Knowledge, Attitude, Practices and Associated Factors Towards Trachoma Among People Living in Arba Minch Zuria District, Gamo Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Background

Trachoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the world affecting the poorest communities. Despite many interventions undertaken on prevention and control for trachoma, Ethiopia has failed to achieve the 2020 elimination goal.

Objective

To assess knowledge, attitude, practice and its associated factors toward trachoma infection among people living in Arba Minch Zuria district Gamo zone, Southern Ethiopia.

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2019 to June 2020. Data were collected using a pretested interviewer-administered questionnaire from 796 randomly selected individuals. Epi Info version 7 was used to enter and clean the data and exported to SPSS V20 for analysis. A multivariable logistic regression analysis model was fitted to identify factors associated with the outcome variables.

Findings

Among 796 interviewed participants, 611 (76.8%) had inadequate knowledge toward trachoma infection and 244 (30.7%) had unfavorable attitude. Individuals who had no formal education (AOR=0.365, 95%CI: 0.212–0.626) and primary education (AOR=0.58, 95%CI: 0.35–0.962) were negatively associated with adequate knowledge towards trachoma infection. Being a farmer (AOR=0.063, 95%CI: 0.008–0.52), merchant (AOR=0.022, 95%CI: 0.003–0.194), student (AOR=0.026, 95%CI: 0.003–0.225) or housewife (AOR=0.03, 95%CI: 0.004–0.256) were negatively associated with adequate knowledge. Those study subjects whose wealth index were lowest (AOR=0.49, 95%CI: 0.27–0.878), second (AOR=0.38, 95%CI: 0.21–0.69) and middle (AOR=0.36, 95%CI: 0.199–0.658) percentiles negatively associated with adequate knowledge. A short distance to fetch water (AOR=2.53, 95%CI: 1.18–5.415) was positively associated with adequate knowledge about trachoma infection. Environmental cleanliness (AOR=2.224, 95%CI: 1.518–3.257), being male (AOR=1.848, 95%CI: 1.332–2.565) and distance from home to health facility (AOR=1.845, 95%CI: 1.308–2.600) were significantly associated with attitude status.

Conclusion

Considerable numbers of people have unfavorable attitude and inadequate knowledge about trachoma infection. Awareness creation through community mobilization and sensitization should be strengthened.

Keywords:

• trachoma
• Arba Minch Zuria
• trichiasis
• Ethiopia

Abbreviations

AMU, Arba Minch University; AOR, adjusted odds ratio; CI, confidence interval; CO, corneal opacity; IECs, information, education and communication; IRB, Institute Research Review Board; NGO, nongovernmental organization; OR, odds ratio; SAFE, Surgery, Antibiotic, Facial cleanliness, Environmental hygiene; SNNPR, Southern Nations Nationalities and People's Region; SPSS, Statistical Package for Social Sciences; TF, trachomatous follicular; TI, trachomatous intense; TS, trachomatous scarring; trachomatous trichiasis; VIF, variance inflation factor; WHO, World Health Organization.

Data Sharing Statement

The datasets during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Ethical Approval and Consent to Participate

This study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Ethical approval was obtained from Arba Minch University (AMU) Institute Research Review Board (IRB). Support letter was obtained from the district health offices to facilitate the data collection. Informed verbal consent was obtained from each study participants before proceeding to data collection. The objective of the study was explained for each selected kebele administration. All individuals were advised about the disease complication and its prevention measures after data collection.

Acknowledgments

We would like to express our deepest gratitude and appreciation to lord of wisdom, God. We are grateful to Arba Minch University Collaborative Research Training Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases for their full sponsorship of this research work. We are also grateful to all data collectors and supervisors, who tried their best and committed themselves to data collection.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by the Arba Minch University, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, collaborative research and training centre.