PREVALENCE OF RISK FACTORS FOR TRACHOMA IN A RURAL LOCALITY OF NORTH- WESTERN ETHIOPIA

Background : In Ethiopia, the prevalence of blindness has been estimated to be 1.5%. According to a survey done in collaboration with WHO in 1981, the leading cause of blindness in Ethiopia was trachoma (42%) followed by cataract (29%). The problem is mainly seen in the rural areas of the country. Objective : To determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of trachoma in a rural locality of north-western Ethiopia. Design : Cross-sectional survey. Subjects : One thousand seven hundred and eighteen individuals participated in the study. Main outcome measures. Grades of trachoma — the WHO simplified method of clinical signs was used to determine the various grades of trachoma. Results : The overall prevalence rate of trachoma of the locality was 59.2% while the prevalence rate of active trachoma was found to be 52.4%. Higher frequency of trachoma was observed among females aged 15 years and above than males of the corresponding age group, and this finding was statistically significant (c2 -test, p trachoma (p Conclusion : Based on the results of this study, the following recommendations are made, among others: (i) the development of a system aimed at educating and convincing the people to maintain high personal and environmental hygiene and; (ii) the strengthening of the nearby health centres to incorporate activities like correction of lid deformities to prevent further loss of eye vision due to corneal damage are recommended.