The Co-Utilization of Oral Rehydration Solution and Zinc for Treating Diarrhea and Its Associated Factors Among Under-Five Children in Ethiopia: Further Analysis of EDHS 2016

INTRODUCTION: Diarrhea causes a loss of body water and salt, which can lead to dehydration and death. The use of oral rehydration salts and zinc together is regarded as an effective treatment for diarrhea in resource-poor settings like Ethiopia. However, studies that examine the co-utilization of oral rehydration solution and zinc in the treatment of diarrhea are limited Ethiopia. OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence and associated factors of oral rehydration solution and zinc co-utilization to treat diarrhea in children under the age of five in Ethiopia, EDHS 2016. METHODS: Secondary data from the 2016 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) was used to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with the co-utilization of ORS and zinc to treat diarrhea in under-five children. A multilevel binary logistic regression model was fitted to identify factors associated with the co-utilization of ORS and zinc. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95% CI were calculated and used as a measure of associations, and variables having a p-value of less than 0.05 were declared as statistically significant. RESULTS: The national prevalence of ORS and zinc co-utilization was 16.65% (14.66%, 18.84%). Maternal educational status (AOR = 1.45; 95% CI; (1.01, 2.09)), household size (AOR = 1.53; 95% CI; 1.09, 2.16) and distance to health facilities at the community level (AOR = 1.60, 95% CI = 1.02, 2.58) were variables significantly associated with the co-use of ORS and zinc. CONCLUSION: The co-utilization of ORS and zinc for the management of diarrhea was low in Ethiopia. Education, household size, and distance to health facilities at the community level were significantly associated with the co-utilization of ORS and zinc in Ethiopia.