PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS OF TRACHOMA AMONG CHILDREN AGED 4-9 YEARS IN DIRE DAWA, EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Background: Trachoma is the leading cause of preventable visual impairment globally. It greatly affects children and remains the principal cause of preventable blindness. There are no published studies about magnitude and associated factors of trachoma in the schools in Dire Dawa. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the magnitude and associated factors of trachoma among school children in Dire Dawa, eastern Ethiopia. Methods: An institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted from March 15-30, 2019 among 823 children aged 4-9 years residing in Dire Dawa. Multistage stratified sampling and probability proportional to size techniques was used to select the study participants. Data were collected using structured questionnaire and observational check list. Clinical examination of eye for trachoma grading was performed based on World Health Organization simplified grading system. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25. Both descriptive and analytic statistics were employed. Statistical significance was considered at p-value of less than 0.05 at 95% Confidence interval. Result: The overall prevalence of trachoma was 4.3% in which 74.3% had Trachomatous inflammation - Follicular and 25.7% had Trachomatous inflammation- Intense. Family size (AOR =2.24; 95 % CI = 1.53-8.53), presence of more other 3 school children in the household (AOR = 3.30; 95 % CI =1.37-5.94), monthly family income (AOR=2.02; 95% CI=1.46-6.25), presence of nasal discharge (AOR=1.54; 95% CI=1.01-3.37), latrine availability (AOR=4.66; 95% CI=2.77-9.04), presence of flies around the latrine (AOR=6.16; 95% CI=3.67-13.52) and latrine to main house distance (AOR=6.11; 95% CI=2.41-11.46) were factors with trachoma. Conclusion: The overall prevalence of trachoma among school children aged 4-9 years old was lower compared to the previous studies conducted in Ethiopia and it is below WHO threshold (10%). Factors like family size, number of school children living in the household, latrine inaccessibility, and unavailability of latrine, monthly family income presence of nasal discharge and presence of flies around the latrine were aggravated the occurrence of trachoma. Therefore; establishment of latrine at appropriate distance from the main house and keeping clean around the latrine are recommended to alleviate the problem.