Using surveys in Mozambique for evaluation of diarrhoeal disease control

Mozambique had used surveys extensively to evaluate its Diarrheal Diseases Control program. Topics have included diarrhea morbidity and mortality health center management and home followup diarrhea prevalence and dehydration and household knowledge. The surveys found high diarrhea-associated morbidity and mortality rates. Although knowledge rates about oral rehydration salts were between 88% and 93% problems in the program included poor distribution of ORS packets varying availability of sugar and salt inadequate case management and poor effective use in the home. Policy and strategy have been revised accordingly to improve healthworker training and to increase us of alternative home solutions. The authors make recommendations for future surveys based on the revised program; a change from large surveys measuring mortality to small local surveys of health center management with home followup to measure effective use with indicators on knowledge included in routine Expended Program on Immunization (EPI) coverage surveys. (authors)