TY - JOUR
T1 - Prevalence and determinants of active trachoma among preschool-aged children in Dembia District, Northwest Ethiopia
AU - Ferede, Ayanaw Tsega
AU - Dadi, Abel Fekadu
AU - Tariku, Amare
AU - Adane, Akilew Awoke
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 The Author(s).
Copyright:
Copyright 2018 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2017/10/9
Y1 - 2017/10/9
N2 - Background: Trachoma is an infectious eye disease caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, which is the leading infectious cause of blindness worldwide. In areas where trachoma is endemic, active trachoma is common among preschool-aged children, with varying magnitude. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of active trachoma and associated risk factors among preschool-aged children in Dembia District, northwest Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among preschool-aged children of northwest Ethiopia. Multistage systematic random sampling was used to select 695 subjects. Trained clinical optometrists subjected each child to an ocular examination and assessed the presence of active trachoma. Face to face interview using pretested and structured questionnaire were conducted to collect data on possible risk factors. Trachoma cases were graded following a World Health Organization simplified grading scheme. All statistical analysis was carried out using the SPSS software version 20. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to identify factors associated with active trachoma. Results: Of the 681 preschool-aged children studied, 18% (95% CI: 15.4% - 21.1%) had a prevalence of active trachoma. Children who had clean faces (absence of nasal and ocular discharges) had a lower chance of having active trachoma [aOR=0.55, 95% CI: 0.37 - 0.82]. The odds of having active trachoma decreased with an increase in the distance to a water point [aOR=0.51, 95% CI: 0.33 - 0.78]. Similarly, no or poor utilization of liquid waste disposal in the child's household was associated with an increased chance of having active trachoma [aOR=3.83, 95% CI: 1.26 - 11.61]. Conclusion: The prevalence of active trachoma in these preschool-aged children was found to be high and needs special interventions that focus on educating families about proper face washing, liquid waste disposal, and improving safe water supply near the households.
AB - Background: Trachoma is an infectious eye disease caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, which is the leading infectious cause of blindness worldwide. In areas where trachoma is endemic, active trachoma is common among preschool-aged children, with varying magnitude. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of active trachoma and associated risk factors among preschool-aged children in Dembia District, northwest Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among preschool-aged children of northwest Ethiopia. Multistage systematic random sampling was used to select 695 subjects. Trained clinical optometrists subjected each child to an ocular examination and assessed the presence of active trachoma. Face to face interview using pretested and structured questionnaire were conducted to collect data on possible risk factors. Trachoma cases were graded following a World Health Organization simplified grading scheme. All statistical analysis was carried out using the SPSS software version 20. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to identify factors associated with active trachoma. Results: Of the 681 preschool-aged children studied, 18% (95% CI: 15.4% - 21.1%) had a prevalence of active trachoma. Children who had clean faces (absence of nasal and ocular discharges) had a lower chance of having active trachoma [aOR=0.55, 95% CI: 0.37 - 0.82]. The odds of having active trachoma decreased with an increase in the distance to a water point [aOR=0.51, 95% CI: 0.33 - 0.78]. Similarly, no or poor utilization of liquid waste disposal in the child's household was associated with an increased chance of having active trachoma [aOR=3.83, 95% CI: 1.26 - 11.61]. Conclusion: The prevalence of active trachoma in these preschool-aged children was found to be high and needs special interventions that focus on educating families about proper face washing, liquid waste disposal, and improving safe water supply near the households.
KW - Active trachoma
KW - Cross-sectional study
KW - Northwest Ethiopia
KW - Preschool- aged children
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85030686854&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1186/s40249-017-0345-8
DO - 10.1186/s40249-017-0345-8
M3 - Article
C2 - 28988539
AN - SCOPUS:85030686854
SN - 2095-5162
VL - 6
SP - 1
EP - 7
JO - Infectious Diseases of Poverty
JF - Infectious Diseases of Poverty
IS - 1
M1 - 128
ER -