Knowledge and associated factors towards trachoma in rural Lemo district, Southern Ethiopia, 2021

Abstract

Introduction

Trachoma is one of the Neglected Tropical diseases and the world’s leading infectious cause of preventable blindness. This preventable blindness is mainly reduced by preventive measures affiliated with pre-existing knowledge about the disease’s nature, transmission, and prevention strategies. The extracted result will be an asset for integrated future intervention, which boosts knowledge of the community, and finally, put a cornerstone in reducing the burden of the disease.

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional study in the rural Lemo district of South Ethiopia covering 552 households was conducted from 1st July–30th July 2021. We used a multistage sampling technique. Seven kebeles were selected using a simple random sampling method. Then, a systematic random sampling procedure with a five-interval size was applied to select the household.

Our study assessed the association between the outcome variable and explanatory variables using binary and multivariate logistic regressions. The adjusted odds ratio was calculated and variables with a p-value below 0.05 at the 95% confidence interval were considered statistically significant.

Results

The study found that 58.5% (95% CI: 54.2–62.9%) of participants had good knowledge regarding trachoma. Having good attitude towards trachoma (AOR: 4.68, 95% CI: 3.09–7.10), and receiving health education (AOR: 3.12, 95% CI: 2.04–4.77), were significantly associated with good knowledge of trachoma.

Conclusion

Of the study participants, 58.5% had good knowledge towards trachoma. Health education and good attitude were variables associated with good knowledge of trachoma. It is advisable to take action to make people aware of trachoma through health education about the disease’s nature, transmission, and prevention strategies.

Keywords:

• Trachoma
• prevention and control
• epidemiology
• Ethiopia

REVIEWING EDITOR:

• Joe Thomas, Institute of Health and Management, Australia

SUBJECTS:

• Community Health
• Health Education and Promotion
• Preventative Medicine
• Quality of Life

Acknowledgements

All the respected bodies were acknowledged (University of Gondar, department of Optometry, all the authors, and all the participants).

Ethical approval

Ethical approval was obtained from Gondar University Ethical review board and consent also taken from each participants based on Helsinki declarations.

Authors contributions

Mikias Mered Tilahun: Proposal and result write up, design, conception, data collection and analysis. Biruk Lelisa Eticha: Manuscript preparations, design, conception, editing and interpretation of the data. Mulunesh Girma Shobiso: Editing, conception, and design. Merkineh Markos Lorato: Editing, conception, and design.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

All the data are available and incorporated within the manuscript.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mikias Mered Tilahun

Mikias Mered Tilahun (BSc, MSc in Clinical Optometry), Nationality: Ethiopian, Place of work: Gondar, Ethiopia, Sex: male, Lecturer at University of Gondar.

Biruk Lelisa Eticha

Biruk Lelisa Eticha (BSc, MSc in Clinical Optometry), Date of birth: 03 May 1994, Nationality: Ethiopian, Place of work: Gondar, Ethiopia, Sex: male, Address: Phone No, [phone]; Email [email protected] & [email protected]; Cofounder and member of University of Gondar Agape Family Charity Association. Currently working as Lecturer at University of Gondar.

Mulunesh Girma Shobiso

Mulunesh Girma Shobiso (BSc, MSc in Clinical Optometry), Nationality: Ethiopian, Place of work: Gondar, Ethiopia, Sex: male, senior clinical Optometrist at Nigest Eleni Mohamed Comprehensive Hospital.

Merkineh Markos Lorato

Merkineh Markos Lorato (BSc, MSc in Clinical Optometry), Nationality: Ethiopian, Place of work: Gondar, Ethiopia, Sex: male, Lecturer at University of Gondar.