Abstract
Integrated community case management (iCCM) involves assessment and treatment of common childhood illnesses by community health workers (CHWs). Evaluation of a new Ugandan iCCM program is needed. The objectives of this study were to assess if iCCM by lay volunteer CHWs is feasible and if iCCM would increase proportions of children treated for fever, pneumonia, and diarrhoea in rural Uganda. This pre/post study used a quasi-experimental design and non-intervention comparison community. CHWs were selected, trained, and equipped to assess and treat children under five years with signs of the three illnesses. Evaluation included CHW-patient encounter record review plus analysis of pre/post household surveys. 196 iCCM-trained CHWs reported 6,276 sick child assessments (45% fever, 46% pneumonia, 9% diarrhoea). 93% of cases were managed according to algorithm recommendations. Absolute proportions of children receiving treatment significantly increased post-intervention: antimalarial for fever (+24% intervention versus +4% control) and oral rehydration salts/zinc for diarrhoea (+14% intervention versus +1% control). In our limited-resource, rural Ugandan setting, iCCM involving lay CHWs was feasible and significantly increased the proportion of young children treated for malaria and diarrhoea.
Highlights
Integrated community case management involves assessment and treatment of common childhood illnesses by community health workers (CHWs)
We describe an implementation study using a quasi-experimental design to understand the potential of Uganda’s newly proposed national Integrated community case management (iCCM) program in rural SouthWestern communities
During a short implementation period in our rural Ugandan setting, volunteer CHWs trained over short duration and supervised by local government health workers were willing and able to provide iCCM
Summary
Integrated community case management (iCCM) involves assessment and treatment of common childhood illnesses by community health workers (CHWs). 6.6 million children under age five (U5) die worldwide, mainly from diseases that can be treated or prevented.[1] In rural sub-Saharan Africa, child mortality is especially high and aggravated by severe shortage of health professionals.[2] Early and correct treatment for top killer diseases is essential to reduce child mortality where facility-based services alone cannot provide adequate services.[3] Community case management (CCM) involves treatment of selected common childhood diseases by lay community health workers (CHWs). Integrated community case management (iCCM) involves assessment and African Health Sciences Vol 17 Issue 1, March, 2017 treatment of more than one illness, using algorithms to manage uncomplicated illnesses including malaria, pneumonia, and diarrhoea. Governments throughout sub-Saharan Africa are scaling up a variety of CCM and iCCM programs.[4,5,6,7,8,9]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
