"The staff are not motivated anymore": Health care worker perspectives on the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) program in the Philippines.

BACKGROUND: Studies focusing on the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) program in the Philippines are limited, and perspectives of frontline health care workers (HCWs) are largely absent in relation to the introduction and current implementation of the program. Here, we describe the operational challenges and opportunities described by HCWs implementing IMCI in five regions of the Philippines. These perspectives can provide insights into how IMCI can be strengthened as the program matures, in the Philippines and beyond. METHODS: In-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted with HCWs (n = 46) in five provinces (Ilocos Sur, Quezon, National Capital Region, Bohol and Davao), with full transcription and translation as necessary. In parallel, data collectors observed the status (availability and placement) of IMCI-related materials in facilities. All data were coded using NVivo 12 software and arranged along a Social Ecological Model. RESULTS: HCWs spoke of the benefits of IMCI and discussed how they developed workarounds to ensure that integral components of the program could be delivered in frontline facilities. Five key challenges emerged in relation to IMCI implementation in primary health care (PHC) facilities: 1) insufficient financial resources to fund program activities, 2) inadequate training, mentoring and supervision among and for providers, 3) fragmented leadership and governance, 4) substandard access to IMCI relevant written documents, and 5) professional hierarchies that challenge fidelity to IMCI protocols. CONCLUSION: Although the IMCI program was viewed by HCWs as holistic and as providing substantial benefits to the community, more viable implementation processes are needed to bolster acceptability in PHC facilities.

Keeping the Customer Satisfied: Applying a Kano Model to Improve Vaccine Promotion in the Philippines.

INTRODUCTION: The success of global health interventions heavily relies on reaching populations in a way that aligns with their priorities and needs. This warrants novel approaches to determine the design of meaningful interventions and targeted delivery pathways. To date, global health scholarship and practice have largely underused approaches already established in fields that emphasize customer satisfaction, such as quality management or consumer psychology. METHODS: In our study, we apply Kano methodology-originally designed to understand how product attributes nonlinearly influence customer satisfaction-to inform design decisions regarding a video-based vaccine intervention in the Philippines. Between September 2021 and April 2022, we administered a Kano questionnaire to 205 caregivers of small children. Data were analyzed following routine Kano approaches, supplemented by cultural consensus analysis (CCA), which is an approach used largely in anthropology to identify distinct cultural groups and competencies. RESULTS: Applying Kano and CCA methodologies allowed us to make informed design decisions in terms of optimizing accessibility and credibility of an intervention that ultimately proved successful in bolstering vaccine intentions. Results guided us to include national and international logos, to appreciate the value of summarizing key messages, and to recognize the importance of fact- or story-based communication as attributes that influenced respondent satisfaction one-dimensionally. We found that involving trusted messengers and including text-based information were required to avoid dissatisfaction. Interacting with someone after viewing the product and creating opportunities to share the promotional material via social media were attractive attributes whose presence would increase satisfaction but would not spark severe dissatisfaction if omitted. Other attributes (short duration, video- or animation-based intervention, delivering the intervention at health centers or in group settings) played a limited role in respondent satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: Global health research and practice can benefit from applying approaches established in other fields when making evidence-based prioritization decisions to tailor interventions.

Human-centred design bolsters vaccine confidence in the Philippines: results of a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The public's confidence in vaccinations has eroded, and anti-vaccination movements have gained traction around the world, including in the Philippines. 'Salubong', a Filipino term, refers to welcoming someone back into one's life and elicits ideas about friendship and family relationships. We extended this concept to vaccines in efforts to design an intervention that would re-welcome vaccines into homes. METHODS: Using human-centred design, we developed and refined a story-based intervention that engages Filipino families, community leaders and community health workers. We conducted a randomised controlled trial among 719 caregivers of small children to test the developed intervention against a control video. We assessed the binary improvement (improvement vs no improvement) and the amount of improvement in vaccine attitudes and intentions after intervention exposure. RESULTS: Although the intervention group began with marginally higher baseline vaccine attitude scores, we found that 62% of the intervention group improved their vaccine attitude scores versus 37% of the control group (Fisher's exact, p<0.001). Among individuals whose scores improved after watching the assigned video, the intervention group saw higher mean attitude score improvements on the 5-point scale (Cohen's d=0.32 with 95% CI 0.10 to 0.54, two-sided t-test, p<0.01). We observed similar patterns among participants who stated that they had previously delayed or refused a vaccine for their child: 67% of 74 in the intervention group improved their vaccine attitude scores versus 42% of 54 in the control group (Fisher's exact, p<0.001). Among the subset of these individuals whose scores improved after watching the assigned video, the intervention group saw higher mean attitude score improvements on the 5-point scale that were marginally significant (Cohen's d=0.35 with 95% CI -0.01 to 0.70, two-sided t-test, p=0.06). CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide solid evidence for the potential of co-designed vaccine confidence campaigns and regulations.

