RAPID TRACHOMA ASSESSMENT IN KERSA DISTRICT, SOUTHWEST ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Background: Trachoma is the leading cause of infectious blindness worldwide. Though trachoma canbe treated with antibiotics (active trachoma) or surgery (trachomatous trichiasis), it is still endemic inmost parts of Ethiopia. Despite the prevalence of this infectious disease in different parts of thecountry, district level data is lacking. This study was thus conducted to assess the prevalence estimateof trachoma and its risk factors in Kersa District, Southwest Ethiopia.Methods: A community based cross sectional Rapid Assessment of Trachoma was conducted using aWHO guideline. Six sub-districts were selected from Kersa District based on primary high riskassessment and from each sub-district; 21-27 households were randomly selected. Active trachoma forchildren aged 1-9 years, trachomatous trichiasis for people above 15 years old and environmental riskfactors for trachoma were assessed. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16.Results: The overall prevalence estimate of active trachoma was 25.2% (95% CI: 20.7-30.4%). Fortythree percent of children had unclean faces, 11.5% of households had water source at more than halfhour walking distance, 18.2% did not have functional latrine, and 95.3% of the households had solidwaste disposal within a distance of 20 meters. Households with environmental risk factors were at anincreased risk to active trachoma, but the association was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Theprevalence estimate of trachomatous trichiasis inclusive of “trachoma suspects” was 4.5%.Conclusion: Trachoma is endemic in Kersa District with active trachoma being a public healthproblem in the studied sub-districts. Hence, SAFE strategy should be implemented.