South Sudanese Children with Cough or Difficulty in Breathing – Calculating Infinity
Source: https://aec-sudan.org/south-sudanese-children-with-cough-or-difficulty-in-breathing
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:18
South Sudanese Children with Cough or Difficulty in Breathing – Calculating Infinity
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South Sudanese Children with Cough or Difficulty in Breathing
April 3, 2025
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Background
Pneumonia substantially kills children aged 2–59 months in South Sudan. However, information on health workers adherence to Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI) guideline in treating children with cough/difficulty in breathing remains scarce. This study assessed factors associated with adherence to IMCI guideline in Aweil East County, South Sudan.
Methods
This cross-sectional study involved 232 health workers from 36 health facilities. Data collected using structured questionnaire and checklist was double-entered in EpiData and analyzed with STATA at 5% significance level using logistic regression.
Results
Respondents mean age was 32.41 ± 7.0 years, 154 (66.4%) were males, 104 (44.8%) reached secondary education, and 190 (81.9%) had certificate. 23 (9.9%, 95% CI: 6.4–14.5) adhered to IMCI guideline. Holding diploma (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 6.97; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.82–26.67; P = 0.005), shorter time to follow guideline steps (AOR = 12.0; 95% CI: 2.73–61.66; P < 0.001), and nondifficult use (AOR = 27.7; 95% CI: 5.40–142.25; P < 0.001) were associated with adherence.
Conclusion
Adherence was low. Academic qualifications, guideline complexity, and availability of IMCI drugs were associated factors.
Background
Globally, pneumonia is recognized as a leading cause of under-five mortality. Pneumonia alone is responsible for more deaths than combined deaths from malaria, tuberculosis, and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in this category of children. South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa lift the heaviest world burden of pneumonia estimated at 18% and 90% deaths among children under-five years, respectively . To address this problem, the World Health Organization (WHO) formulated guideline of integrated management of child illnesses (IMCI) to direct health workers in assessing and managing pneumonia langkah by langkah in children presenting with cough and difficulty in breathing (DIB) at health facilities . Pneumonia is a leading cause of under-five mortality in South Sudan, accounting for 19% of all childhood deaths . Consequently, the IMCI guideline was introduced by Government of South Sudan in 2007 to address the high mortality rates in selected health facilities due to shortage of Human Resources for Health .
In Aweil East County (AEC), Northern Bar El Ghazal State (NBEGS), South Sudan, reports indicate pneumonia is incorrectly diagnosed and treated in spite of the presence of the IMCI guideline . Without addressing this practice, it is obvious that most, if not all, children with pneumonia will be incorrectly managed resulting in antibiotic resistance and high mortality rates . In this study, we assessed the level and factors associated with health worker adherence to the IMCI guideline when treating children with cough or DIB in AEC, NBEGS, South Sudan.
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Skip to the content
South Sudanese Children with Cough or Difficulty in Breathing
April 3, 2025
/
admin
/
0 Comments
Background
Pneumonia substantially kills children aged 2–59 months in South Sudan. However, information on health workers adherence to Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI) guideline in treating children with cough/difficulty in breathing remains scarce. This study assessed factors associated with adherence to IMCI guideline in Aweil East County, South Sudan.
Methods
This cross-sectional study involved 232 health workers from 36 health facilities. Data collected using structured questionnaire and checklist was double-entered in EpiData and analyzed with STATA at 5% significance level using logistic regression.
Results
Respondents mean age was 32.41 ± 7.0 years, 154 (66.4%) were males, 104 (44.8%) reached secondary education, and 190 (81.9%) had certificate. 23 (9.9%, 95% CI: 6.4–14.5) adhered to IMCI guideline. Holding diploma (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 6.97; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.82–26.67; P = 0.005), shorter time to follow guideline steps (AOR = 12.0; 95% CI: 2.73–61.66; P < 0.001), and nondifficult use (AOR = 27.7; 95% CI: 5.40–142.25; P < 0.001) were associated with adherence.
Conclusion
Adherence was low. Academic qualifications, guideline complexity, and availability of IMCI drugs were associated factors.
Background
Globally, pneumonia is recognized as a leading cause of under-five mortality. Pneumonia alone is responsible for more deaths than combined deaths from malaria, tuberculosis, and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in this category of children. South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa lift the heaviest world burden of pneumonia estimated at 18% and 90% deaths among children under-five years, respectively . To address this problem, the World Health Organization (WHO) formulated guideline of integrated management of child illnesses (IMCI) to direct health workers in assessing and managing pneumonia langkah by langkah in children presenting with cough and difficulty in breathing (DIB) at health facilities . Pneumonia is a leading cause of under-five mortality in South Sudan, accounting for 19% of all childhood deaths . Consequently, the IMCI guideline was introduced by Government of South Sudan in 2007 to address the high mortality rates in selected health facilities due to shortage of Human Resources for Health .
In Aweil East County (AEC), Northern Bar El Ghazal State (NBEGS), South Sudan, reports indicate pneumonia is incorrectly diagnosed and treated in spite of the presence of the IMCI guideline . Without addressing this practice, it is obvious that most, if not all, children with pneumonia will be incorrectly managed resulting in antibiotic resistance and high mortality rates . In this study, we assessed the level and factors associated with health worker adherence to the IMCI guideline when treating children with cough or DIB in AEC, NBEGS, South Sudan.
Categories:
Uncategorized
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Cancel reply