Includes bibliography, appendix and curriculum vitae.

Statement of the Problem: This study aimed to determine the relationship between the perception of rural community residents particularly those from Poblacion 2-A, Maragondon, Cavite regarding the health care delivery system in their community and the health practices residents employed in order to meet their healthcare needs.

Methodology: This study was conducted between the months of January and February 2007. In the conduct of this descriptive study, the researchers adopted the survey method of research,
where self-report questionnaires were distributed to the respondents. There were a total of
100 respondents for the study with the mean age of 43 years old. Most of the respondents belong to the 41-60 years age range. The total respondents comprise 75.2% of the total
population of Barangay Poblacion 2-A, Maragondon, Cavite.
For the analysis of the gathered data, statistical treatments were used such as: mean,
weighted mean, frequency and percentage distribution and correlational analysis using chi square test and contingency coefficient. These statistics helped the researchers in: 1) answering the specific problems of this study; 2) determining relationship among the variables in the study; and 3) testing the hypothesis.

Conclusion: In general it can be said that the population of Maragondon have access to basic health services including doctors and other health care professionals however they are limited by the costs of the medication and by the lack of emergency health care services. It appears that the health care services provided by the health center as well as the health care practices of the village population are responsible for above average condition: with no major health care issues have raised. There is no evidence of geographic inequity meaning that isolated communities can access the services but the costs of medication is high. So unaffordability is an issue. From the interviews and focus group discussions there is no evidence that the poorer people receive less and lower quality services. The study only surfaced evidence of primary health care services. The study was not able to study the access to secondary and tertiary health care services.

Recommendations: Based on the results of the study, the following recommendations are set by the authors to all personalities involved: 1. As most respondents in the village are in the early adult and middle adult category requiring that special attention be given to reproductive health care and on lifestyle and nutrition education. This can be done through health seminars conducted by the health personnel in the RHU or through the assistance of students from Olivarez College. 2. The utilization of herbal medicine is strikingly high and the RHU should undertake efforts to establish a nursery and a mother plant source of the ten most common medicinal plants such as those recommended by the DOH. The RHU should also disseminate leaflets based on materials already available at the DOH and because of the high reliance of the residents on herbal medicines, special training should be organized for the proper use of these medicines. 3. The high cost of medicines has been mentioned by everyone as the major factor influencing the use of drugs. This requires that special efforts should be made to introduce low cost generics in the barangay. These generics may be procured with the assistance of the DOH and the Maragondon local government's intervention is required to ensure that the local drug stores do not just patronize the high cost of drugs. 4. The BHW being the second most important source of information and being the only available source of information within the community, extensive training of the BHW should be undertaken on matters related to improve access to information and services. 5. A small program of volunteer health promoters should be established primarily for purposes providing first aid during emergencies and natural disasters, together with this, a seminar should be organized on disaster preparedness for the entire community. 6. Immediate attention should be given to study whether the performance of the nurse is under question. The hilot and other health professionals are (rather surprisingly) rated higher than the nurse. 7. Diarrhea is a major problem in the village and this appears to require some immediate attention with regards to water supplies and sanitation. A study should be undertaken to understand the nature of this problem and to undertake appropriate remedies. 8. The frequent mention of Hypertension as the major problem requires that regular monitoring of the village population be undertaken in order to ensure that problem is contained and managed well. Nutrition education could complement this regular monitoring effort including the circulation of leaflets and other educational materials.