Barangay Health Workers are the frontliners and primary implementers of health in the grass root level. This study utilized a cross-sectional analytical study design using a questionnaire checklist to describe the level of perceived competence of the Barangay Health Workers in providing health care services in the barangays of Talusan Municipality. There were a total of 747 respondents included in this study: 665 community residents, 78 Barangay Health Workers and 4 midwives. Total population sampling was utilized as the sampling method for the BHWs and midwives. Convenience sampling was the sampling method used for the community residents. Frequency and percentage technique was used in presenting the data on the socio-demographic profile of BHWs. Results showed that majority (52.56%) of the respondents belonged to middle-age adults (41-65 years), female (99%), married (89.74%), unemployed (100%), mostly at high school level (30.77%) and high school graduates (29.49%) and majority are new in service with 1-5 years length of service as BHWs (44.87%). A 5-point Likert scale was used to rate the level of perceived competence of the BHWs with 1 as incompetent, 2 as slightly competent, 3 as moderately competent, 4 as competent, and 5 as highly competent. Weighted mean was computed to determine the level of perceived competence of the BHWs as rated by the community residents and average mean was computed to determine the level of perceived competence of the BHWs as rated by the BHWs and the midwives. Results showed that the BHWs were perceived as competent in discharging their duties and responsibilities in providing health services with a total mean of 3.74. Specifically, the BHWs were rated as moderately competent in terms of providing health education on prevention of sexually transmitted disease (x=3.31) and in sputum collection (x=3.37). Kruskal- Wallis Test was used to determine the significant difference on the level of perceived competence of the BHWs between the 3 groups of respondents. And results showed no significant difference in the level of competence of the BHWs as perceived by each group of respondents, p = 0.8525. It was concluded that the Barangay Health Workers in Talusan Municipality were perceived as competent in discharging their duties and responsibilities to provide health services as assessed by themselves, by the community resident and by the midwives.

Keyword: Perceived competence of barangay health workers