Integrated Management of Childhood Illness in Oman: 16 Years of Pre-service Initiatives for Education and Training

Abstract

Each year, approximately 10 million children worldwide die before reaching the age of five, yet two-thirds of these deaths could be prevented with effective, low-cost interventions. The Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) strategy was adopted in 1996 by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund to address the holistic well-being of children. The ultimate goals of IMCI are to develop a healthcare system that adheres to best practices and to improve the knowledge, attitudes, and skills of healthcare professionals. This paper describes the IMCI in pre-service education and training and the steps involved in integrating it into the nursing course on child health at Oman College of Health Sciences. The program aims to reduce the morbidity and mortality rate of children under five years of age, as well as the severity of their diseases. The Oman College of Health Sciences was the first healthcare academic institution in Oman to implement IMCI in nursing education to strengthen the nursing students’ knowledge, skills, and clinical practice.