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Inappropriate pediatric diarrhea treatment: Challenges in Nepal, Benin, and Madagascar. Kathryn Banke, Ph.D. Abt Associates June 16, 2011. Overview. USAID-funded Social Marketing Plus for Diarrheal Disease Control: Point-of-Use Water Disinfection and Zinc Treatment (POUZN) Project
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Inappropriate pediatric diarrhea treatment: Challenges in Nepal, Benin, and Madagascar Kathryn Banke, Ph.D. Abt Associates June 16, 2011
Overview USAID-funded Social Marketing Plus for Diarrheal Disease Control: Point-of-Use Water Disinfection and Zinc Treatment (POUZN) Project Pediatric diarrhea and diarrhea treatment POUZN zinc programs Methods Main findings/results: Pediatric diarrhea treatment practices Zinc ORS/ORT Antibiotics Antidiarrheals Next steps
Pediatric diarrhea • 2nd leading cause of death in children under 5 years (15%) • At least 1.3 million deaths per year • Dehydration is most immediate cause of death Source: Black et al. Lancet 2010; 375:1969-1987
Zinc for treatment of uncomplicated pediatric diarrhea • 1985-2003: Field research findings • Reduced duration and severity of diarrhea when zinc taken for 10-14 days • Protective effect: reduced incidence in following 2-3 months • May 2004: WHO/UNICEF issue revised recommendation for treatment of uncomplicated pediatric diarrhea: • Zinc for 10-14 days PLUS low-osmolarity oral rehydration solution (ORS)/ oral rehydration therapy (ORT)
POUZN zinc programs (1) Nepal Public sector pilots: 2006 POUZN (w/MOHP) public/private sector program in Kathmandu: Jan-Aug 2007 POUZN in 30 districts (out of 75 total): April-August 2008 Local manufacturer partnerships, BCC campaign, 8000 providers trained Benin Public/private pilot (2 departments): April 2008 National launch through health centers and pharmacies: July 2008 8/12 departments initially Remaining 4 departments by 2009
POUZN zinc programs (2) Madagascar • MOH launched limited public sector zinc program in 2006; expanded to 90/111 districts with BASICS/UNICEF support • ViaSur(ORS + zinc) launched April 2009 (rural communities) • Hydrazinc(ORS + zinc) launched December 2009 (commercial)
Household survey methods Structured questionnaire Diarrhea treatment practices Exposure to messages and media Knowledge, perceptions related to diarrhea and zinc Administered to caregivers of children under 5 Nepal & Benin: youngest & next-youngest (if any) child in house (0-59 months) Madagascar: youngest child in house (6-59 months) Weighted analysis (complex sampling designs)
Among zinc users, zinc with ORS/ORT use high; correct zinc use for 10 days still needs attention Note: analysis restricted to respondents who used zinc for diarrhea episode in past 2 weeks
Antibiotics and antidiarrheals are inappropriate and potentially harmful for uncomplicated diarrhea • Antibiotics should only be used if blood in stools • Inappropriate use of antibiotics will not improve diarrhea • Antibiotics may have side effects and can lead to development of antibiotic resistance • Benefits of antidiarrheals do not outweigh the risks • Antidiarrheals may mask symptoms and delay treatment • Antidiarrheals not appropriate for children under 5
Caregivers use other treatments, regardless of zinc/ORS promotion and marketing
Inappropriate use of antibiotics Proportion of children given antibiotics that had blood in the stools: • Madagascar: 19% • Nepal: 20% • Benin: 28%
Providers continue to sell/recommend inappropriate treatments even when contraindicated Mystery client survey results • Nepal: • 82% recommended an antidiarrheal; 3% gave an antibiotic; 10% provided other pills/syrups • Madagascar: • 46% inappropriately recommended antibiotics • 33% inappropriately recommended antidiarrheals • Benin • Few recommended antibiotics alone (2% in public clinics/6% in pharmacies) or antidiarrheals alone (2% in public clinics/20% in pharmacies) • 84% of public clinics and 52% of pharmacies recommended OraselZinc plus either an antibiotic or anti-diarrheal
Qualitative data from providers and caregivers • Madagascar caregivers: Used to treating with antibiotics rather than new zinc product • Benin providers: Zinc not as effective as antidiarrheals – does not stop diarrhea immediately and requires 10 days to accrue benefits
Next steps • Conduct additional research with providers to identify reasons for recommending inappropriate treatments • Explore provider incentives • Modify program messages for caregivers and providers in new program countries • Develop/implement new provider training strategies
Millennium Development Goal #4 • Between 1990 and 2015: reduce, by two-thirds, the under-five mortality rate
Kathryn_banke@abtassoc.com www.shopsproject.org