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Introducing Zinc through the Private Sector in Benin: Evaluation of Caregiver Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices, 2009 and 2011

In 2007, the USAID-funded Social Marketing Plus for Diarrheal Disease Control (POUZN) project introduced the Orasel Zinc kit in the Benin marketplace. Each kit contains ten 20 milligram tablets of pediatric zinc and two sachets of oral rehydration solution. POUZN conducted demand creation campaigns and trained public and private sector providers in prescribing the kit for pediatric diarrhea cases. POUZN and the subsequent SHOPS project conducted household surveys 2009 and 2011 to assess changes in the diarrhea treatment practices, knowledge, and beliefs of caregivers of children under five.

Key findings include:

• Use of zinc for treatment of childhood diarrhea increased significantly from 2009 to 2011. 
• Providers played an important role in encouraging use of zinc and oral rehydration solution as the first-line treatment for uncomplicated pediatric diarrhea.
• Both the public and private sectors were important sources of zinc advice and treatment.
• Inappropriate treatments were still widely practiced, and many times used in conjunction with zinc. 
• While care-seeking behavior increased between 2009 and 2011, the percentage of caregivers not providing any treatment remained high.
• Television was a major source of zinc information.