Chapter 2

METHODOLOGY

This chapter provides a description of the research design, instrumentation and

data collection. It also contains inclusion criteria which serve as a guide for the

researchers in carefully selecting the respondents for the study. The researchers also

presented in this chapter the sources and analysis of data.

Research Design

This research used qualitative method as it allows the researchers to study

selected issues in-depth and detail without being constrained by pre-determined

categories of analysis. It also collects and works with non-numerical data and that seeks

to interpret meaning from these data help the researchers to understand social life through

the study of targeted populations or places. As this research has been conducted mainly to

explore the extent of COPAR Implementation in the barangay and its readiness to stand

alone once it reach its Phase-out stage. This method will become effective to review

records and evidences that will show us how far are we in making Oya-oy Barangay a

people empowered and self-reliant community.

Phenomenology is a qualitative research method that is used to describe how

human beings experience a certain phenomenon. Therefore, phenomenology can be

defined as the direct investigation and description of phenomena as consciously

experienced by people living those experiences. Phenomenological research is typically

conducted through the use of in-depth interviews of participants. By studying the

perspectives of multiple participants, researchers can begin to make generalizations

regarding what it is like to experience a certain phenomenon from the perspective of

those that lived the experience (Giorgi, A. 2012). This method is effective in

investigating the implementation of COPAR in Barangay Oya-oy because different

perspectives and in-depth interviews will be used to explore the various experiences of

the residents during the COPAR Implementation.

Sources of Data

The researchers utilized purposive sampling in gathering the necessary data to aid

their study. Moreover, they have set criteria in choosing their respondents as they conduct

their interviews. Firstly the respondent must be a bona fide resident of Barangay Oya-oy

Bacnotan La-union for at least four years. For hypertension, the respondent must have a

doctor’s diagnosis of hypertension for not less than two years. For Diabetes Mellitus,

clients with family history of diabetes mellitus or diagnosis of any type of diabetes for

not less than two years. For Upper Respiratory Tract Infection (URTI), mothers with

school age children who had previous history of common colds, asthma, bronchitis,

pneumonia and other respiratory tract problems. For insufficient source of income, those

individuals who are active participants of income generating projects for the past four

years. Finally for non- functional barangay health station, Barangay Nutrition Scholar

(BNS) and Barangay Health workers of Barangay Oya-oy who have been in service for

not less than three years or Barangay Nutrition Scholar (BNS), Barangay Health workers,

and residents who have been participants of trainings and seminars on health conducted

by DMMMSU for the past four years.

 On the other hand, the researchers had experienced some lapses in conducting

research work during the community exposure due to the following reasons: Some areas

within the boundary of Barangay Oya-oy were not covered due to the fact that some

household belonged to the middle and upper class level of economic status which

exempts them from the research conducted and programs held. In addition, some of the

household residents were unavailable for interview. Not all families and households were

included in the study as the sole recipients of this program are only those who are

indigent or are below the poverty line and those who are in need of immediate attention

and care.

The researchers used vegetables as pseudonym to symbolize the livelihood of the

barangay in representing the participants. Below are the pseudonyms and their

descriptions:

1. Singkamas is a 65 year- old grandmother, 16 years widowed and resident of

Purok 1 Oya-oy Bacnotan. She was diagnosed with hypertension in 2014 and

has been taking Losartan as a maintenance drug up to the present.

2. Talong is a jolly middle aged man who is separated with his wife. Farming is

his primary source of income to support his family and he has been taking a

maintenance drug (Losartan 50ml) since his diagnosis of hypertension in

2012.

3. Sigarilyas is a 57 year-old housewife and a widowed mother of three residing

at Sitio Sukok, Oya-oy Bacnotan. She was diagnosed with hypertension in

2013 and has been taking Amlodipine up to the present.

4. Mani aged 63 is an energetic husband who is presently residing at Sitio

Sukok, Oya-oy. Suffering from Hypertension, he has been dependent to

Amlodipine since diagnosed last 2012.

5. Sitaw of Sitio Sukok, Oya-oy and a kagawad, is happily married for 20 years

at age 42. Diagnosed with Hypertension for the last seven years, Amlodipine

became his maintenance drug ever since.

