IMCI is an integrated approach developed by WHO and UNICEF to reduce child mortality from major diseases. It focuses on clinical care for children under 5 in rural areas with limited resources. The goal is to improve health outcomes through better case management, health systems, and community practices. The case management process involves assessing children, classifying illnesses, treating or referring, and follow-up. Studies show IMCI effectively reduces mortality, though more rigorous evaluations are still needed.

1. IMCI
University of Liverpool
LSTM
MSc Infectious Disease and Tropical
Medicine
Dr. Wail Bajhmoum

2. INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF
CHILDHOOD ILLNESS

3. Outline
Background and Brief History.
Definition.
Objectives and Goals.

4. Outline
Strategy.
THE CASE MANAGEMENT PROCESS.
Examples.

5. Background
* Each year more than 10 million children in low-
and middle-income countries die before they
reach their fifth birthday.
* Seven in ten of these deaths are due to just
five conditions:
* pneumonia (19%)
* diarrhea (19%)
* malaria (5%)
* measles (7%)
* malnutrition (54%)

8. Background
IMCI was first developed in 1992 by UNICEF
and the World Health Organization (WHO)

9. Definition
* IMCI is an integrated approach to child
health that focuses on the well-being of
the whole child.
* IMCI includes both preventive and
curative elements.

10. * IMCI is designed for use in outpatient
clinical settings with limited diagnostic
tools and medications.
ie. rural areas- specifically in developing
countries

11. Objectives and Goals
1. Reducing mortality.
2. Reducing the incidence and seriousness
of illnesses and health problems .
3. Improving growth and development
during the first five years of a child’s life.

12. Strategy.
*Improving case management skills of
health-care staff.
*Improving overall health systems.
*Improving family and community health
practices.

14. THE CASE MANAGEMENT
PROCESS
1 – assessment
2 - classification and identification of treatment.
3 - referral, treatment or counseling of the
child’s caretaker.
4 - follow-up care.

15. Fever With Rashes

16. For A L L sick children ask the mother about the child’s problem, check for general danger signs,
ask
about cough or difficult breathing, diarrhoea and then
A S K : D O E S T H E C H IL D H A V E F E V E R ?
If If
NO YE S
D o e s t h e c h ild h a v e f e v e r ?
( by history or feels hot or temperature 37.5 °C** or above)
IF YES:
Decide the Malaria Risk: high or low
THEN ASK: LOOK AND FEEL:
For how long? Look or feel for stiff neck.
If more than 7 days, has Look for runny nose.
fever been present every day?
Look for signs of MEASLES
Has the child had measles within
the last 3 months? Generalized rash and
One of these: cough, runny nose,
or red eyes.
If the child has me as le s now or Look for mouth ulcers.
w ithin the las t 3 months : Are they deep and extensive?
Look for pus draining from the eye.
Look for clouding of the cornea.
C L A S S IF Y the child’s illness using the colour-coded classification tables for
fever.
Then A S K about the next main symptom: ear problem, and CHECK for malnutrition and
anaemia,
immunization status and for other problems.

17. Is it effective ?!

18. The Multi-Countries Evaluation of (IMCI)
includes studies of the effectiveness, cost,
and impact of the IMCI strategy in
Bangladesh, Brazil, Peru, Tanzania, and
Uganda.

19. *MCE conclude : more detailed descriptions
of methodological and analytic approaches
developed to address specific issues need
to be provided.
*The MCE will continue these and other
methodological challenges in future
articles

20. Thank you