Eight key household practices of Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI) amongst mothers of children aged 6 to 59 months in Gambat, Sindh, Pakistan

Objective: To determine Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) regarding eight key integrated management of childhood illness (IMCI) suggested practices and the association of these key practices with stunting as outcome. Methods: Sampling proportionate to sub-population sizes was employed to ensure representation from all the Union Councils of taluka Gambat-Sindh. Results: Low female education and mobility show the status of child's first care provider in a typical rural community. Few women knew about giving more food to a child suffering from diarrhoea. Moreover, very few exclusively breastfed their children for first 4-6 months, got their children completely immunized, washed hands before cooking and serving meals and boiled water before utilizing it for drinking purpose. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that children of mothers, who knew the importance of vaccination, obtained antenatal checkups, exclusively breastfed the last child, washed hands before serving and cooking meals were less likely to be stunted. Similarly, children from households where mothers received husband support in child rearing, and where no child less than five years suffered from diarrhoea in the past one year, were less likely to be stunted. Conclusions: Without improving education level of females in rural communities, it would be difficult to educate and empower the first care provider of child. However, as an interim strategy, educational messages regarding a limited number of key practices should be disseminated.