Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development

J Venkatachalam ¹, Dinesh Kumar ², Madhu Gupta ³, Arun Kumar Aggarwal ³

Affiliations
1 Department of Community Medicine, Pondicherry Institute of Medical sciences, Puducherry, IN
2 Department of Community Medicine, Dr. Rajendera Prasad Government Medical College, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, IN
3 School of Public Health, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, IN

Abstract

Decline in knowledge and skills after Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illness (IMNCI) training substantiate the introduction of refresher training. The course structure of refresher training remains an area of discussion. The present study is an effort to construct and pilot test the refresher IMNCI training course for primary health care workers.

Methodology: Based on the public health experts' opinion, one day refresher training was given to trained workers in standard IMNCI training of district Panchkula, Haryana.

Results: As planned, one day refresher training was conducted from 9 AM to 5 PM for 76 participants in four batches. It included reading of treatment chart booklet followed by video demonstration and case study. Group discussion was conducted at the end of each session. One role play was performed by the participants.

Conclusion: Authors observed that it is possible to construct and implement the refresher IMNCI training course primary health care workers.

Keywords

Refresher Training, IMNCI

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Madhu Gupta ¹, J Venkatachalam ², Nidhi Goyal ¹, Ravinder Kaur ¹, Sonu Goel ¹, Manmeet Kaur ¹, Arun Kumar Aggarwal ¹, Pavitra Mohan ³

Affiliations
1 School of Public Health, PGIMER, Chandigarh, IN
2 Dept of Community Medicine, PIMS, Pondicherry, IN
3 UNICEF, New Delhi, IN

Abstract

Human resource insufficiency in the resource constraint countries like India insists that the existing human resources are optimally utilized. Supportive supervision is one such strategy to ensure retention of knowledge and skills of existing service providers for optimal implementation of any national health programme. The present study ascertained and documented various models of supportive supervision for implementation of Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illnesses (IMNCI) strategy, to reduce under 5 mortality, in terms of its feasibility, sustainability, effectiveness, success and limitation in selected districts of Rajasthan, Orissa and Bihar states in India. The comparison of IMNCI indicators one year after the initiation of supportive supervision had shown that three post natal visits by health workers within 10 days of birth increased by 11.3 %, 20.2% and 37.6% in the districts - Tonk in Rajasthan, Mayurbhanj in Orissa and Vaishali in Bihar, respectively. There was a marked increase in the referral rates for both young infants and sick children in these states. More focused and regular supervisory visits kept health workers motivated and led to better IMNCI indicators in Bihar as compared to Rajasthan and Orissa. Model of supportive supervision involving both internal and external agency was found to be more feasible, sustainable and successful.

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