NMICS 2010 Report - Central Bureau of Statistics

NMICS 2010, Mid- and Far Western Regionsdeaths. Preventing dehydration and malnutrition by increasing fluid intake and continuing to feedthe child are also important strategies for managing diarrhoea.The WFFC gave a specific goal of reducing death due to diarrhoea among children under five by halfbetween 2000 and 2010, and it also called for a reduction in the incidence of diarrhoea by 25percent. Reducing deaths from diarrhoea would also significantly impact the MDG on reducing bytwo thirds the mortality rate among children under five between 1990 and 2015.The indicators used are as follows.Prevalence of diarrhoeaOral rehydration therapy (ORT)Home management of diarrhoeaORT with continued feedingIn the NMICS 2010 questionnaire, mothers (or caretakers) were asked to report whether their childhad had diarrhoea in the two weeks preceding the survey. If so, the mother was asked a series ofquestions about what the child had to drink and eat during the episode and whether this was moreor less than the child usually ate and drank.Table CH.5 shows that 11 percent of children under five in the MFWR had had diarrhoea in the twoweeks preceding the survey. There was little variation by region or gender. Subregionally, theprevalence of diarrhoea was highest among children living in the Far Western Hills (18 percent) andlowest for those in the Far Western Terai (four percent). Urban children (seven percent) were lesslikely than rural children (12 percent) to have diarrhoea. Children aged 12–23 months (13 percent)were more likely than other children to have diarrhoea; this is the peak weaning period. Childrenaged 48–59 months (eight percent) were the least likely. Mother’s education and household wealthstatus affected the likelihood of children having diarrhoea. Children whose mother had no education(13 percent) were more likely than children whose mother had primary (11 percent) or at leastsecondary education (eight percent) to have diarrhoea. Children in the lowest two wealth quintiles(15 percent) were more likely than other to have diarrhoea, with those in the richest quintile (sixpercent) least likely.Table CH.5 also shows the percentage of children receiving ORT (recommended liquids) during theepisode of diarrhoea. About three fifths (58 percent) of children in the MFWR received ORS(Navjeevan or Jeevanjal powder mixed in water) during their diarrhoeal episode and slightly morethan one fifth (22 percent) of children received a zinc tablet along with ORS. Some variations bybackground characteristic were noticeable; however, sample sizes were small, so these should beviewed with caution. Male children (26 percent) were more likely than female children (17 percent)and urban children (30 percent) were more likely than rural children (21 percent) to receive a zinctablet along with ORS during an episode of diarrhoea. Children aged under one were the least likelyto receive recommended liquids (32 percent) and least likely to receive a zinc tablet (six percent).Variations subregionally, by mother’s education and by household wealth status showed no obviousor no reliable trends.61