Assessment Of Background Knowledge And Skills Of Integrated Management Of Childhood Illnesses Among Primary Health Care Workers In Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI) strategy was developed to improve child survival through standardized guidelines for the assessment and management of common childhood illnesses. However, inadequate knowledge among primary health care (PHC) workers have limited effective implementation of IMCI in Nigeria, contributing to the persistent burden of morbidity and mortality among children under five years of age. This study examined the effect of midwife-led interventions on the knowledge and assessment skills of PHC workers on IMCI in selected primary health care centres in Oyo State, Nigeria. One-group pretest–posttest quasi-experimental design was adopted. Multi-stage sampling techniques was used with a total sample size of 132 participants. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and an intervention checklist during the pre-intervention, intervention, and post- intervention phases. Descriptive and inferential statistics of sample t-test were used for data analysis, and hypotheses were tested at a 0.05 level of significance. The findings showed a significant improvement in IMCI knowledge among PHC workers following the intervention, with the mean knowledge score (0.59) pre-intervention to (0.87) post- intervention. IMCI assessment skills also improved from a mean score of 9.12 (SD = 7.27) to 18.08 (SD = 3.93) post- intervention (t = −17.535, df = 131, p < 0.001). The study concluded that midwife-led interventions significantly improve IMCI knowledge and skills among PHC workers, and scaling up such interventions may strengthen IMCIimplementation and improve child health outcomes in Nigeria.