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Introducing Zinc through the Private Sector in Ghana: Evaluation of Caregiver Diarrhea Treatment Practices

Recognizing the substantial role of the private sector in providing treatment for pediatric diarrhea in Ghana, the SHOPS project partnered with the public sector to design and implement a set of interventions to introduce zinc through private sector channels and to promote correct treatment of diarrhea among private providers and caregivers of children. From 2011 to 2014, SHOPS developed and implemented a comprehensive program for introducing the new guidelines to the private sector, as a complement to existing public sector efforts. This study is part of a suite of research studies conducted by the SHOPS project to evaluate the SHOPS program in Ghana. The purpose of this research is to:

1. Evaluate whether diarrhea management practices among caregivers in Ghana changed following the introduction of the SHOPS interventions. By collecting pre-intervention and follow-up data in program areas and by using a consistent methodology at both points in time, this study measures changes in treatment behaviors over time and evaluates the extent to which SHOPS interventions are likely contributors to the observed changes.
2. Describe the characteristics of zinc users and analyze how they compare with nonusers. This analysis will provide pertinent information for future zinc promotion programs.