Abstract:Background: Health inequities remain a persistent issue in the Philippines, particularly in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs). ABC’s for Global Health (ABCGH) operates a Medical Mobile Clinic (MMC) in Pampanga to deliver primary care services to underserved communities. Recognizing that non-medical factors significantly affect health outcomes, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of social determinants of health (SDH) on patients served by the MMC. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2019 to July 2020 across 15 communities in Pampanga served by the MMC. The clinic focused primarily on non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. A total of 487 adult patients, with or without existing disease, participated in the study. Health outcomes were measured using the Short Form-36 (SF-36) survey, which categorizes physical and mental health across eight domains. Statistical analyses included logistic regression and Chi-square tests at a 95% confidence level. Results: Social determinants such as age, comorbidities, education, employment status, social class, living conditions, and access to public services (e.g., healthcare, education, transportation, waste management) significantly influenced SF-36 health scores. Key associations were observed in physical health domains physical functioning, role limitations, pain, and general health as well as in mental health domains vitality, emotional well-being, and social functioning. Physical Component Scores (PCS) were associated with age, comorbidities, education, and social class, while Mental Component Scores (MCS) were influenced by education and social class. Conclusion: This study affirms that health outcomes are shaped not only by access to healthcare but by a range of intersecting social determinants. To improve patient outcomes, interventions must extend beyond clinical care to address systemic inequities in education, employment, and living conditions underscoring the need for integrated, multi-sectoral health strategies in GIDA communities.
Keywords: Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), medical mobile clinic, public health, social determinants of health
