Institutionalizing the management of sick young infants: Kenya’s experience in revising national guidelines on integrated management of newborn and childhood illnesses
Document Type
Article (peer-reviewed)
Publication Date
4-1-2023
Abstract
Introduction: In 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) developed guidelines for the management of sick young infants (SYIs) with possible serious bacterial infection (PSBI) where referral is not feasible. The Ponya Mtoto project was designed as an implementation research project to demonstrate how to adopt the WHO PSBI guidelines in the Kenyan context. Ponya Mtoto Project Description: Between October 2017 and June 2021, Ponya Mtoto was implemented in 4 Kenyan counties with higher infant and newborn mortality rates than the national mean. A total of 48 health facilities stratified by level of services were selected as study sites. Implementation Approach: The following activities were done to institutionalize the management of SYIs with PSBI where referral is not feasible in Kenya’s health system: (1) participating in a cocreation workshop and development of a theory of change; (2) revising the national integrated management of newborn and childhood illnesses guidelines to incorporate the management of PSBI where referral is not feasible; (3) improving availability of essential commodities; (4) strengthening provider confidence in the management of SYIs; (5) strengthening awareness about PSBI services for SYIs at the community level; and (6) harmonizing the national integrated management of newborn and childhood illnesses guidelines to address discrepancies in the content on the management of PSBI. In addition, the project focused on strengthening quality of care for SYIs and using implementation research to track progress in achieving project targets and outcomes. Conclusion: Using an implementation research approach to introduce new WHO guidelines on PSBI where referral is not feasible into Kenya’s health care service was critical to fostering engagement of a diverse range of stakeholders, monitoring provider skills and confidence-building, strengthening provision of key commodities for managing SYIs with PSBI, and sustaining community-facility linkages.
Recommended Citation
Liambila, Wilson, Fred Were, Timothy Abuya, George Odwe, Alice Natecho, Samuel Mungai, Peter Mwaura, David Githanga, Joe Mbuthia, Doris Kinuthia, Allan Govoga, Charlotte E. Warren, Kezia K’oduol, and Jesse Gitaka. 2023. "Institutionalizing the management of sick young infants: Kenya’s experience in revising national guidelines on integrated management of newborn and childhood illnesses," Global Health: Science and Practice, https://doi.org/10.9745/GHSP-D-22-00482.
DOI
10.9745/GHSP-D-22-00482
Language
English