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BackgroundOral rehydration solution (ORS) is a simple intervention that can prevent childhood deaths from severe diarrhea and dehydration. In a previous study, we mapped the use of ORS treatment subnationally and found that ORS coverage increased over time, while the use of home-made alternatives or recommended home fluids (RHF) decreased, in many countries. These patterns were particularly striking within Senegal, Mali, and Sierra Leone. It was unclear, however, whether ORS replaced RHF in these locations or if children were left untreated, and if these patterns were associated with health policy changes.MethodsWe used a Bayesian geostatistical model and data from household surveys to map the percentage of children with diarrhea that received (1) any ORS, (2) only RHF, or (3) no oral rehydration treatment between 2000 and 2018. This approach allowed examination of whether RHF was replaced with ORS before and after interventions, policies, and external events that may have impacted healthcare access.ResultsWe found that RHF was replaced with ORS in most Sierra Leone districts, except those most impacted by the Ebola outbreak. In addition, RHF was replaced in northern but not in southern Mali, and RHF was not replaced anywhere in Senegal. In Senegal, there was no statistical evidence that a national policy promoting ORS use was associated with increases in coverage. In Sierra Leone, ORS coverage increased following a national policy change that abolished health costs for children.ConclusionsChildren in parts of Mali and Senegal have been left behind during ORS scale-up. Improved messaging on effective diarrhea treatment and/or increased ORS access such as through reducing treatment costs may be needed to prevent child deaths in these areas.

Original publication

DOI

10.1186/s12916-020-01857-7

Type

Journal

BMC medicine

Publication Date

12/2020

Volume

18

Addresses

Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, 3980 15th Ave. NE, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA.

Keywords

Humans, Diarrhea, Bicarbonates, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Glucose, Treatment Outcome, Fluid Therapy, Administration, Oral, Severity of Illness Index, Child Mortality, Time Factors, Health Policy, History, 20th Century, History, 21st Century, Child, Child, Preschool, Infant, Mali, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Female, Male, Spatial Analysis