Integrating eye health training into the primary child healthcare programme in Tanzania: a pre-training and post-training study

Objectives To evaluate a primary child eye care training module for use in the WHO/UNICEF Integrated Management of Newborn and Childhood Illness (IMNCI) programme by primary healthcare workers.Design Pre-training and post-training study.Setting Primary healthcare facilities in a semirural district,...

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Main Authors: Joanna Schellenberg, Min J Kim, Clare Gilbert, Aeesha N J Malik, Mlika Mafwiri
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2020-02-01
Series:BMJ Paediatrics Open
Online Access:https://bmjpaedsopen.bmj.com/content/4/1/e000629.full
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author Joanna Schellenberg
Min J Kim
Clare Gilbert
Aeesha N J Malik
Mlika Mafwiri
author_facet Joanna Schellenberg
Min J Kim
Clare Gilbert
Aeesha N J Malik
Mlika Mafwiri
author_sort Joanna Schellenberg
collection DOAJ
description Objectives To evaluate a primary child eye care training module for use in the WHO/UNICEF Integrated Management of Newborn and Childhood Illness (IMNCI) programme by primary healthcare workers.Design Pre-training and post-training study.Setting Primary healthcare facilities in a semirural district, central Tanzania.Participants 54 primary healthcare workers selected by the Ministry of Health were trained during routine IMNCI training. All these healthcare workers were assessed pre-intervention and post-intervention. A subgroup of 40 were also assessed 6 months after the completion of training.Intervention Training in an IMNCI eye module, developed for child primary healthcare workers with the Tanzania Ministry of Health and eye care experts.Main outcome measures Knowledge, skills and attitudes were assessed using multiple choice questions, case studies and a self-assessment of skills using a Likert scale before and immediately after training, and 6 months later. A total score was derived. At 6 months, attitudes were assessed in semistructured interviews.Results 69% PHWs trained were nurses. The baseline (before training) score was 29.9 (95% CI 27.5 to 32.4) and increased by 11.2 points (95% CI 8.3 to 14) immediately after training, and by 12.4 points (95% CI 9.2 to 15.6) at 6 months post the training. Therefore, the post-training scores increased and there was no evident difference in scores from immediately after training to 6 months later. Self-assessed confidence in skills decreased from 9/18 (95% CI 9 to 10) to 6/18 (95% CI 6 to 7). At 6 months, the module was reported as easy to understand and use, with challenges including difficulties in examining children’s eyes and poor referral systems.Conclusions The module increased knowledge of child eye health in primary healthcare workers, which was maintained, and was acceptable. The module has since been included into the national IMNCI health policy in Tanzania.
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spelling doaj-art-b35e7a84a9d64fa188a781f90cf794712025-08-20T02:49:08ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Paediatrics Open2399-97722020-02-014110.1136/bmjpo-2019-000629Integrating eye health training into the primary child healthcare programme in Tanzania: a pre-training and post-training studyJoanna Schellenberg0Min J Kim1Clare Gilbert2Aeesha N J Malik3Mlika Mafwiri417 Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UKDepartment of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UKClinical Research Unit, Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UKDepartment of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UKDepartment of Ophthalmology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, United Republic of TanzaniaObjectives To evaluate a primary child eye care training module for use in the WHO/UNICEF Integrated Management of Newborn and Childhood Illness (IMNCI) programme by primary healthcare workers.Design Pre-training and post-training study.Setting Primary healthcare facilities in a semirural district, central Tanzania.Participants 54 primary healthcare workers selected by the Ministry of Health were trained during routine IMNCI training. All these healthcare workers were assessed pre-intervention and post-intervention. A subgroup of 40 were also assessed 6 months after the completion of training.Intervention Training in an IMNCI eye module, developed for child primary healthcare workers with the Tanzania Ministry of Health and eye care experts.Main outcome measures Knowledge, skills and attitudes were assessed using multiple choice questions, case studies and a self-assessment of skills using a Likert scale before and immediately after training, and 6 months later. A total score was derived. At 6 months, attitudes were assessed in semistructured interviews.Results 69% PHWs trained were nurses. The baseline (before training) score was 29.9 (95% CI 27.5 to 32.4) and increased by 11.2 points (95% CI 8.3 to 14) immediately after training, and by 12.4 points (95% CI 9.2 to 15.6) at 6 months post the training. Therefore, the post-training scores increased and there was no evident difference in scores from immediately after training to 6 months later. Self-assessed confidence in skills decreased from 9/18 (95% CI 9 to 10) to 6/18 (95% CI 6 to 7). At 6 months, the module was reported as easy to understand and use, with challenges including difficulties in examining children’s eyes and poor referral systems.Conclusions The module increased knowledge of child eye health in primary healthcare workers, which was maintained, and was acceptable. The module has since been included into the national IMNCI health policy in Tanzania.https://bmjpaedsopen.bmj.com/content/4/1/e000629.full
spellingShingle Joanna Schellenberg
Min J Kim
Clare Gilbert
Aeesha N J Malik
Mlika Mafwiri
Integrating eye health training into the primary child healthcare programme in Tanzania: a pre-training and post-training study
BMJ Paediatrics Open
title Integrating eye health training into the primary child healthcare programme in Tanzania: a pre-training and post-training study
title_full Integrating eye health training into the primary child healthcare programme in Tanzania: a pre-training and post-training study
title_fullStr Integrating eye health training into the primary child healthcare programme in Tanzania: a pre-training and post-training study
title_full_unstemmed Integrating eye health training into the primary child healthcare programme in Tanzania: a pre-training and post-training study
title_short Integrating eye health training into the primary child healthcare programme in Tanzania: a pre-training and post-training study
title_sort integrating eye health training into the primary child healthcare programme in tanzania a pre training and post training study
url https://bmjpaedsopen.bmj.com/content/4/1/e000629.full
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