Abstract
BackgroundTrachoma 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.MethodsA 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.ResultsOf 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].ConclusionThe 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.
Highlights
Trachoma is an infectious eye disease caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, which is the leading infectious cause of blindness worldwide
More than 200 million people live in trachoma endemic areas, 12.4 million children are suffering from active trachoma and Africa is Ferede et al Infectious Diseases of Poverty (2017) 6:128 the most affected continent with 27.8 million (68.5%) children affected
This study finding is higher compared to result from studies conducted among preschool-aged children in Sao Paulo Brazil [23], and Gambia [11] and lower than in studies conducted in Tanzania [11], Egypt [24] and northeastern Nigeria
Summary
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. Trachoma is an infectious eye disease caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis It is the leading infectious cause of blindness worldwide [1,2,3]. In areas where trachoma is endemic, active trachoma is common among preschoolaged children, with prevalence rates that can be as high as 60 – 90% [4, 6,7,8,9]. More than 200 million people live in trachoma endemic areas, 12.4 million children are suffering from active trachoma and Africa is Ferede et al Infectious Diseases of Poverty (2017) 6:128 the most affected continent with 27.8 million (68.5%) children affected. Global loss of productivity related to impaired vision and blindness from trachoma is thought to be as high as $US 5.3 billion annually [11]
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