workers compared with the total population of each municipality. The aim of this study was to observe, identify, and understand the persisting health status, knowledge, and practices among the three selected communities in Occidental Mindoro, Philippines.


METHODS
The study applied a survey using basic questions with three key topics, with relevance to the health condition of the villagers, such as demographics (social capital and regional characteristics), lifestyle (healthy living, and healthy lifestyle and behavior), and status or position in the society (general demographics, and personal behavior and attitudes), with a random sample of 256 adult respondents.


RESULTS
Only about 54.3% rated themselves as fair/moderately healthy, and a total of 17.2% suffered from chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, cancers, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cardiovascular disease, while 9% have been diagnosed with tuberculosis in the past 6 months. Respondents mostly have low income and low education.


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of the respondents have only primary and secondary education, and a very low average income; these suggest that respondents were afflicted with poverty and low educational attainment. Respondents who are deprived of their rights to obtain a higher education also have a higher chance of having less knowledge on their well-being. Health programs do not guarantee a healthy individual and a healthy society, but a combination of health programs and socioeconomic support can help in creating a healthy community.
Department of Environmental Medical Biology, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju, Korea.
Rosa Mistica C
RM
Ignacio
Department of Environmental Medical Biology, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju, Korea.
Ma Easter Joy V
ME
Sajo
Institute of Poverty Alleviation & International Development, Yonsei University, Wonju, Korea ; Department of Health Administration, College of Health Sciences, Yonsei University, Wonju, Gangwon, Korea.
Eun Woo
EW
Nam
Institute of Poverty Alleviation & International Development, Yonsei University, Wonju, Korea ; Department of Preventive Medicine, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju, Korea.
Chun Bae
CB
Kim
Institute of Poverty Alleviation & International Development, Yonsei University, Wonju, Korea ; Department of Public Administration, College of Government and Business, Yonsei University, Wonju, Korea.
Dong Won
DW
Ahn
Institute of Poverty Alleviation & International Development, Yonsei University, Wonju, Korea ; Department of Public Administration, College of Government and Business, Yonsei University, Wonju, Korea.
Pan Suk
PS
Kim
Department of Environmental Medical Biology, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju, Korea ; Institute of Poverty Alleviation & International Development, Yonsei University, Wonju, Korea.
Kyu Jae
KJ
Lee
Occidental Mindoro; Philippines; health status; healthy community; healthy lifestyle; personal behavior