Cost analysis for "The Magic Glasses Philippines" health education package to prevent intestinal worm infections among Filipino schoolchildren.

Background: Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections are a significant public health problem affecting over 900 million people globally. Health education has been shown to complement mass drug administration (MDA) for the control of these intestinal worms. We reported recently results of a cluster randomised control trial (RCT) showing the positive impact of the "The Magic Glasses Philippines (MGP)" health education package in reducing STH infections among schoolchildren in intervention schools with ≤15% STH baseline prevalence in Laguna province, the Philippines. To inform decision making on the economic implications of the MGP, we evaluated the in-trial costs and then quantified the costs of scaling up the intervention both regionally and nationally. Methods: Costs were determined for the MGP RCT conducted in 40 schools in Laguna province. We estimated the total cost and the costs incurred per student for the actual RCT and the total costs for regional and national scale-up in all schools regardless of STH endemicity. The costs associated with the implementation of standard health education (SHE) activities and mass drug administration (MDA) were determined with a public sector perspective. Findings: The cost per participating student in the MGP RCT was Php 58.65 (USD 1.15) but if teachers instead of research staff had been involved, the estimated cost would have been considerably lower at Php 39.45 (USD 0.77). Extrapolating the costs for regional scale-up, the costs per student were estimated to be Php 15.24 (USD 0.30). As it is scaled up at the national level to include more schoolchildren, the estimated cost was increased at Php 17.46 (USD 0.34). In scenario 2 and 3, consistently, labour/salary costs associated with the delivery of the MGP contributed most to overall programme expenditure. Furthermore, the estimated average cost per student for SHE and MDA were Php 117.34 (USD 2.30) and Php 58.17 (USD 1.14), respectively. Using national scale up estimates, the cost of combining the MGP with SHE and MDA was Php 192.97 (USD 3.79). Interpretation: These findings suggest that the integration of MGP into the school curriculum would be an affordable and scalable approach to respond to the continuous burden of STH infection among schoolchildren in the Philippines. Funding: National and Medical Research Council, Australia, and the UBS-Optimus Foundation, Switzerland.

"The Magic Glasses Philippines": a cluster randomised controlled trial of a health education package for the prevention of intestinal worm infections in schoolchildren.

BACKGROUND: Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) cause substantial disease and disability globally. Health education has proven complementary to school-based drug administration programs for STH control. We determined the generalizability of the impact of "The Magic Glasses" health education package for STH prevention in schoolchildren in Laguna province, the Philippines, having previously shown its positive impact in China. METHODS: We conducted a cluster-randomised controlled trial, in schoolchildren, aged 9-10 years, across 40 schools over one year. Schools were randomly assigned either to the "Magic Glasses Philippines" health education intervention package (consisting of a cartoon video, classroom discussions, drawing and essay competition) complementing the standard health education activities of the Philippines Departments of Health and Education, or to a control group, which involved only the standard health education activities. The primary trial outcomes were the proportion of STH infected schoolchildren and their knowledge, attitude and behaviour of STH assessed in both groups at baseline and through two follow-up surveys undertaken immediately prior to the semi-annual national mass administration of albendazole. The outcomes between the study arms were compared using generalized estimating equation models, accounting for clustering at the school level. The trial is registered with Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry number: ACTRN12616000508471. FINDINGS: At follow-up assessments, the mean knowledge and behaviour scores in the intervention group were, respectively, 5·3 (95% confidence interval [CI]:4·2-6·5; p=<0.001) and 1·1 (95% CI: 0·4-1·7; p=0.002) percentage points higher than the control group. There was no overall effect on helminth infections (any STH; adjusted odds ratio [aOR]:1·0; 95% CI: 0·8-1·3; p=0·856), Ascaris lumbricoides; aOR:1·0; 95% CI: 0·7-1·6; p=0·894, or Trichuris trichiura; aOR:1·7; 95% CI: 0·9-1·6; p=0·315) but sub-group analysis showed a 60% reduction in the odds of any STH infection resulting from the "Magic Glasses" intervention in schools with a baseline prevalence ≤15% (aOR: 0·4; 95% CI: 0·2-0·7; p=0·001). INTERPRETATION: The health-education package demonstrated a modest but statistically significant impact on the students' overall STH knowledge and changes in their behaviour but was only effective in preventing STH infections in intervention schools where the baseline prevalence was ≤15%. FUNDING: National Health and Medical Research Council, Australia, and the UBS-Optimus Foundation, Switzerland.

How can human-centered design build a story-based video intervention that addresses vaccine hesitancy and bolsters vaccine confidence in the Philippines? A mixedmethod protocol for project SALUBONG.

