The Implementation of Integrated Management of Childhood Illness ...

treating/preventing the major conrtibuting factors to malnutrition and anaemia
(Figure 1-8).
Figure 1-8: IMCI case management guidelines: Assess, classify, and identify treatment.
Malnutrition and anaemia (24).
iv. Evaluation of the IMCII
The dvelopment of the IMCI guidelines was mostly based on practices that have
been scientifically proven to be effective. When scientific studies were not available,
expert opinion was sought from specialists in the appropriate field (9). A study
conducted in Kenya in 1997, compared the performance of a minimally trained
health worker using IMCI with a paediatric specialist (18). The study provided a
technical validation of the IMCI. It was concluded that the algorithm was sensitivite
enough for different diseases with the exception of diarrhoea and referral for
hospital admission (18). The researchers proposed that a training course would be
necessary in order to ensure the efficacy of the programme. Thus, training courses in
IMCI are held across the world in countries that implement IMCI.
The IMCI cannot be successful unless health workers in developing countries
embract the idea and apply it. The fear that health workers are not using the IMCI
18