Household Health Priorities using Gordon's Functional Health Patterns

Abstract

Household health assessments often emphasize disease and environmental indicators while giving less attention to the practices, relationships, coping responses, and beliefs that shape family functioning. This descriptive cross-sectional study assessed household health status and priority needs among 300 adult household representatives from seven community zones in a local community in Northern Mindanao, Philippines. A bilingual four-point Household Community Needs Assessment Instrument organized around Gordon's Eleven Functional Health Patterns was administered to one adult representative per household. Frequencies, percentages, weighted means, composite weighted means, and descriptive ranks were used. The overall composite mean was 3.32, interpreted as Healthy. Seven patterns were classified as Healthy and four as Moderately Healthy. Role-relationship obtained the highest mean (3.58). Sexuality-reproductive received the lowest mean (2.86), followed by activity-exercise (3.10), coping-stress tolerance (3.16), and sleep-rest (3.23); these domains were identified as priorities for further assessment and preventive attention. Six community zones were classified as Healthy, while Zone 3 was Moderately Healthy (3.23) and ranked first for localized follow-up. Gordon's framework provided a structured account of multidimensional household functioning and supported descriptive priority setting. Program decisions should combine these aggregate findings with item-level review, confidential community consultation, service information, feasibility, and available resources.