INTRODUCTION: Since the onset of a dengue vaccine controversy in late 2017, vaccine confidence has plummeted in the Philippines, leading to measles and polio outbreaks in early 2019. This protocol outlines a human-centered design (HCD) approach to co-create and test an intervention that addresses vaccine hesitancy (VH) via narrative and empathy with and among families and healthcare workers. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: 'Salubong' is a Filipino term that means to welcome someone back into one's life, reinforcing notions of family ties and friendships. We apply this sentiment to vaccines. Following the phases of HCD, guided by a theoretical framework, and drawing from locally held understandings of faith and acceptance, we will conduct in-depth interviews (IDIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs) in rural and urban Filipino communities that witnessed dramatic increases in measles cases in recent years. During qualitative engagements with caretakers, providers, and policymakers, we will collect narratives about family and community perceptions of childhood vaccinations, public health systems and opportunities to restore faith. IDIs and FGDs will continuously inform the development of (and delivery mechanisms for) story-based interventions. Once developed, we will test our co-created interventions among 800 caretakers and administer a VH questionnaire prior to and immediately following the intervention encounter. We will use the feedback gained through the survey and Kano-style questionnaires to further refine the intervention. Considering the data collection challenges posed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we have developed workarounds to conduct data collection primarily online. We will use systematic online debriefings to facilitate comprehensive participation of the full research team. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval has been granted by the Institutional Review Board of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (number 2019-44) and Ethical Commission of Heidelberg University, Faculty of Medicine (S-833/2019). Study findings will be disseminated in scientific conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals.

Soil-transmitted helminth infections and nutritional indices among Filipino schoolchildren.

BACKGROUND: Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections are still prevalent among schoolchildren in the Philippines. We evaluated the risk factors associated with STH and the relationship between STH and nutritional indices among schoolchildren aged 9-10 years in Laguna province, the Philippines. METHODS: We used the baseline data from 40 schools enrolled in a randomised controlled trial of the Magic Glasses Philippines health education package. Data on demographic and socio-economic variables, and STH related knowledge, attitudes and practices, were obtained through a questionnaire. Stool samples were collected and assessed for STH egg presence using the Kato-Katz technique. Haemoglobin levels and height and weight of study participants were also determined. The generalized estimating equations approach was used to construct logistic regression models to assess STH-associated risk factors, and the association between any STH infection and anaemia, child stunting, wasting and being underweight. The trial is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12616000508471). FINDINGS: Among 1,689 schoolchildren, the prevalence of any STH was 23%. The prevalence of anaemia, stunting, being underweight and wasting was 13%, 20.2%, 19% and 9.5%, respectively. Age, socio-economic status, rural/urban classification of schools and knowledge of STH were significant risk factors for acquiring a STH infection. Moreover, infections with any STH were significantly associated with stunting (P = <0.001) and being underweight (P = <0.003), but not wasting (P = 0.375) or anaemia (P = 0.462) after controlling for confounding covariates. CONCLUSION: The study findings emphasise the need for sustainable deworming in tandem with other measures such as the provision of health education, improvements in sanitation and hygiene, and nutritional programs in order to control STH infections and improve morbidity outcomes in schoolchildren. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12616000508471).

Determining the Impact of a School-Based Health Education Package for Prevention of Intestinal Worm Infections in the Philippines: Protocol for a Cluster Randomized Intervention Trial.

BACKGROUND: Repeated mass drug administration (MDA) of antihelminthics to at-risk populations is still the main strategy for the control of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections. However, MDA, as a stand-alone intervention, does not prevent reinfection. Accordingly, complementary measures to prevent STH reinfection, such as health education and improved sanitation, as part of an integrated control approach, are required to augment the effectiveness of MDA for optimal efficiency and sustainability. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine the impact and generalizability of a school-based health education package entitled The Magic Glasses for STH prevention in the Philippines. METHODS: We conducted a cluster randomized controlled intervention trial, involving 2020 schoolchildren aged 9-10 years, in 40 schools in Laguna Province, Philippines, to evaluate the impact of the school-based health education package for the prevention of STHs. The trial was conducted over the course of 1 year (June 2016 to July 2017). A total of 20 schools were randomly assigned to the intervention arm, in which The Magic Glasses Philippines health education package was delivered with the standard health education activities endorsed by the Philippines Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Education (DepEd). The other 20 schools comprised the control arm of the study, where the DOH/DepEd's standard health education activities were done. At baseline, parasitological assessments and a knowledge, attitude, and practice survey were carried out in all schools. In addition, height, weight, and hemoglobin levels were obtained from each child (after parental consent), and their school attendance and academic performance in English and mathematics were accessed from the school records. The baseline and 2 follow-up surveys were completed using the same study measurements and quality-control assessments. RESULTS: Key results from this cluster randomized intervention trial will shed light on the impact that The Magic Glasses health education package will have against STH infections in schoolchildren in the province of Laguna, located on the Island of Luzon, in the Calabarzon Region of the Philippines. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the trial will be used to assess the generalizability of the impact of The Magic Glasses health education package in different epidemiological and cultural settings, providing evidence for translation of this health education package into public health policy and practice in the Asian region and beyond. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry number ACTRN12616000508471; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=368849. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/18419.