Original article In what ways can Community Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illnesses (C-IMNCI) improve child health?

Background: In addition to access to quality health services, family child care practices play a major role in improving child health and achieving reduction in childhood mortality. Objective: To assess the effect of community integrated management of neonatal and childhood illness interventions on family practices for child care. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional survey was conducted in Dabat District, northwest Ethiopia. A total of 800 mothers or caretakers of children of under two years form the Community Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses intervention and non-intervention areas were selected using a multistage sampling procedure and interviewed in November 2007. Result: Three hundred thirty seven (84.3%) of the mothers from the intervention area and 358 (89.5%) from non-intervention area were illiterate. Thre vast majority (99.5%) of the fathers in each of the areas were farmers. Mothers/care takers from community IMNCI intervention areas reported better child care practices in terms of time of breastfeeding initiation (OR=9.10, 95 % CI=5.45, 12.43), avoiding prelacteal feeding (OR=11.01, 95 % CI=7.98, 15.43), initiation of supplementary feeding (OR=3.63, 95 % CI=2.23, 5.93) compared to mothers/care takers form non intervention areas. Regarding water, personal hygiene and environmental sanitation, statistical significant difference