Abstract
We hypothesised that the promotion of blister packs of zinc may be carried out by health personnel in health care facilities to the mothers of children suffering from diarrhea. We predicted that good acceptability and good compliance to zinc treatment in rural Bangladesh would be over 75% and at least 60%, respectively. Between January and December 2011, six hundred and thirty five children aged 6 - 59 months who presented with acute diarrhea received a 10-day zinc regimen. Determination of acceptability and compliance of a dispersible zinc tablet in children 6 - 59 months old was main point of the study. In-home follow-ups started within 2 - 3 weeks after the regimen began. Seventy seven percent of the mothers/caretakers perceived that the taste of the zinc tablets was the same or better than that of other medicines given to their children and expressed willingness to use zinc in the future (good acceptability). Sixty-two percent of the children completed full 10-day course of zinc treatment by taking one tablet a day that had been completely dissolved in a small amount of water (good compliance). There was 63% excess risk for poor compliance to zinc if father stays at home with the family [OR = 1.63 (95%CI; 1.09, 2.46) p = 0.019]. Despite vomiting, 33% children continued to receive zinc tablet [OR = 0.67 (95%CI; (0.47, 0.97, 0.032)] after adjusting for co-variates. Both acceptability and compliance to dispersible zinc tablets in childhood diarrheal illnesses are still not at the expected level in rural Bangladesh.
Highlights
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have advocated a 10 14 day course of zinc treatment along with oral rehydration salt solution (ORS) for the treatment of acute childhood diarrhea
We predicted that good acceptability and good compliance to zinc treatment in rural Bangladesh would be over 75% and at least 60%, respectively
The present study indicated that fathers stay at home was associated with 63% excess risk for poor compliance to zinc tablets
Summary
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have advocated a 10 14 day course of zinc treatment along with oral rehydration salt solution (ORS) for the treatment of acute childhood diarrhea. The possible mechanisms for the effect of zinc supplementation on diarrhea include improved intestinal absorption of water and electrolytes, quicker regeneration of the gut epithelium, increased levels of enterocyte brush border enzymes, and improved immune responses This is thought to lead to rapid clearance of diarrheal pathogens from the intestine [15]. Zinc products (tablet or suspension) manufactured by various pharmaceutical companies are well known in Bangladesh These preparations are promoted as improving child health and development. The present study aimed to determine the acceptability of and compliance to a dispersible zinc tablet formulation by a cohort of children 6 - 59 months old who presented to the diarrheal disease unit of a large tertiary level hospital in rural Bangladesh. We predicted that the good acceptability and good compliance to zinc treatment in rural Bangladesh would be over 75% and at least 60%, respectively
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
