In 2004, WHO and UNICEF issued a joint statement recommending zinc for the treatment of acute diarrhea along with oral rehydration therapy. In support of the implementation of this recommendation, the introduction of this intervention was initiated in Mali, India, and Pakistan. In a community-based, controlled trial, activities evaluate whether adding zinc as a therapeutic modality for diarrhea delivered through existing channels (including at the village level) to the current case management package for under-five children results in: reduction in visits to health care providers for treatment of illness reduction in drug use (i.e., antibiotics and other drugs during diarrheal illnesses) an increase in ORS use during diarrhea in the intervention communities
In addition to funding from USAID via the GRA, funding for local costs, including training of health workers and hiring interviewers for household surveys, is provided through grants from the World Health Organization-Department of Child and Adolescent Health and Development to the organizations implementing the studies in India, Pakistan (Aga Khan University), and Mali (Save the Children/Mali). Principal Investigator: Robert E. Black (JHSPH) Co-Investigators: Nita Bhandari (Society for Applied Studies, New Delhi, India) Mahalanabis (Society for Applied Studies, New Delhi, India) Seydou Doumbia (University of Bamako/Consultant to Save the Children/Mali) Eric Swedberg (Save the Children/Westport, Mali) Z. Bhutta (Aga Khan University in Karachi, Pakistan)
Publications: Bhandari N, Mazumder S, Taneja S, Dube B, Black RE, Fontaine O, Mahalanabis D, Bhan MK. (2005). A pilot test of the addition of zinc to the current case management package of diarrhea in a primary health care setting. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr, 41, 5, 685-7. Ellis A, Winch P, Daou Z, Gilroy K and Swedberg E. (2007). Home management of childhood diarrhoea in southern Mali—Implications for the introduction of zinc treatment. Social Science and Medicine, 64, 3, 701-12. Winch PJ, Gilroy KE, Doumbia S, Patterson AE, Daou Z, Coulibaly S, Swedberg E, Black RE. Fontaine O. (2006). Prescription and administration of a 14-day regimen of zinc treatment for childhood diarrhea in Mali. Am J Trop Med Hyg, 74, 5, 880-3. Winch PJ, Gilroy KE, Doumbia S, Patterson AE, Daou Z, Diawara A, Swedberg E, Black RE, Fontaine O, and the Mali Zinc Pilot Intervention Study Group. (2008). Operational Issues and Trends Associated with the Pilot Introduction of Zinc for Childhood Diarrhoea in Bougouni District, Mali. Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition, 26, 2, 151 - 162. |