6. Bataw, measuring five feet tall and married with two kids, is also diagnosed

with Hypertension in 2013. At 47 years old, she takes care of her own elderly

relatives and has been spending most of her time at home. She has been a

frequent user of Amlodipine as her maintenance drug.

7. Patani is a happily married resident of Oya-oy, Purok 1 and is diagnosed with

Hypertension in 2014. At age 52, she does not take any medications or drugs

to fight Hypertension. She makes use of garlic to maintain her normal blood

pressure.

8. Kundol is a 48 years old farmer and at the same time the Chief Tanod of

Purok Amianan, Oya-oy. He actively participates in the activities

implemented in the said barangay. He was a big help during the herbal garden

restoration. He is known to be hypertensive since 2012 and he takes Losartan

in the morning and Amlodipine in the evening.

9. Patola, living alone at age 76, is the mother of Kundol. She also suffers from

hypertension at the age of 70 and always complains about her intermittent

migraine. She takes herbal medicines to like garlic to alleviate her condition.
10. Upo is a 56 years old plain housewife with three beautiful children. Her

daughter is currently working in Qatar. She lives near a rice patty in a

bungalow house with a vegetable garden in their backyard. They get their

fresh vegetable sustenance from their backyard. Upo is hypertensive and is

taking Losartan since 2014 that was given to her by the barangay for her

weekly maintenance.

11. Kalabasa, 37 years old, a mother of three children. She is a widow and

currently lives in a shanty house. Kalabasa has been a resident of Barangay

Oya-oy for the past nine years. They have a sari-sari store in front of their

house which is their source of income for two years after her husband passed

away. She has been diagnosed with hypertension in 2015 and takes

metroprolol and losartan.

12. Labanos, a 59 year old resident at Barangay Oya-oy. She is happily married

and has four children. She is a housewife and is living in a bungalow. Labanos

was diagnosed with hypertension in 2015 and is taking metroprolol and

losartan as her maintenance that she gets for free at the barangay hall.

13. Mustasa is a barangay kagawad of Barangay Oya-oy, 35 years old. Served for

four consecutive terms as a kagawad and is married to a very supportive wife.

The couple has raised two children and are both farmers living with them in a

simple concrete house. He is diagnosed with hypertension in 2014 and is

taking losartan and metroprolol for his maintenance.

14. Sibuyas, 61 years of age, is a barangay health worker. Married to Ensalada,

who is currently a barangay kagawad. The couple has three children and
 working abroad. They live in a bungalow house near the barangay hall. She

was diagnosed as hypertensive when she was 58 years old and is taking

metroprolol and losartan that she gets at the barangay hall for her weekly

maintenance.

15. Kamatis, a 45 years old resident of Purok 2, Oya-oy has been diagnosed with

Type I Diabetes Mellitus in 2013. She is married to one of the councilor of the

said barangay and a mother of two bright kids. She has been using Metformin

as maintenance since 2014.

16. Bawang, 42 years of age, a former barangay captain of Barangay Oya-oy

served for two consecutive terms. They live in an average size house near the

barangay hall. He takes Losartan 50mg Metroprolol 50mg at night since 2015.

17. Luya, 67 years old, a senior citizen of Barangay Oya-oy. She is a widow who

has been living with her grandchild. She walks every day and likes gardening.

Luya is diagnosed with Diabetes Mellitus in 2013 and has knowledge of what

food and drinks to avoid.

18. Linga is a 58 year old housewife that is married with a farmer. They are

residents of Barangay Oya-oy since birth and is living in a one-storey concrete

house. She was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus four years ago and

hypertension on 2015 and is taking losartan and metroprolol for her

maintenance.

19. Patatas is a resident of Purok 3, Oya-Oy who is an active member of HKO.

The 49-year-old married woman was diagnosed with hypertension and

 Diabetes Mellitus in 2017 and has been taking Amlodipine as a maintenance

drug.

20. Malunggay, 70 years old, a local resident of Barangay Oya-oy. He is

currently unemployed and he gets help from his siblings and relatives.

Malunggay is experiencing a lot of illnesses like fever, colds, and has upper

respiratory tract infection (URTI) in 2016. He knows that the barangay

conducts seminars, activities but cannot participate because of his old age. He

uses water from boiled Lagundi leaves as natural medicine.

