Children with diarrhoea receiving oral rehydration solution (ORS)

Percent of children under 5 years of age with diarrhoea in the last two weeks receiving oral rehydration salts (ORS) (i.e. fluids made from ORS packets or pre-packaged ORS fluids).


Number of children under 5 years of age with diarrhoea in the two weeks preceding the survey given fluid from ORS packets or pre-packaged ORS fluids.


Number of children with diarrhoea in the two weeks preceding the survey.


Place of residence, sex, age, socioeconomic status.


According to the DHS, the term(s) used for diarrhoea should encompass the expressions used for all forms of diarrhoea, including bloody stools (consistent with dysentery), watery stools, etc. The term encompasses the mother’s definition as well as locally-used term(s).


Household surveys

Routine facility information systems


This indicator describes the proportion of children aged 0–59 months who had diarrhoea and were treated with oral rehydration salts or an appropriate household solution and continued feeding. The terms used for diarrhoea should cover the expressions used for all forms of diarrhoea, including bloody stools (consistent with dysentery) and watery stools, and should encompasses mothers' definitions as well as local terms.

Diarrhoeal diseases remain one of the principal cause of morbidity and mortality among children under 5 years of age in developing countries. Diarrhea-related deaths are most commonly caused by dehydration produced by acute watery diarrhea and acute dehydration. As oral rehydration therapy is a critical component of effective management of diarrhoea, monitoring coverage with this highly cost–effective intervention indicates progress towards improving child survival. 


This indicator is easy to measure. It assumes caretaker and community awareness of ORT. The use of a two-week reference period to ascertain
the occurrence and treatment of diarrhea decreases problems of recall. However, the indicator does not capture timely treatment of diarrhea, that is, whether ORT was provided as soon as the episode of diarrhea started. The indicator also does not measure whether ORT was prepared appropriately (electrolyte concentration in the case of ORS) or whether it was administered correctly (in sufficient volume) to prevent dehydration. It also does not take into account the severity of illness.


Pediatric care, Child health, Diarrheal disease

World Health Organization (WHO). 2015 Global Reference List of 100 Core Health Indicators.; 2015. http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/173589/1/WHO_HIS_HSI_2015.3_eng.pdf

World Health Organization. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Review of National Health Strategies: A Country-Led Platform for Information and Accountability.; 2011. http://www.who.int/healthinfo/country_monitoring_evaluation/1085_IER_131011_web.pdf

World Health Organization. Nutrition Landscape Information System (NLIS). Country Profile Indicators: Interpretation Guide. Geneva, Switzerland; 2010. http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/44397/1/9789241599955_eng.pdf

Gage AJ, Ali D, Suzuki C. A Guide for Monitoring and Evaluating Child Health Programs. MEASURE Evaluation. Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.; 2005. http://www.coregroup.org/storage/documents/Workingpapers/ms-05-15.pdf

 

Further information and related links

Ending preventable child deaths from pneumonia and diarrhoea by 2025. The integrated Global Action Plan for Pneumonia and Diarrhoea (GAPPD). Geneva: World Health Organization/United Nations Children’s Fund; 2013 (Retrieved from http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/79200/1/9789241505239_eng.pdf?ua=1).

Standard foreign assistance indicators/standard foreign assistance master indicator list (MIL). Washington (DC): United States Agency for International Development (Retrieved from http://www.state.gov/f/indicators/index.htm).

World health statistics 2014. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2014 (Retrieved from http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/112738/1/9789240692671_eng.pdf?ua=1).

Filed under: Child health , Diarrheal disease , Pediatric care