Children and adolescents need access to high-quality primary health care to achieve their full health and development potential. Paediatric nurses play a central role in delivering that care. To support health professionals working with children and adolescents, the WHO Regional Office for Europe has developed the Pocket book of primary health care for children and adolescents: guidelines for health promotion, disease prevention and management from the newborn period to adolescence.
The Pocket Book provides evidence-based guidance for primary health care professionals delivering preventive, promotive and curative care. It covers key areas of child and adolescent health, including growth and development, nutrition, immunization, mental health, sexual and reproductive health, management of common conditions, and support for children with chronic diseases and special health care needs.
Designed as a practical resource for everyday use, the Pocket Book adopts a child- and family-centred approach, emphasizing prevention, early intervention and continuity of care. Paediatric nurses play a central role in delivering these services, and the Pocket Book can help strengthen nursing practice, improve quality of care and support multidisciplinary collaboration within primary care teams.
The publication is currently available in English, Russian, Spanish and Ukrainian. It is also being adapted for national use in a growing number of countries. A national version is already available in Kyrgyzstan, while adaptations are expected soon in several countries, including Greece, Italy, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
The Pocket Book is accompanied by a mobile application, making guidance reasily accessible at the point of care. A training package to support implementation and capacity building is also under development and will be available soon, further supporting health professionals applying the recommendations in practice.
To learn more about the mobile application and its functionalities, you can watch the video demonstration on YouTube
PNAE members and paediatric nursing professionals across Europe are encouraged to explore and share this important resource, helping to strengthen child and adolescent health services and improving health outcomes for future generations.
Access the Pocket Book here:
https://www.who.int/europe/publications/i/item/9789289057622
This new represents the first step of a new collaboration between PNAE and WHO Regional Office
