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Table 5 Analytical framework of perception of the present (job satisfaction, role, problems, and experience)

From: Bottom-up approach to strengthen community-based malaria control strategy from community health workers’ perceptions of their past, present, and future: a qualitative study in Palawan, Philippines

Topic

Theme

Code

Description

Job satisfaction

Satisfied

Satisfied

Satisfied to be working as a microscopist.

Achievement of the motivation (hope)

Devotion

To help the community, village, and people.

Case reduction*

Malaria incidence is decreasing.*

Inquisitiveness

To increase knowledge about malaria.

Role

Case reduction*

Case reduction*

Malaria incidence is decreasing.*

More in rainy season

More in rainy season

More patients in the rainy season.

Problems

Working conditions

Supply

Shortage of materials and/or medicine.

Setting

No electricity, broken equipment,* and/or narrowness of working space.**

Finances

Incentives differ per municipality and are often delayed. No travel budget for home visits or official trips.

Working hours

Patients want to be diagnosed any time, no replacement exists,* and no maternal leave was thought to be available.

Employment

Strict recruitment policy.

Health damage

Health problems caused by microscopy such as eye problem and headache.

Limitations

Cannot treat other health problem.

Politics

After election, policies often change.

Recipients

Patient

Recurring malaria,** inappropriate intake of medicine,** and/or difficult personality.

Community

Distrust by villagers, belief in certain religions, and/or belief in traditional medicine (indigenous residents).*

No/fewer problems

No problems

No problems

 

Fewer problems*

Along with reduction in malaria, fewer problems occur.*

Experience

Sad

Community distrust

Difficulty in being trusted by the community.

Patient death

Patient died because the patient or their family did not trust microscopists and did not seek treatment from microscopists.

Disagreement in diagnosis*

Diagnoses of medical technologists or private hospitals do not match with those of microscopists.*

Politics

Autocratic behavior of politically strong persons.

Working hours

Patient wants to be diagnosed any time, and no maternal leave was thought to be available.

Happy

Devotion

Could help the patients and community.

Meeting

Gather with other microscopists in meetings, training, and yearly malaria congress.

  1. *Only mentioned in the FGDs in the northern regions
  2. **Only mentioned in the FGDs in the southern regions