| dc.description.abstract | Background: Diarrhea remains a significant public health concern, contributing to high child mortality, particularly
in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Approximately 1.5 million cases of childhood diarrhea are reported annually
in Kenya, with a prevalence of 16%. Despite the availability of affordable interventions like oral rehydration salts
(ORS) and zinc supplementation, their utilization remains suboptimal in Kakamega County, where child mortality is
45 per 1,000. The combined impact of ORS and zinc in reducing childhood diarrhea and its consequences has not
been adequately studied in Kakamega County. This study aims to assess the utilization of ORS and zinc in diarrhea
management in Kakamega County.
Methods: We utilized a cross-sectional design to evaluate current practices and outcomes in managing diarrhea
among children under five years old. A random sampling approach was applied to ensure a representative sample.
Key variables assessed included the frequency of diarrhea episodes, the use of ORS and zinc, and nutritional status.
Statistical analyses, including Chi-square tests and descriptive methods, were used to examine the relationships
between the variables in SPSS version 26.
Results: Of the 246 children surveyed, 47.4% were under 10 months old. The study found that 26.8% of children had
not received rotavirus vaccinations, and diarrhea was significantly (p<0.05) associated with poor nutritional
outcomes. ORS had strong support (69.4%), but zinc supplementation showed moderate support (54.3%).
Conclusions: The study highlights the need for increased uptake of ORS and zinc supplementation, as well as
enhanced vaccination coverage to prevent diarrhea-related deaths and malnutrition in Kakamega County | en_US |
