Implementation of Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood illness Guidelines among health professionals and associated factors at public health facilities in Gedeo Zone, Southern Ethiopia,2021

ABSTRACT Introduction: Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illness strategy is a management of the most common childhood conditions, with a focus on the most important causes of death. The IMNCI has been implemented in Ethiopia for years. Nevertheless, there is limited information and evidence on its implementation status and operational constraints which has limited the development of intervention strategies in line with child mortality rate reduction. Objective: To assess implementation of Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood illness Guidelines among health professionals and associated factors at public health facilities in Gedeo Zone, Southern Ethiopia,2021. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 286 randomly selected health professionals at Gedeo Zone. Data were collected using Self-administered questionnaire. The collected data were cleaned, coded and entered into epi-data and exported to SPSS version 21 for data analysis. Descriptive statistics was used to describe the study population in relation to socio-demographic and other relevant variables. Binary logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with implementation of IMNCI. In the variable model, covariates with p-values ≤ 0.25 were selected to be included in the multivariable model. The Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with a 95 % Confidence Interval (CI) and p-value of ≤ 0.05was computed to show the strength of the association. The model fitness was checked using Hosmer Reshow model with the P-value of > 0.05. Results: Data were obtained from 286 health professionals working in four districts, with a response rate of 100%. The high-level implementation of IMNCI among health professionals in selected districts of Gedeo Zone was 75.2%. Receiving IMNCI training (AOR: 2.48; 95% CI: 1.12, 5.49) and level of qualification with first degree and above (AOR: 3.31; 95% CI: 1.58, 6.95) were independent determinants of implementation of IMNCI. Conclusion: There was Good implementation of IMNCI guideline among health professionals in selected districts of Gedeo Zone. Receiving IMNCI training and level of qualification with first degree and above were independent determinants of implementation of IMNCI.