A Cross-Sectional Study of the Alumni of the UP Manila- School of Health Sciences in Palo, Leyte [Batches 1979-2004]

Abstract

The School of Health Sciences in the province of Leyte was established in 1976 to address the alarming rate of out-migration coupled with the maldistribution of health workforce in the country. Today, the school is situated in the municipality of Palo. Students from different regions and provinces in the country are admitted at SHS through their communities’ endorsement. These communities in turn, will be served by the scholars they supported after completing their training at the school. SHS has the highest rate of retention of its graduates in any medical educative institution. At a time when international migration is more lucrative because of the demand for medical professionals abroad, the SHS has been producing a breed of students that stay and serve in communities where they are most needed. This study is aimed at discovering and understanding the reasons why the SHS alumni choose to stay and abandon the exodus, when they can seek better employment opportunities outside of the country. The study is significant in the development of a more responsible and accountable health work force that is committed in rendering their services to the country, and thus to the improvement of the quality of health delivery services with distinctive emphasis on the underserved communities in the country. The study is cross-sectional as it intends to gather information from the school’s alumni in different fields: midwives, nurses, and doctors from various batches. Part of the study was done in Palo, Leyte where the researcher gathered firsthand information from SHS’ officials. Also, the researcher obtained majority of its respondents in this municipality in addition to other towns situated in the province. The researcher administered questionnaires to the respondents and employed personal and in-depth interviews and group discussions with most of them. Some respondents were reached through e-mail and post mail. Another integral part of the study consisted of consulting experts in the field of health. Interviews were thus pertinent in obtaining useful insights from them. The researcher utilized a qualitative approach in analyzing the results of the study. The grounded theory, supported by the “people first” movement was then indispensable to the author in forming the conclusions for the study.