A retrospective mixed-methods evaluation of a national ORS and zinc scale-up program in Uganda between 2011 and 2016

BACKGROUND: In Uganda, diarrhoea was the third leading cause of mortality among children under the age of five in 2010. To address this issue, the Ministry of Health (MOH) formed a national Diarrhoea and Pneumonia Coordination Committee (DPCC) in 2011. One of the objectives of the DPCC for reducing diarrhoea mortality was to increase the use of oral rehydration salts (ORS) and zinc. This study aimed to describe and evaluate efforts by the DPCC to increase ORS and zinc coverage. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective mixed-methods evaluation to describe the activities conducted under the DPCC and evaluate the extent to which the committee’s goal of increasing ORS and zinc use was achieved. We conducted secondary analysis using Uganda’s Demographic and Health Survey from 2011 and 2016, analyzed cross-sectional private medicine outlet surveys from 2014 and 2016, analyzed ORS and zinc distribution data from the Uganda National Medical Stores, and reviewed program documents from DPCC partners. RESULTS: Nationally, the proportion of children under five with diarrhoea treated with ORS and zinc increased from 1% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1%, 2%) in 2011 to 30% (95% CI = 27%, 32%) in 2016. Among private medicine outlets, the adjusted odds of having any zinc in-stock was 1.5 (95% CI = 1.14, 1.97) times higher in 2016 than in 2014, and the retail price for a complete treatment (2 ORS sachets and 10 zinc tablets) declined by $0.19 (95% CI = -0.31, -0.06), or 14%. CONCLUSIONS: Use of combined ORS and zinc for treatment of diarrhoea in children under five significantly increased in Uganda during the program period. The range of activities conducted by the various members of the DPCC likely contributed to the increase in the use of combined ORS and zinc.