Assessment Of Background Knowledge And Skills Of Integrated Management Of Childhood Illnesses Among Primary Health Care Workers In Oyo State, Nigeria
Midwife-Led IMCI Training in Oyo State
Keywords:
Child Health Outcomes, Children under-five years of age, Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI), Knowledge and Skills, Midwife-led Intervention, Primary Health Care WorkersAbstract
The 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 IMCI implementation and improve child health outcomes in Nigeria.
References
1. Adebayo A, Olorunfemi G, Ilesanmi O. Assessment of knowledge and practice of integrated management of childhood illnesses among midwives in Nigeria. J Glob Health Rep. 2011;5:e2021005.
2. World Health Organization (WHO). Levels and trends in child mortality: report 2020. Geneva: WHO; 2020. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/levels-and-trends-in-child-mortality-report-2020 [Accessed 2026 Feb 2]
3. World Health Organization. Integrated management of childhood illness (IMCI) strategy overview. Geneva: WHO; 2021
4. McLaughlin L, Giwa A, Ojo O, Nirmal R, Nasir M, Mount F. Adherence to integrated management of childhood illness (IMCI) guidelines by community health workers in Kano State Nigeria through use of a clinical decision support platform. BMC Health Serv Res. 2024;24:953.
5. NPC & ICF (National Population Commission & ICF). Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey 2018. National Population Commission and ICF 2019.
6. Ng S, Olayemi O, Adeniyi A. The impact of midwife-led IMCI training on knowledge improvement among primary healthcare workers in Nigeria. Trop Med Int Health. 2020;25(9):1050-1057.
7. Xie Y, Chen L, Zhang H. Effectiveness of midwife-led training on IMCI in rural China. Int J Prim Health Care. 2021;9(2):110-117.
8. Oladokun TF, Odetola TD, Abiona M. Factors influencing implementation of integrated management of childhood illnesses among health care workers in selected primary health centres in Ibadan Nigeria. Afr J Health Sci. 2022;35(5):662-670.
9. Dada OE, Olayinka AT, Akinyemi J.. Assessment of integrated management of childhood illnesses implementation in primary healthcare facilities in Nigeria. Int J Med Health Dev. 2022;27(3):244-250.
10. Wolde H, Tsegaye T, Sisay M. Health workers' adherence to Integrated Management of Childhood Illness guidelines and associated factors in Ethiopia. BMC Health Services Research. 2022;22:1103. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-08466-7
11. Chen M, Deng S, Wang M, Yan X. Clinical characteristics and influencing factors of infectious diarrhea in preschool children: An observational study. Medicine. 2023;102(12), e33645. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000033645
12. Okonkwo F O, Ejike C E C, Nwajiuba C A. Health-seeking behaviour for children with acute childhood illnesses and associated factors in sub-Saharan Africa. Tropical Medicine and Health. 2021;49: 95. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-021-00385-1
13. Nguyen A, Eschiti V, Bui TC, Nagykaldi Z, Dwyer K. Mobile health interventions to improve health behaviors and healthcare services among Vietnamese individuals: a systematic review. Healthcare. 2023;11(9):1225. doi:10.3390/healthcare11091225.
14. Adepoju VA, Adelekan A, Adepoju OE, Onyezue OI, Imoyera W, Nkeiruka A, et al. Barriers and facilitators of isoniazid preventive therapy implementation among people living with HIV in Nigeria: a scoping review. West Afr J Med. 2023;40(3):336–344.
15. Isangula K, Ngadaya E, Manu A, Philbert D, Burengelo D, Kagaruki G, et al. Implementation of distance learning IMCI training in rural districts of Tanzania. BMC Health Serv Res. 2023;23:56. doi:10.1186/s12913-023-09061-y.
16. UNICEF. (2021). The State of the World's Children 2021: On My Mind – Promoting, protecting and caring for children's mental health. United Nations Children's Fund. https://www.unicef.org/reports/state-worlds-children-2021 [Accessed 2026 Jan 26]
