DIARRHEA AND MORTALITY IN MENOUFIA, EGYPT

From 1982 the Ministry of Health of Egypt implemented the National Con trol of Diarrhoeal Diseases Project (NCDDP) which attempted to improve case management of childhood diarrhoea by making oral rehydration sal ts (ORS) widely available and used, to improve feeding patterns during diarrhoea, and other measures. National data indicate a high level of success in achieving the targets. However, impact evaluation is hampe red by weak national baseline information available prior to NCDDP on case management of diarrhoea and causes of infant and childhood mortal ity. A study in Menoufia Governorate in 1979-80 obtained such informat ion. Consequently, in 1988 the area was revisited to examine subsequen t changes. Findings showed marked improvement in case management of di arrhoea and rapid mortality decline, with diarrhoeal mortality apparen tly declining somewhat faster than mortality from other causes.