Experiences of Clinic Managers Implementing the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) in Limpopo Province South Africa

Abstract

ABSTRACT Integrated management of childhood illness (IMCI) strategy was developed for reduction of underfive child mortality. The strategy’s implementation is still inadequate even among trained professional nurses in the presence of clinic managers. A qualitative, descriptive phenomenological research design was used to explore and describe the lived experiences of clinic managers regarding the implementation of the IMCI strategy in Primary health care (PHC) clinics of Limpopo province, South Africa. Semi-structured individual interviews were used to collect data from sixteen (16) purposively selected clinic managers with more than three years of clinic management experience. The seven steps of Collaizi were used to analyse data. Trustworthiness was ensured throughout the study. Positively, managers experienced IMCI as a good strategy which improved nurses’ skills and knowledge, whilst the negative experiences included staff barriers, management barriers and lack of resources that need interventions. Clinic managers to strengthen and prioritise IMCI programme implementation.