In what ways can Community Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illnesses (C-IMNCI) improve child health?

Abstract

Abstract

Background: In addition to access to quality health services, family child care practices play a major role in improving child health and achieving reduction in childhood mortality.

Objective: To assess the effect of community integrated management of neonatal and childhood illness interventions on family practices for child care.

Methods: A comparative cross-sectional survey was conducted in Dabat District, northwest Ethiopia. A total of 800 mothers or caretakers of children of under two years form the Community Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses intervention and non-intervention areas were selected using a multistage sampling procedure and interviewed in November 2007.

Result: Three hundred thirty seven (84.3%) of the mothers from the intervention area and 358 (89.5%) from non-intervention area were illiterate. Thre vast majority (99.5%) of the fathers in each of the areas were farmers. Mothers/care takers from community IMNCI intervention areas reported better child care practices in terms of time of breastfeeding initiation (OR=9.10, 95% CI=5.45, 12.43), avoiding prelacteal feeding (OR=11.01, 95% CI=7.98, 15.43), initiation of supplementary feeding (OR=3.63, 95% CI=2.23, 5.93) compared to mothers/care takers form non intervention areas. Regarding water, personal hygiene and environmental sanitation, statistical significant differences were observed in using a safe drinking source of water (OR=6.36, 95% CI=4.49, 9.01) and availability of pit latrines (OR=43.52, 95% CI=25.46, 67.89) between the intervention and non-intervention areas. The likelihood of seeking care for diarrhea was about five times and that of fever is three times higher in the intervention areas compared to the non-intervention one.

Conclusion: Community IMNCI has positive effects on child feeding, disease prevention, health care seeking practices and these practices are expected to improve child health and survival. Thus the program needs to be scaled up in other areas. Further studies may assess the actual effect of the intervention on child morbidity and mortality. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 2011;25(2):143-149]