Evaluating The Impact of the Integrated Community Case Management (ICCM) on Care Given at Drug Shops for Childhood Diarrhoea, Malaria and Pneumonia in Rural Eastern Nigeria

Uzoma Kizito Ndugbu^* & Uchechukwu Chukwuocha, M.

Department of Public Health, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria

Dr. Uzoma Kizito Ndugbu, Department of Public Health, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria.

Keywords: Integrated Community Case Management; Malaria; Diarrhoea; Pneumonia; Drug Shops; Nigeria

Abstract

Background
Nigeria has the largest number of malaria, pneumonia and diarrhoea-related deaths. While it is important that the country attains universal coverage of key childhood illness interventions, poor attention is given on the implementation ICCM in drug shops, where close to a third of the population seek health care.
Objective
The ICCM seeks to manage and control the rampaging effects of malaria, pneumonia and diarrhoea among children in low-income countries, this study thus evaluates the outcome of care given at drugs shops following the intervention of ICCM in the management of childhood illnesses.
Method
A total of 17 drug shops were sampled at Ulakwo and another 20 sample at Emii, Imo state Nigeria. ICCM equipment was made available to the drug shops and additional training was offered to the drug shops at Emii as in form of intervention. They were both assessed at baseline and endline using a questionnaire.
Results
Those who were taking the proper diagnostics were 54% while 86.4% were given the proper medicines. Up to 62% recorded the age. At baseline, the drug shop dealers were not keeping proper record of information about the patients but they improved with intervention from 15% to 45% in both paper and computer recoding at post training survey.
Conclusion
The results of this study highlighted the need for a more proactive utilisation of iCCM strategy in the communities with the provision of training, materials, supervision and logistic. Since most care givers sought care at drug shops, it is important to give constant iCCM training among drug shop sellers.

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