TREATMENT PATTERNS FOR CHILDHOOD DIARRHEA - EVIDENCE FROM DEMOGRAPHICAND HEALTH SURVEYS

Treatment patterns for childhood diarrhoea among providers in public a nd private settings have been examined using data from 28 surveys in t he Demographic and Health Surveys programme. In the majority of survey s, at least 50% of the children with diarrhoea who sought care from a health provider (public or private) received treatment that included o ral rehydration salts (ORS). Private providers are a significant sourc e of care for children with diarrhoea, but they are less likely to use ORS and more likely to prescribe unneeded drugs than providers in pub lic settings. In countries where data are available, bloody diarrhoea appears to be undertreated. The results indicate that national public health programmes must continue to improve their strategies to ensure correct treatment of childhood diarrhoea by all health providers.