Factors associated with zinc utilization for the management of diarrhea in under-five children in Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Zinc has a tremendous advantage to save the life of children. It reduces the mean duration of diarrhea and mortality due to diarrhea. Besides, it reduces the severity of the initial episode, and also it prevents future diarrhea episodes. But there is low utilization of zinc for the management of diarrhea in under-five children in Ethiopia and there is a paucity of literature regarding the factors associated with the utilization. METHOD: The 2016 Ethiopian demographic and health survey data were used as a data source. A total weighted sample of 1228 under-five children with diarrhea within 2 weeks preceding the survey were used. A mixed-effects logistic regression analysis was done to account for the complex sample design of the data. Variables with p-value < 0.20 in the bivariable analysis were eligible for multivariable analysis and those variables with p value< 0.05 in the multivariable analysis were declared to be determinants of zinc utilization for the management of diarrhea in under-five children. RESULT: In this study, we found multiple determinants of zinc utilization. Mothers with formal education (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.83;95% CI; 1.30–2.58) and media exposure (AOR = 1.46;95% CI; 1.04–2.04) had higher odds of zinc utilization. But mothers from five and above household size (AOR = 0.57;95% CI; 0.39–0.82) had lower odds of zinc utilization for the management of diarrhea in under-five children. CONCLUSION: In our study maternal education, media exposure, and household size were determinants of zinc utilization for the management of diarrhea in under-five children. Being having a formal education and being exposed to all or either of the three media (radio, TV, and newspaper) increases the likelihood of zinc utilization while being mothers from large household size decreases the likelihood of zinc utilization. Therefore, giving special attention to those mothers with no formal education, and mothers from high family size could increase the utilization of zinc for the management of diarrhea in under-five children. Also, media campaigns regarding diarrhea management could be scaled up to potentially achieve the desired impact.