ASSESSING PROFICIENCY AND IMPLEMENTATION OF INTEGRATED NEONATAL & CHILDHOOD ILLNESS MANAGEMENT AMONG STAFF NURSES

Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) has established the Integrated Management of Newborn and Childhood Illness (IMNCI) method as a cornerstone in the effort to significantly reduce morbidity and mortality rates among newborns and children. The successful implementation of IMNCI is contingent upon having skilled healthcare professionals who can provide critical referrals and high-quality care to sick infants and children. A recent study conducted at SRM MCH and RC Kattankulathur. assessed the understanding of IMNCI among staff nurses. Utilizing a structured knowledge questionnaire, data were collected from 100 nurses selected through convenience sampling in a quantitative descriptive cross-sectional design. The results revealed alarming deficiencies in knowledge: 78% of the nurses demonstrated poor understanding, 22% had intermediate knowledge, and not a single nurse achieved an adequate level of comprehension. This stark reality highlights a profound knowledge gap that can no longer be ignored. Given the pivotal role that IMNCI plays in enhancing child healthcare, it is imperative that nursing staff receive urgent and targeted training as well as capacity-building programs. Furthermore, statistical analysis indicated no significant correlation between knowledge levels and demographic characteristics (p<0.05), emphasizing that the need for improvement transcends background factors. To bridge this critical knowledge gap, the study underscores the necessity for ongoing professional development and proactive policy measures. Strengthening IMNCI training for healthcare professionals is not just beneficial—it is essential for improving survival rates and health outcomes for our most vulnerable population: newborns and children. It’s time to prioritize this urgent need and invest in the future of child health.

Keywords
IMNCI, staff nurses, neonatal care, childhood illness, healthcare training, knowledge assessment.