ArticleActa paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)2019
Health Extension Workers' diagnostic accuracy for common childhood illnesses in four regions of Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.
Article in Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992), 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 18 papers.
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Who cites it
18 citing papers in PubMed.
- Implementation of the 'Optimising the Health Extension Program' Intervention in Ethiopia: A Process Evaluation Using Mixed Methods.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2020Trial
- Implementation status, drivers and barriers to the sick children quality of care improving interventions in the Oromia region, Ethiopia: case study design.BMC health services research · 2025Article
- Capacity-building interventions for health extension workers in Ethiopia: A scoping review.PloS one · 2025Article
- Evidence on the impact of community health workers in the prevention, identification, and management of undernutrition amongst children under the age of five in conflict-affected or fragile settings: a systematic literature review.Conflict and health · 2024Review
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- Quality of sick child management by health extension workers: role of a complex improvement intervention.BMC health services research · 2023Article
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- Poor Adherence to the Integrated Community Case Management of Newborn and Child Illness Protocol in Rural Ethiopia.The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene · 2022Article
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- A mixed-methods study exploring adherence to the referral of severely sick children in primary health care in Southern Ethiopia.Archives of public health = Archives belges de sante publique · 2021Article
- Barriers to the utilization of community-based child and newborn health services in Ethiopia: a scoping review.Health policy and planning · 2021Article
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- Caregivers' and Health Extension Workers' Perceptions and Experiences of Outreach Management of Childhood Illnesses in Ethiopia: A Qualitative Study.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Article
- Prevention and treatment of suspected pneumonia in Ethiopian children less than five years from household to primary care.Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992) · 2021Article
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
Abstract
aimThe Ethiopian primary care of sick children is provided within the integrated Community Case Management of childhood illnesses by Health Extension Workers (HEW). There is limited knowledge whether this cadre correctly assess and classify common diseases. The aim was to study their ability to correctly classify common childhood illnesses.
methodsA survey was conducted from December 2016 to February 2017 in four regions of Ethiopia. Observations of the HEWs' assessment and classification of sick children were followed by child re-examination by a trained health officer.
resultsThe classification by the HEWs of 620 sick children as compared to the re-examiner had a sensitivity of 89% and specificity of 94% for diarrhoea, sensitivity 52% and specificity 91% for febrile disorders, and a sensitivity of 59% and specificity of 94% for acute respiratory tract infection. Malnutrition and ear infection had a sensitivity of 39 and 61%, and a specificity of 99 and 99%, respectively.
conclusionMost cases of diarrhoea were correctly classified, while other illnesses were not frequently identified. The identification of malnutrition was especially at fault. These findings suggest that a significant number of sick children were undiagnosed that could lead to absent or incorrect management and treatment.
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