Distribution Pattern of Trachoma in Pakistan and Monitoring the Effects of Water Availability upon Disease prevalence

Abstract

Background: Trachoma is the current most crucial infectious disease and one of the big vectors leading to global preventable blindness. After cataracts and glaucoma, being the most prevalent disease, trachoma acquired a third place among the most common ocular disease. It is among the seven most neglected tropical diseases and is accounted for 0.006 to 0.008 billion people (mostly women) living with optical deterioration predominantly in poor resource habitats. Aim: To estimate pervasiveness of active trachoma and measure its burden in four districts of KPK. Additionally, it is aimed to determine the distribution patterns of the infection while considering factors such as, age, gender, and dwellings. Methodology: The sample size (n=3036) estimation is undertaken while considering the past minimal prevalence of trachoma in the country. The data on the basis of structured questionnaire and observations study collected from four districts of KPK. Detailed analysis was conducted using SPSS 24.0 by using descriptive analysis, correlation and Chi Square test of independence. Results and conclusion: The first thing done is testing normality of data using Shiparo Wilk test, and it is found that all the variables are non-normal. It is found that in most of the cases, the use piped water strongly influence the contamination and lead to increment in disease. The correlation result shows significant results stating the effect of decrease of animals in house improved trachoma grading. Keywords: Trachoma, Blindness, KPK, Semi-Structural Interviews