Compliance With Zinc Supplementation in the Treatment of Childhood Diarrhoea Among Mothers With Under‐Five Children in Nepal

ABSTRACT Background Diarrhoea is a leading cause of childhood mortality and morbidity among children under 5 years of age in developing countries like Nepal. This study aimed to investigate compliance with zinc supplementation and its associated factors among mothers having children under 5 years in Nepalgunj Sub‐Metropolitan City, Banke District of Nepal. Methodology A cross‐sectional study was conducted in the selected wards of Nepalgunj Sub‐Metropolitan City, Banke District, Nepal. A face‐to‐face interview was conducted using a structured questionnaire with mothers of children under 5 years old who had suffered from diarrhoea within the month preceding data collection. A proportionate sampling was followed to recruit participants. Demographical and clinical characteristics of the participants were described using mean, standard deviation, frequency and percentages. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the association between individual characteristics and zinc supplementation. Result A total of 374 participants were recruited in this study. More than one‐fourth of children (i.e., 108, 28.9%) had received zinc supplementation. Only 27 (25%) of children under 5 years were compliant with zinc supplementation. About 139 (38%) of the participants had heard about zinc supplementation. Approximately one‐fourth of the children with diarrhoea who were provided zinc supplementation completed the recommended 10 days. The most common reasons for not completing zinc supplementation were early recovery of the child and prescription of zinc intake for less than 10 days by healthcare workers. Mothers with good zinc supplementation knowledge were significantly more likely to comply with zinc treatment (AOR = 5.43, 95% CI: 3.8–30.2). Similarly, those mothers with lower socio‐economic status were less likely (AOR = 0.08, 95% CI = 0.0–0.7) with the compliance to zinc supplementation than those mothers with the middle and higher socio‐economic status. Seeking care at a government health facility ( n = 22) was associated with increased odds of zinc supplementation compliance (AOR = 4.39, 95% CI: 1.4–19.5). Conclusion This study highlights the need to improve zinc compliance among mothers, particularly among those with lower socio‐economic class. Strengthening government health facility outreach and caregiver education may enhance the appropriate use of zinc in diarrhoeal treatment.