Browsing by Author "Mungai, Samuel"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    PublicationOpen Access
    Institutionalizing the Management of Sick Young Infants:Kenya’s Experience in Revising National Guidelines onIntegrated Management of Newborn and Childhood Illnesses
    (Global Health Sciences And Practices, 2023-04-13) Liambila, Wilson; Mwaura, Peter; Githanga, David; Mbuthia, Joe; Mungai, Samuel; Kinuthia, Doris; Govoga, Allan; Charlotte E. , Warren; K’Oduol, Kezia; Gitaka, Jesse; Natecho, Alice; Odwe, George; Abuya, Timothy; Were, Fred
    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 refer-ral is not feasible. The Ponya Mtoto project was designed as animplementation research project to demonstrate how to adopt theWHO PSBI guidelines in the Kenyan context.Ponya Mtoto Project Description:Between October 2017 andJune 2021, Ponya Mtoto was implemented in 4 Kenyan countieswith higher infant and newborn mortality rates than the nationalmean. A total of 48 health facilities stratified by level of serviceswere selected as study sites.Implementation Approach:The following activities were done toinstitutionalize the management of SYIs with PSBI where referralis not feasible in Kenya’s health system: (1) participating in acocreation workshop and development of a theory of change;(2) revising the national integrated management of newbornand childhood illnesses guidelines to incorporate the manage-ment of PSBI where referral is not feasible; (3) improving avail-ability of essential commodities; (4) strengthening providerconfidence in the management of SYIs; (5) strengthening aware-ness about PSBI services for SYIs at the community level; and (6)harmonizing the national integrated management of newbornand childhood illnesses guidelines to address discrepancies in thecontent on the management of PSBI. In addition, the project fo-cused on strengthening quality of care for SYIs and using imple-mentation research to track progress in achieving project targetsand outcomes.Conclusion:Using an implementation research approach to intro-duce new WHO guidelines on PSBI where referral is not feasibleinto Kenya’s health care service was critical to fostering engage-ment of a diverse range of stakeholders, monitoring provider skillsand confidence-building, strengthening provision of key commodi-ties for managing SYIs with PSBI, and sustaining community-facilitylinkages