INADEQUATE KNOWLEDGE OF IMCI INTERVENTION STRATEGY AMONG HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS IN PORT HARCOURT PRIMARY HEALTHCARE CENTRES, NIGERIA

Abstract

The Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) intervention strategy developed by the World Health Organization in 1992 was established to guide assessment, classification, treatment, and follow-up procedures of sick children. The aim of this study was to examine the knowledge of IMCI intervention strategy amongst trained and untrained healthcare providers working in Port Harcourt primary healthcare centres in Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a novel structured questionnaire administered to 52 nurses, 12 of whom received IMCI training and 40 did not. Results revealed that both trained and untrained healthcare providers demonstrated inadequate knowledge of IMCI, with no significant difference in knowledge between the groups. The study recommends periodic IMCI re-fresher training coupled with mentorship and supervision for healthcare providers to improve the effectiveness of the IMCI intervention strategy.