Role of Health Institution Family and Traditional Based Care in Diarrhea Management, Current Opportunities in Senegal

Abstract

Objectives: Despite concerted efforts, diarrhea remains a serious public health problem in Senegal: U5MR: 72 per 1,000 live births; Diarrhea prevalence: 21.1% (second leading cause of morbidity); 17% of child deaths due to diarrhea (third leading cause of child death). To address this problem, the Ministry of Health (MOH), assisted by Micronutrient Initiative and others partners, implemented a situational analysis as the evidence base for elaborating new strategies to reduce child mortality related to diarrhea. Methods: Descriptive, analytical, qualitative and quantitative assessment of childhood diarrhea management with ORS and Zinc were conducted in three regions. Results: Select findings include: diarrhea is primarily treated at home with homemade or purchased oral rehydration (OR) therapy, traditional remedies and prescription drugs (antibiotic/antiparasite); one-third of care providers accurately described appropriate diarrhea management or including Zinc in its management and just, 24% reported prescribing ORS and 2% for Zinc in diarrhea management; no prescription of Zinc in private; treatment costs were reportedly 10-20X the government's maximum guidelines. Based on findings, the government developed and will implement a large-scale collaborative national plan for diarrhea management. Conclusion: This extensive and collaborative situational analysis allowed decision-makers to identify critical problems related to current methods of treating diarrhea and related knowledge gaps among the population and health care providers. These findings are allowing the MoH to develop and implement relevant national plan to increase its ability to improve diarrheal outcomes and reduce devastating outcomes.