Construcción de un modelo de gestión para la salud y el bienestar de la infancia en la implementación de la estrategia AIEPI en Colombia.

The Colombian Ministry of Social Protection through a call for proposals started a process searching for the design of a health management model that could support the implementation of the Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI). A research process that defined the problem in the implementation of the IMCI strategy was established, trying to understand why the IMCI strategy has had problems in finding its way to be effective in the Colombian national health system. Primary information sources were explored through: document analysis, interviews to experts and focus groups in three different territories of the country where the IMCI strategy has been operating. Through the analysis of information that was collected, a theoretical approach that was later operationalized in a model was constructed. The model considered four different elements for its design: Building a collaborative alliance, Directing and planning the process, Citizenship capacity building, and Health services delivery. An overall follow up and evaluation strategy was designed to support its development in managing infant and childhood health and well being within territories and institutions. The suggested model was validated and adjusted according to the recommendations of groups of experts and territorial focus groups, who had the opportunity to review it in its first versions. The model is now available to be used by all those Colombian territories interested in improving the conditions of health and well being of its children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]