title: National implementation of Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI): policy constraints and strategies.
abstract: Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) is a pediatric care management strategy that has been shown to improve health care service quality and increase health care cost savings in multi-country evaluations. However, many countries have faced significant training, health system, political, and financial constraints to national implementation and, as a result, have not been able to observe sustained benefits of IMCI. This article reviews the literature for evidence of IMCI health impacts, common implementation constraints, and policy strategies for health system strengthening and successful implementation.
authors.affiliation: Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Haitham.m.ahmed@gmail.com
authors.forename: Haitham M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Bethany
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hedt
mesh_terms: D002662:Child Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006284:Health Plan Implementation; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000592:standards*; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration