Significance of Home Visiting in Providing Care to Filipino Mothers and Their Infants During the Postpartum Period

Abstract

Introduction: Home visiting is recommended for mothers and young infants during the first week of life to provide needed support. This study describes the significance of home visiting in providing care to Filipino mothers and their infants during the postpartum period. Methodology: Using a descriptive qualitative design, individual interviews were conducted with 10 mothers, four registered nurses, and five barangay health workers involved in home visits. Data analysis was guided by the four phases of Leininger’s ethnonursing method. Results: Three themes emerged: (1) home visiting provides accessible, affordable, and meaningful interventions; (2) home visiting allows for contextual understanding of mothers’ behaviors and realistic planning of care; and (3) barangay health workers promote mothers’ engagement in care. Conclusion: Home visits enable negotiation of differences between generic and professional care practices, thus enhancing professional collaboration with families and community workers, potentiating culturally congruent participation and empowerment of clients in their care.

Effectiveness of Home Visits by Public Health Workers in Maternal and Child Health in Naga City

“…Specifically, the study results demonstrate that home visits positively impact maternal health indicators, with the highestranking indicator being parenting skills, followed by socioeconomic situation, mental health, and health service utilization. These findings resonate with the research conducted by Ngaya-an et al (2021), which emphasized the positive influence of home visiting programs on birth preparedness, newborn care practices, and maternal well-being.…”

“…In physical health, encouraging appropriate eating, sleeping, and activity patterns through home visits aligns with emphasizing health-promoting behaviors in maternal and child health programs (Ngaya-an et al, 2021). Conversely, indicating the prevention of gross motor delays as being low-ranked suggests that home visits may have a less pronounced effect on certain physical developmental aspects, which resonates with the notion that comprehensive support is needed to address such issues (Robling et al, 2022).…”

“…Regarding behavioral development, the highest-ranked indicator, "Supported the child's exploration and creativity," emphasizes home visits' role in promoting curiosity and creative thinking, aligning with the broader goal of early stimulation and learning (Ngaya-an et al, 2021). Although ranking lower, the indicators related to avoiding unnecessary punishments and fostering positive nurturing interactions still suggest the potential for home visits to influence positive behavior and discipline strategies.…”

“…Mallari et al (2020) and Querri et al (2020) illuminated the roles and challenges faced by community health workers (CHWs) like Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) in the Philippines, emphasizing factors such as motivation, resource support, and human resource shortages, which can directly impact the success of home visit programs. Ngaya-an et al's (2021) review of home-visiting programs reinforced the positive impact of such interventions on various aspects of maternal and child health, providing a broader perspective on the potential outcomes of home visits. Maravilla's (2023) study on pandemic-related disruptions in healthcare services highlighted the need for adaptable strategies, which is pertinent when considering the impact of external factors on home visit programs.…”

Efectividad de las visitas domiciliarias para la promoción y prevención en salud

“…Mientras que en otros países como Alemania según las estadísticas se evidencia una baja en el número de visitas domiciliarias realizadas, sin embargo, la atención domiciliaria a los ancianos persiste, mostrando que es de gran utilidad para la prescripción de medicación y cambio de objetivos de tratamiento según la evolución de las enfermedades que padezcan. (Ngaya-an et al, 2021;Zeeh & Zeeh, 2021) Uno de los objetivos más importantes de la visita domiciliaria es que el personal de enfermería pueda proporcionar información acerca de la promoción en salud, en Costa Rica los usuarios entrevistados manifiestan que gracias a las visitas realizadas han adquirido conocimientos sobre lavado de manos, vacunación, alimentación saludable, planificación Brazilian Journal of Health Review, Curitiba, v. 6, n. 3, p.9402-9410, may./jun., 2023 familiar. Entre tanto países más grandes como Brasil tienen una alta demanda en atención por parte de sus comunidades por lo que se consideran insuficientes las acciones realizadas por parte del sistema de salud puesto que los usuarios no se sienten conformes con la escasa participación en visitas domiciliarias.…”