Abstract:
Background: Trachoma is a chronic kerato-conjunctivitis disease caused by repeated
reinfection with the ocular serovars A Band C of Chlamydia trachomatis resulting in scarring, shortening of the upper lid with in-turning of the eyelashes called-trachomatous trichiasis. According to the 2015 GTMP, Ethiopia carries around 30% of the sub-Saharan trachoma burden with 792,705 trachomatous trichiasis cases at immediate risk of
blindness. In Ethiopia as some studies showed, despite the provision of eyelid surgery free of charge the service utilization is below 50%.
Objective: This study was conducted with an objective of assessing the magnitude of trichiasis surgery service uptake and associated factors, among trachomatous trichiasis patients in Ensaro woreda, North East Amhara.
Methods: Community based cross sectional study design of quantitative investigation was
employed on trichiasis patients selected with multi stage cluster random sampling. The sample size of the study is 1030 determined by using the formula for single & two population proportions. The data was collected by IECWs through face to face interview using structured questionnaire. The collected data was entered using EPl-Info 7 and
analyzed by using SPSS version 20 for measure of association taking p-value <0.05. The study was conducted from December 2015 to March 2016.
Result: In line with previous studies the magnitude of trichiasis surgery service uptake is 62.1%, with 95% CI (59.2, 65.4). In this study the top three barriers stated by the non-operated trachomatous trichiasis patients were lack of time (38.2%), fear of surgery (17.7%) and no-one available to accompany them (10.0%). Knowledge on existence of free of charge service, occupation, source of information about trichiasis surgery service and knowledge about seriousness or fate of the trichiasis if left untreated were the main
factors associated with trichiasis surgery service uptake with p-value of <0.05.
Conclusion and Recommendation: Even though the service is rendered all the time. it is important to discuss convincingly with the trichiasis cases and continuously improve access to the service during a convenient season and time for the community. On the other hand, the fear of surgery could be minimized with adequate pre-surgery counseling and delivery of quality service to minimize post-operative trichiasis. Moreover it is important
to monitor the varying pattern of barriers and associated factors to address them effectively in order to Improve uptake of trichiasis surgery service........................................Thesis available at ACIPH Library