<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><xml><records><record><source-app name="HighWire" version="7.x">Drupal-HighWire</source-app><ref-type name="Journal Article">17</ref-type><contributors><authors><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Liambila, Wilson</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Were, Fred</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Abuya, Timothy</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Odwe, George</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Natecho, Alice</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Mungai, Samuel</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Mwaura, Peter</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Githanga, David</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Mbuthia, Joe</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Kinuthia, Doris</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Govoga, Allan</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Warren, Charlotte E.</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">K’Oduol, Kezia</style></author><author><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Gitaka, Jesse</style></author></authors><secondary-authors></secondary-authors></contributors><titles><title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Institutionalizing the Management of Sick Young Infants: Kenya’s Experience in Revising National Guidelines on Integrated Management of Newborn and Childhood Illnesses</style></title><secondary-title><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Global Health: Science and Practice</style></secondary-title></titles><dates><year><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2023</style></year><pub-dates><date><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2023-04-28 00:00:00</style></date></pub-dates></dates><elocation-id><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">e2200482</style></elocation-id><doi><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">10.9745/GHSP-D-22-00482</style></doi><volume><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">11</style></volume><issue><style face="normal" font="default" size="100%">2</style></issue><abstract><style  face="normal" font="default" size="100%">Key FindingsKey steps in institutionalizing guidelines for possible severe bacterial infection into Kenya’s national guidelines included: Revising health workplans markedly reduced the average number of stock-out days of essential antibiotics and other commodities, noted as a key barrier to the management of sick young infants (SYIs) with possible serious bacterial infection (PSBI).Strengthening provider knowledge, skills, and confidence through on-the-job training and professional development led to an increase in the number of SYIs who were correctly classified, documented, and treated.Strengthening community linkages to primary health care facilities by training community health volunteers (CHVs) on the identification, prompt referral, and follow-up of SYIs, resulted in an increase in the number of SYIs with PSBI referred to primary health care facilities.Key ImplicationsInstitutionalizing the management of SYIs with PSBI where referral is not feasible through updated integrated management of newborn and childhood illness guidelines into subcounty and facility workplans and budgets ensured sustainability and increased uptake of services for SYIs.To improve guideline utilization, implementation of supply-side interventions at the facility level should be coupled with demand-side interventions at the community level, including empowering CHVs and caregivers with the right knowledge and skills to identify danger signs and refer SYIs promptly to health facilities.Introduction:In 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) developed guidelines for the management of sick young infants (SYIs) with possible serious bacterial infection (PSBI) where referral is not feasible. The Ponya Mtoto project was designed as an implementation research project to demonstrate how to adopt the WHO PSBI guidelines in the Kenyan context.Ponya Mtoto Project Description:Between October 2017 and June 2021, Ponya Mtoto was implemented in 4 Kenyan counties with higher infant and newborn mortality rates than the national mean. A total of 48 health facilities stratified by level of services were selected as study sites.Implementation Approach:The following activities were done to institutionalize the management of SYIs with PSBI where referral is not feasible in Kenya’s health system: (1) participating in a cocreation workshop and development of a theory of change; (2) revising the national integrated management of newborn and childhood illnesses guidelines to incorporate the management of PSBI where referral is not feasible; (3) improving availability of essential commodities; (4) strengthening provider confidence in the management of SYIs; (5) strengthening awareness about PSBI services for SYIs at the community level; and (6) harmonizing the national integrated management of newborn and childhood illnesses guidelines to address discrepancies in the content on the management of PSBI. In addition, the project focused on strengthening quality of care for SYIs and using implementation research to track progress in achieving project targets and outcomes.Conclusion:Using an implementation research approach to introduce new WHO guidelines on PSBI where referral is not feasible into Kenya’s health care service was critical to fostering engagement of a diverse range of stakeholders, monitoring provider skills and confidence-building, strengthening provision of key commodities for managing SYIs with PSBI, and sustaining community-facility linkages.</style></abstract></record></records></xml>