Abstract:
Background- Trachoma is a chronic Kerato-Conjunctivitis illness of the eye due to
Chlamydia Trachomatis bacteria. Though the prevalence of clinically active trachoma in the
country is high, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and other different global and national
problems, there was stagnant attention and a scarcity of studies in the country towards the
elimination of Trachoma. Children are highly susceptible to active trachoma.
Objective- To assess the prevalence of clinically active trachoma and associated factors
among one-to-nine-year-old children in Tarmaber district, North Shoa Zone, Ethiopia 2022.
Methods- A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from July 1st to August
30th 2022 G.C. Multistage sampling technique was utilized to get 736 one-to-nine-year-old
children to study participants from 24 “Gots” in 6 “Kebeles”. A structured questionnaire for
an interview, checklist for observation, and clinical eye examination for both eyes by using
2.5x binocular magnifying loupe with penlight torch were used. Descriptive statistics,
Bivariable (p. value <0.2) and multivariable logistic regression analysis (p. value <0.05) were
carried out to study the association between dependent and independent variables.
Result - A total of 736 one-to-nine-year-old children participated in this study. The overall
prevalence of clinically active trachoma was 15.8% (95% CI 13.2%, 18.3%). A child from a
mother/caregiver who can’t read and write was 7.41(95% CI 4.09-13.44), a child with more
than five family members was 7.51(95% CI 4.13- 13.64), a child didn’t had a latrine in a
compound 3.79(95% CI 2.01-7.13), a child from the family that openly disposes of their solid
and liquid waste 3.28(95% CI 1.61- 6.67), and child from owning animals but no corral 5.66
(95% CI 3.11-10.30) were significantly associated with the prevalence of clinically active
trachoma.
Conclusion - The prevalence of clinically active trachoma in this study area was high
according to the WHO Trachoma Elimination target. A child from an can not read and write
mother/caregiver, a child with more than five family members, a child didn’t had a latrine in
the compound, a child from a household that openly dispose of their solid and liquid waste,
and a child from owned animals but no corral were significantly associated with the
prevalence of clinically active trachoma. All concerned bodies and the community should
have to work on the “Environmental improvement” pillar of the “SAFE” Strategy along with
having five or fewer family members per household and educating mother’s/caregivers to
combat Clinically active trachoma.
