Abstract:
Back ground: Trachoma is the leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide. It is common
in areas where the people are socio-economically deprived. Globally 1.2 billion people live in
trachoma endemic areas, in which, 40.6 million individuals have active trachoma and 8.2
million have Trichiasis. According to the world health organization (2007) report, globally close
to 1.3 million people are blind due to trachoma, while about 84 million suffer from active
trachoma. The national survey (2007) of Ethiopia showed a prevalence of 40.1% active
trachoma among children aged 1–9 years. Trachoma is still endemic in most parts of Ethiopia.
Objective: To assess prevalence of trachoma and factors associated with it among children 1-9
years of age in Zala District, Gamogofa Zone, South Nations Nationalities and Peoples Region.
Methods: Community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Zala District from February
28 to March 26 2014. A total of 611 children were examined for trachoma based on simplified
world health organization 1983 classification. Multistage stratified sampling technique with a
systematic random sampling was used to select study participants. Data were collected by using
semi-structured pre-tested questionnaire, and clinical eye examination. The data were entered
using Epi data program version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version 16. Multivariable logistic
regression analysis was used to identify independently associated factors.
Results: The overall prevalence of active trachoma was 224 (36.7%) consisting of 207 (92.4%)
Trachomatous follicle, 8 (3.6%) Trachomatous intense and 9 (4.0%) combination of
Trachomatous follicle/ Trachomatous intense. Inadequate knowledge of family (AOR
=2.8(95%CI: 1.9, 4.2); less than or equal to 10 meters latrine distance (AOR = 1.6(95%CI
:1.09, 2.4); presence of above 2 pre-school children (AOR =2.2(95%CI :1.3, 3.7), fly on the face
(AOR =6.3(95%CI: 2.7, 14.7) and unclean face (AOR =2.4(95%CI: 1.5, 3.9) were found to be
independently associated with trachoma.
Conclusions: Trachoma among children in Zalla district was disease of public health
importance. Factors like inadequate knowledge of family head about trachoma, less than or
equal to 10 meter latrine distance, presence of above 2 pre-school children, fly on the face,
unclean face were independently risk of trachoma among children. So strengthening of
Antibiotic, face washing and environmental improvement strategy implementation is mandatory.