21. Ampalaya, who came from a family of farmers, has been with her live-in

partner for the past five years in Oya-oy, Purok 1. She is currently suffering

from Upper Respiratory Tract Infection (URTI) and has been taking multiple

drugs to cure it namely Rifampicin, Isoniazid, Pyrazinamide (RIPE), and

Ethambutol.

22. Okra 36 years of old mother is a loving wife who is happily married and has

four children. Her husband is a farmer but has knowledge in fishing and also a

seasonal fisherman. However, she has suffered from URTI such as common

colds and sore throat over the past 4 years. She and her family live in a small

shanty house and has been a resident of Barangay Oya-oy for over 12 years.

23. Saluyot is a 52 years old resident of Oya-oy, Bacnotan, La Union who lives

just in front of the barangay hall. He works as a farmer and sometimes do a

side line job as a carpenter. Saluyot is single; however, he still stays with his

relatives where they share a regular sized house with two bedrooms. They

have a commendable backyard planted with varieties of vegetables and a few

 poultry animals such as a goat, rooster, hens, and chicks. He is not much

active in any barangay activities but does his best in obeying rules and

regulation of the barangay. He wanted to learn new means of livelihood to

compensate for his family needs.

24. Sayote is a 62 year old resident of Barangay Oya-oy for ten years. He is

married and has four children who are all married. He is a farmer for over two

years and lives in an average size house together with his two children and

wife. He had no severe diseases over the past years and has been eating

healthily.

Instrumentation and Data Collection

The primary data was collected through structured questionnaires/interviews.

These types of interview were some of the questions and their sequences are determined

in advance, while others evolve as the interview proceeds. The focus of these interviews

is to collect information from wide range of people including Hawak-Kamay Oya-oy

members, Barangay Councils, and Barangay Health Workers that are all residents of the

said barangay exploring their different views, experiences, beliefs, and motivations

during the COPAR implementation in their Barangay.

Prior to the gathering of data from the participants, the researchers sent

communication letters to the College Dean, Municipal Mayor, and Barangay Captain to

ask permission to conduct the study in Barangay Oya-oy, Bacnotan, La Union. The

receipt of the communication letter gave access to the researchers to conduct interviews
to the participating residents of Barangay Oya-oy. The researchers secured a consent

before the interview took place. Interviews were recorded via audio and transcribed in a

verbatim manner.

In addition, secondary data were gathered through record review, physical

assessment, and direct observation in order to identify issues and concern saturating the

whole community. The researchers also conducted series of core group meetings to

identify problems and summarized planned intervention through collaboration and

discussion addressing community health problems. The researchers stayed in the

community and live with the people in order to collect all necessary information and data

needed for the feasibility of the research.

Analysis of Data

All necessary data were gathered through series of interviews and with the use of

secondary data and comparative study of available data done by the researchers. Data

were clustered accordingly, collated, and then presented to clinical adviser for

confirmation. Then the data were analyzed and synthesized collaboratively in a

systematic order. Analysis for a qualitative study requires a process of fitting data

together, of making the invisible obvious, and of linking and attributing consequences to

antecedents (Morse and Field, 1995).

In preparation for the said analysis, verbatim interviews were recorded and

transcribed to ensure validity and accuracy. Moreover, validation strategies of data

collection, like observation and interview, were conducted to ensure credibility. Thick

descriptions, which refer to a rich, thorough, and vivid description of the research
context, research participants, and processes and experiences observed during the inquiry,

were used to add authenticity and vividness.

The statement found to be of relevance to the study at hand were recorded and

transcribed. Then, meanings were formulated and sorted into categories, clusters of

themes, and themes. These serve as the basis for planning of interventions to address the

stated problems. Finally, validation of the findings and possible plans of action were

sought from the comparison between the researchers’ results and the research

participants’ experiences (GA Shosha, 2012).

Moreover, openness to scrutiny and brainstorming among colleagues provided new

and wider perspective regarding the interventions that may address the community’s

current problems.

Thematic analysis is widely used method in qualitative research. It is a foundational

method of analysis that needed to be defined and described to solidify its place in

qualitative research (Braun & Clarke, 2006). Thematic analysis is simple to use which

lends itself to use for novice researchers who are unfamiliar with more complex types of

qualitative analysis. This analysis allows the researchers for rich, detailed and complex

description of their data.