Community empowerment model for integrated management of childhood illness: Reducing the morbidity and mortality rates of children through local wisdom

The Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) model is an approach to reducing morbidity and mortality in children under five, particularly in developing countries. Timor Leste faces significant challenges with child illness and toddler mortality. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a Community-Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (C-IMCI) model in improving child health outcomes in the municipalities of Aileu and Liquiçá, Timor Leste. A quantitative research method was employed using a quasi-experimental study design. The study included 120 participants, selected using non-probability sampling with a convenient sampling approach. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26. The study results showed differences between the intervention and control groups after the implementation of the C-IMCI module. Significant improvements were found in the intervention group, with reductions in symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, and lethargy (p < 0.05). Health workers in the intervention group demonstrated increased knowledge of IMCI practices. This result suggested that the C-IMCI module has the potential to bridge gaps in healthcare access and improve health survival rates in Timor Leste. Policymakers and healthcare workers could, therefore, adopt this approach to enhance IMCI implementation and achieve sustainable health outcomes.