Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #114336

Smruti Patel, MPH, Infectious Diseases, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa, +27214066306, spatel@cormack.uct.ac.za and Mickey Chopra, BSc, BM, DCH, MS, HSRU, Medical Research Council, SOPH, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, 7535, South Africa.

The addition of care for development skills to the standard integrated management of childhood illness (IMCI) training is an important development for the IMCI approach. Whilst there is good evidence for the rationale of adding this component the key question is whether the already intensive IMCI training can cope with the addition of another component. This study aimed to assess changes in performance of health workers during and after training with the modified IMCI approach. Methods: Structured observations of twenty participants and exit interviews with carers before, during and one month after modified IMCI training. Results: There were significant improvements in the counselling skills of the participants with regard to both feeding and care for development. They were able to compare current practices with recommendations on play and communication for each age group. Improvements were also seen in praising the mother for what she is already doing well with the child and in discussing and demonstrating the recommendations with the mother, and in checking the mother's understanding. This improvement was sustained during the follow-up period. However there was not a concomitant improvement in the knowledge of carers after the consultation. Discussion: The modified training has led to a significant improvement in the counselling performance of the participants and does not compromise the outcome of the IMCI training.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the key modifications to the IMCI training program
• Describe the impact of this modification on the outcomes of training

Keywords: Children's Health, International MCH

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.