Background: Trachoma is a neglected eye disease and an important cause of preventable corneal blindness. In endemic areas, initial infection can occur in early childhood and following a recurrent episodes, it progresses to scarring and visual impairment. Trachoma disappeared from high income countries through enhancements of hygiene and sanitation but the disease is still a challenge in developing countries. In Ethiopia, data indicate that Amhara is the region with the highest prevalence of active trachoma. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and associations of active trachoma among rural preschool children in Wadla district, Amhara region, Ethiopia.
Methods: In this study, 596 children were screened for signs of active trachoma by using cluster-sampling technique. Following pre-testing of the survey instrument in a different district, questions about socio-demographic status were delivered for heads of households. Integrated eye care workers, previously trained to undertake trachoma screening for one month, performed eye examination. The logistic regression model was used to look for associations of active trachoma.
Results: The prevalence of active trachoma among rural preschool children in Wadla district was 22%. Low economic status (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]3.8 (95%CI 1.3–11.4), being 37–48 months old (4.2;1.5–12.0), living in a house with thatched roof (4.4;1.4–13.6), presence of flies in a home (4.6;2.1–9.9), once-weekly face-washing frequency (8.6;2.5–29.3), having a face that had not been washed for longer than a week (10.6;2.9–37.7), and not using soap (4.5;1.8–11.3) had association to active trachoma
Conclusion: The prevalence of active trachoma among rural pre-school children in Wadla district was high. This indicates that Trachoma is still a public health problem in the district. This high prevalence calls for further interventions to prevent future trachomatis blindness.
Figure 1
Figure 2
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Posted 30 Jul, 2020
On 26 Aug, 2020
On 25 Jul, 2020
On 24 Jul, 2020
On 02 Jul, 2020
On 15 Jun, 2020
On 14 Jun, 2020
On 14 Jun, 2020
On 11 Jun, 2020
Received 08 May, 2020
On 08 May, 2020
Invitations sent on 06 May, 2020
On 17 Apr, 2020
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On 16 Apr, 2020
On 31 Mar, 2020
On 23 Mar, 2020
On 22 Mar, 2020
On 22 Mar, 2020
On 17 Mar, 2020
Received 08 Mar, 2020
Invitations sent on 25 Feb, 2020
On 25 Feb, 2020
On 16 Feb, 2020
On 15 Feb, 2020
On 15 Feb, 2020
On 11 Feb, 2020
Received 28 Jan, 2020
Received 28 Jan, 2020
On 15 Jan, 2020
Invitations sent on 15 Jan, 2020
On 15 Jan, 2020
On 12 Nov, 2019
On 11 Nov, 2019
On 11 Nov, 2019
On 04 Nov, 2019
Received 30 Oct, 2019
Received 30 Oct, 2019
On 15 Oct, 2019
On 15 Oct, 2019
Invitations sent on 03 Sep, 2019
On 16 Aug, 2019
On 15 Aug, 2019
On 15 Aug, 2019
Background: Trachoma is a neglected eye disease and an important cause of preventable corneal blindness. In endemic areas, initial infection can occur in early childhood and following a recurrent episodes, it progresses to scarring and visual impairment. Trachoma disappeared from high income countries through enhancements of hygiene and sanitation but the disease is still a challenge in developing countries. In Ethiopia, data indicate that Amhara is the region with the highest prevalence of active trachoma. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and associations of active trachoma among rural preschool children in Wadla district, Amhara region, Ethiopia.
Methods: In this study, 596 children were screened for signs of active trachoma by using cluster-sampling technique. Following pre-testing of the survey instrument in a different district, questions about socio-demographic status were delivered for heads of households. Integrated eye care workers, previously trained to undertake trachoma screening for one month, performed eye examination. The logistic regression model was used to look for associations of active trachoma.
Results: The prevalence of active trachoma among rural preschool children in Wadla district was 22%. Low economic status (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]3.8 (95%CI 1.3–11.4), being 37–48 months old (4.2;1.5–12.0), living in a house with thatched roof (4.4;1.4–13.6), presence of flies in a home (4.6;2.1–9.9), once-weekly face-washing frequency (8.6;2.5–29.3), having a face that had not been washed for longer than a week (10.6;2.9–37.7), and not using soap (4.5;1.8–11.3) had association to active trachoma
Conclusion: The prevalence of active trachoma among rural pre-school children in Wadla district was high. This indicates that Trachoma is still a public health problem in the district. This high prevalence calls for further interventions to prevent future trachomatis blindness.
Figure 1
Figure 2
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