Institutional support to community health workers using integrated management of childhood illness program in Rwanda

Abstract

The objective was to explore the support given to community health workers who use the integrated management of childhood illness (IMCI) approach and describe the supervision given to them. A non-experimental, exploratory, descriptive, quantitative design was used for this study. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire; 305 were interviewed (30% sample). The data were double entered, cleaned, and analyzed using Statistics Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) 19. Support and supervision in Rwanda are provided by the base institution and by supervisors. CHWs often had a shortage of drugs and equipment (63.3%) and 87.5% have experienced run out of equipment, medicines, and consumables. This created barriers to caring for sick children. To improve institutional support for community health workers, regular and continuous supportive supervision and supplies are essential.