Improved nutritional therapy of diarrhea : a guide for planners and decision makers involved in CDD programs

The primary focus of Diarrheal Disease Control (CDD) Programme efforts has been on improved case management through the promotion of oral rehydration therapy (ORT). Although ORT is generally recognized to include two components - fluid therapy and adequate diet - most programmes have emphasized hydration and neglected diet, even though it is known that food enhances fluid absorption during diarrhoea and that repeated diarrheal episodes produce adverse nutritional consequences for young children. The compilers of this manual argue that serious attention needs to be devoted to incorporating improved dietary management of diarrhoea into CDD programmatic efforts. The purpose of this manual is to guide the programme manager through the staps that are required to supervise the integration of improved dietary management into CDD intervention efforts. The manual is divided into two parts. Part I provides background information that must be digested before specific programme activities are undertaken. Part II details specific steps that will guide the programme manager through the generation of political commitment to the monitoring and evaluation of programme implementation.