Zinc Utilization and Associated Factors Among Under-five Children Having Acute Diarrhea in Kebri-dehar Town, Somali Region, Ethiopia-2017

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Zinc with Oral Rehydration Solution was recommended for the management of children’s with acute diarrhea. Zinc can resist subsequent episodes of diarrhea for up to 2 - 3 months and decrease 23% mortality due to diarrhea. Therefore, zinc is one strategy to decrease child mortality in developing countries like Ethiopia. However, there is limited evidence regarding utilization of zinc and associated factors in the eastern part of Ethiopia, Somali region. Objective: To assess the magnitude of zinc utilization and associated factors in Somali region, eastern Ethiopia. Method: Community based cross- sectional study design in 2017 was applied. Simple random sampling was applied. Total sample size of 376 randomly selected under-five children who have been acute diarrheal were selected. Data was collected by face-to-face inter-viewer administered questionnaire by ten data collectors. The collected data was entered into EpiData3.1and then exported and analysed using SPSS20. Bivariate & multivariate logistic regression analysis was done to identify factors associated with zinc utilization at confidence level of 95% and P-value less than 5% significant. Frequencies, proportion, summary statistics were used for presenting the result of the study. Result: Nearly all 374 (99.4%) mothers with children pairs were participated in the study. The magnitudes of zinc utilization were found to be 29.1% (95% CI, 24.49%-33.71%). zinc was less utilized by mothers who were having no formal education [(AOR=0.181, 95% CI: (.056,.591)], child age 6-11 months [(AOR=0.130, 95% CI: (.025,.683)], Mothers withhold food and fluid during acute diarrhea [(AOR=.185, 95%: CI: (.068,.502)] and no husband formal education [(AOR=0.050, 95% CI: (.020,.128)]. conclusion: In this study zinc tablet where utilized by the child with diarrhea, that is Less than the magnitude of national utilization. Mothers having no formal education, child age 6-11 months, Mothers withhold food and fluid during acute diarrhea and husband formal education, were significant associated factors.