Abstract:
Background: About 1.2 million people have trachomatous trichiasis (TT) in Ethiopia.
Amhara region harbors almost half the victims of the nation (640,000 TT backlog).
Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of trachomatous
trichiasis and factors affecting TT surgery utilization in Yelmana Densa woreda
Method: The design of this study was cross sectional. All 33 rural kebeles of the study
woreda were part of the target population. From the randomly selected 11 kebeles 1100
sampled households were selected for the study. A pre-tested structured questionnaire and
eye examination used to collect the required data. Data was double entered in Epi info 3.3.2
by two separate data encoders. Analysis was done using SPSS version 15.0. Bivariate &
Multivariate logistic regression analysis introduced to analyze the data
Result: Prevalence of TT in the woreda found to be 3.8%, 95% CI (3%-4%). Sociodemographic
and environmental factors such as: absence of radio presence of Cattle in
households and unsafe water supply had association in the bivariate and multivariate
logistic regression analysis, OR (95%CI): =1.991 (1.198, 3.309); 1.654 (1.014, 2.698); 3.256
(2.189, 4.842) respectively. For low surgery uptake the main affecting factors were: lack of
awareness on the presence of the service 18(17.3%), fear of surgery 18(17.4%) lack of
knowledge about the presence of the problem 15(14.3%), distance of service provision sites
12(11.25%).
Conclusion: Absence of radio in households, use of unsafe water and presence of cattle
in families showed significant association as risk for the presence of TT in a family.
Recommendation: Political leaders, woreda health office and partners should work hard for
the availability of improved water access to households in the woreda where it is lacking.
HEWs development agents other partners should advise families with cattle to keep their
cattle’s night place clean in order to void breading of flies. Advising families, who are
capable of buying radio, found relevant to have the access to radio in order to decrease the
presence of TT in a family.
