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Utilizing the Potential of Formal and Informal Private Practitioners in Child Survival: Situation Analysis and Summary of Promising Interventions

Studies from different parts of the world show that formal and informal private practitioners are popular sources of treatment for diarrhea, acute respiratory infection, and malaria, which combined are estimated to cause over half of childhood mortality in developing countries. Private practitioners are generally perceived by the community to be more accessible, more sensitive to client needs and more willing to spend time with their clients, compared to the service given in the public sector. However, because of the wide evidence of their substandard clinical services, most national health policies prohibit the practice of unqualified practitioners and ignore them in national child survival programs. Health authorities fear that involving unqualified private practitioners could be perceived as formal recognition and encouragement to continue their substandard practices. The complex factors influencing their practices and the unclear channels of contacting them make it challenging to include them in child health programs.