Competency Assessment of Community Health Workers as Health Navigators in a Rural Philippine Municipality: A Mixed-Method Study

Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) are essential frontline actors in the Philippine health system, serving as community health navigators under the Universal Health Care (UHC) framework. This study assessed the knowledge and skills of BHWs in Bacacay, Albay, identifying strengths and areas for improvement to inform targeted training and capacity-building interventions. A quantitative descriptive design was employed, surveying all 71 accredited BHWs using a structured questionnaire adapted from Republic Act No. 7883, Republic Act No. 11223, and the Department of Health’s BHW Reference Manual (2022). Indicators measured competencies in patient care and administrative tasks using a five-point Likert scale. Results revealed that BHWs demonstrated strong knowledge and competence in patient care functions such as referral coordination, patient communication, and follow-up monitoring, with moderate competency in emergency response, disease reporting, and digital health skills. Administrative knowledge was generally adequate, though familiarity with national health priorities and system-level policies was limited. These findings underscore the need for structured capacity-building programs, including digital literacy, emergency response training, and policy-oriented orientation, to enhance the effectiveness of BHWs as health navigators. Strengthening these competencies is critical for improving primary health care delivery, ensuring continuity of care, and supporting equitable implementation of UHC in rural communities.