Malawi 2015-16

of giving the same or more food to the sick child. Forty-three percent of children are given less food
than usual, while 6% received no food during diarrhoea.
• For additional information on feeding practices during diarrhoea, see Table 10.8.
10.5.3 Oral Rehydration Therapy and other Treatments for Diarrhoea
Oral rehydration therapy
Children with diarrhoea are given a fluid made from a special packet of oral
rehydration salts (ORS), government-recommended homemade fluids (RHF),
or increased fluids,
Sample: Children under age 5 with diarrhoea in the 2 weeks before the survey
Oral rehydration therapy (ORT) is a
simple and effective way to reduce
dehydration caused by diarrhoea.
About 8 in 10 children with
diarrhoea (78%) receive some form
of ORT, either ORS packets (65%),
recommended home fluids (27%),
or increased fluids (Figure 10.6).
While 13% of children received
antibiotics, 24% were given both
zinc and ORS, which can reduce
the duration and severity of
diarrhoea. Thirteen percent of
children with diarrhoea did not
receive any treatment.
Figure 10.6 Treatment of diarrhoea
Percentage of children under age 5 with diarrhea in the 2
weeks before the survey
Sought advice or treatment
Fluid from ORS packets
Recommended home fluids (RHF)
ORS or RHF
ORT (ORS, RHF, or increased fluids)
Zinc
Antibiotics
Home remedy/other
No treatment
9
13
13
27
28
66
65
72
78
Trends: The proportion of children with diarrhoea who received fluids from ORS packets rose from 43%
in 1992 to 69% in 2010 before declining slightly to 65% in 2015-16. The percentage of children who
received no treatment decreased from 21% in 1992 to 13% in 2015-16.
Patterns by background characteristics
• Rural children with diarrhoea are more likely than urban children to receive fluid from an ORS packet
(66% versus 60%) (Table 10.9).
• Children in the Northern region (43%) are less likely to receive continued feeding and ORT compared
with children in the Central and Southern regions (58% each).
10.5.4 Knowledge of ORS Packets
Ninety-two percent of women in Malawi know about ORS packets for the treatment of diarrhoea (Table
10.10). Knowledge of ORS packets is highest among women living in urban areas (97%), with more than
secondary education (100%), and in the wealthiest households (96%).
146 • Child Health