Access to Water Source, Latrine Facilities and Other Risk Factors of Active Trachoma in Ankober, Ethiopia

Objective This study aims to determine the prevalence and correlates of active trachoma in Ankober, Ethiopia. Methods A cross-sectional community-based study was conducted during July 2007. A total of 507 children (ages 1–9 years), from 232 households were included in the study. All children were examined for trachoma by ophthalmic nurses using the WHO simplified clinical grading system. Interviews and observations were used to assess risk factors. Logistic regression procedures were used to determine associations between potential risk factors and signs of active trachoma. Results Overall, the prevalence of active trachoma was found to be 53.9% (95%CI 49.6%–58.2%). Presence of fly-eye (fly contact with the eyelid margin during eye examination) (Odds Ratio (OR) = 4.03 95% CI 1.40–11.59), absence of facial cleanliness (OR = 7.59; 95%CI 4.60–12.52), an illiterate mother (OR = 5.88; 95%CI 2.10–15.95), lack of access to piped water (OR = 2.19; 95%CI 1.14–6.08), and lack of access to latrine facilities (OR = 4.36; 95%CI 1.49–12.74) were statistically significantly associated with increased risk of active trachoma. Conclusion Active trachoma among children 1–9 years of age in Ankober is highly prevalent and significantly associated with a number of risk factors including access to water and latrine facilities. Trachoma prevention programs that include improved access to water and sanitation, active fly control, and hygiene education are recommended to lower the burden of trachoma in Ankober, Ethiopia.

[1]  E. Harding-Esch,et al.  Risk factors for active trachoma in The Gambia. , 2008, Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

[2]  T. Gebre,et al.  Risk factors for active trachoma in children and trichiasis in adults: a household survey in Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia. , 2008, Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

[3]  Elizabeth S. Zack,et al.  Issues in defining and measuring facial cleanliness for national trachoma control programs. , 2008, Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

[4]  T. Gebre,et al.  Prevalence of Trachoma in Ethiopia , 2008 .

[5]  Wondu Alemayehu,et al.  Prevalence and causes of blindness and Low Vision in Ethiopia , 2008 .

[6]  P. Cumberland,et al.  Risk factors for active trachoma and Chlamydia trachomatis infection in rural Ethiopia after mass treatment with azithromycin , 2008, Tropical medicine & international health : TM & IH.

[7]  Patricia M. Graves,et al.  Integrating an NTD with One of “The Big Three”: Combined Malaria and Trachoma Survey in Amhara Region of Ethiopia , 2008, PLoS neglected tropical diseases.

[8]  M. Melese,et al.  Seasonal and altitudinal variations in fly density and their association with the occurrence of trachoma, in the Gurage zone of central Ethiopia , 2007, Annals of tropical medicine and parasitology.

[9]  S. Bayu,et al.  Altitude-a risk factor for active trachoma in southern Ethiopia. , 2007, Ethiopian Medical Journal.

[10]  V. Valdmanis,et al.  The relationship between prevalence of active trachoma, water availability and its use in a Tanzanian village. , 2006, Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

[11]  R. O'Loughlin,et al.  Follow‐up of a low cost latrine promotion programme in one district of Amhara, Ethiopia: characteristics of early adopters and non‐adopters , 2006, Tropical medicine & international health : TM & IH.

[12]  B. Munoz,et al.  Prevalence and risk factors for trachoma and ocular Chlamydia trachomatis infection in Niger , 2006, British Journal of Ophthalmology.

[13]  R. Baggaley,et al.  Distance to water source and altitude in relation to active trachoma in Rombo district, Tanzania , 2006, Tropical medicine & international health : TM & IH.

[14]  A. Kedir,et al.  A Community-Based Trachoma Survey: Prevalence and Risk Factors in the Tigray Region of Northern Ethiopia , 2006, Ophthalmic epidemiology.

[15]  R. Khandekar,et al.  Impact of Face Washing and Environmental Improvement on Reduction of Active Trachoma in Vietnam—A Public Health Intervention Study , 2006, Ophthalmic epidemiology.

[16]  A. Worku,et al.  Active trachoma in children in central Ethiopia: association with altitude. , 2005, Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

[17]  P. Cumberland,et al.  Active trachoma in children aged three to nine years in rural communities in Ethiopia: prevalence, indicators and risk factors. , 2005, Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

[18]  S. Resnikoff,et al.  Global data on visual impairment in the year 2002. , 2004, Bulletin of the World Health Organization.

[19]  K. Regassa,et al.  Trachoma among adults in Damot Gale District, South Ethiopia , 2004, Ophthalmic epidemiology.

[20]  S. Lindsay,et al.  Human and other faeces as breeding media of the trachoma vector Musca sorbens , 2001, Medical and Veterinary Entomology.

[21]  W. Alemayehu,et al.  Prevalence of trachoma and its determinants in Dalocha District, Central Ethiopia , 2001, Ophthalmic epidemiology.

[22]  S. Cairncross,et al.  Review of the evidence base for the ‘F’ and ‘E’ components of the SAFE strategy for trachoma control , 2000, Tropical medicine & international health : TM & IH.

[23]  S. Lindsay,et al.  Effect of fly control on trachoma and diar rhoea , 1999, The Lancet.

[24]  T. Sahlu,et al.  The prevalence and environmental risk factors for moderate and severe trachoma in southern Ethiopia. , 1992, The Journal of tropical medicine and hygiene.

[25]  D. Mabey,et al.  Trachoma and water use; a case control study in a Gambian village. , 1991, Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

[26]  P. Courtright,et al.  Latrine ownership as a protective factor in inflammatory trachoma in Egypt. , 1991, The British journal of ophthalmology.

[27]  H. Whittle,et al.  Analysis of the household distribution of trachoma in a Gambian village using a Monte Carlo simulation procedure. , 1989, International journal of epidemiology.

[28]  H. Taylor,et al.  The epidemiology of trachoma in southern Malawi. , 1988, The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene.

[29]  Effect of fly control on trachoma and diarrhoea , 1999 .

[30]  B. Munoz,et al.  Water availability and trachoma. , 1989, Bulletin of the World Health Organization.

[31]  S. West,et al.  A simple system for the assessment of trachoma and its complications. , 1987, Bulletin of the World Health Organization.

[32]  Y Ding,et al.  The Big Three , 1945 .