Knowledge of Childhood Blindness and Associated Factors Among Parents or Guardians in Maksegnit Town, Northwest Ethiopia

INTRODUCTION

Childhood blindness is defined as a group of eye diseases occurring in childhood or early adolescence. Good parental knowledge of childhood blindness is important for early detection and management of the lifelong burden.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to assess knowledge of childhood blindness and associated factors among parents or guardians.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted. Systematic random sampling was used to select the study participants. Data were collected by interview using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS version 20. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify the determinant factors, and p-values less than 0.05 were considered as statistically significant.

RESULTS

A total of 524 participants were enrolled in the study, with a 98.49% response rate. The proportion of good knowledge of childhood blindness was 39.1% (95% CI: 34.9-43.3%). Being male (AOR=2.32, 95% CI: 1.4-3.87), higher educational status (AOR=6.47, 95% CI: 2.4-17.3), knowing where the child eye care center is (AOR=2.68, 95% CI: 1.5-4.7) and participation in eye care campaigns (AOR=1.95, 95% CI: 1.26-3.0) had statistically significant associations with knowledge of childhood blindness.

CONCLUSION

Less than half of the study participants had good knowledge about childhood blindness. Being male, having higher educational status, knowing about the child eye care center and participation in eye care campaigns were positively associated with knowledge of childhood blindness.

Erratum: Prevalence and degrees of myopia and hyperopia at Gondar University Hospital Tertiary Eye Care and Training Center, Northwest Ethiopia [Corrigendum]

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.2147/OPTO.S116535.].

Prevalence and determinants of active trachoma among preschool-aged children in Dembia District, Northwest Ethiopia

Background

Trachoma is an infectious eye disease caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, which is the leading infectious cause of blindness worldwide. In areas where trachoma is endemic, active trachoma is common among preschool-aged children, with varying magnitude. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of active trachoma and associated risk factors among preschool-aged children in Dembia District, northwest Ethiopia.

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among preschool-aged children of northwest Ethiopia. Multistage systematic random sampling was used to select 695 subjects. Trained clinical optometrists subjected each child to an ocular examination and assessed the presence of active trachoma. Face to face interview using pretested and structured questionnaire were conducted to collect data on possible risk factors. Trachoma cases were graded following a World Health Organization simplified grading scheme. All statistical analysis was carried out using the SPSS software version 20. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to identify factors associated with active trachoma.

Results

Of the 681 preschool-aged children studied, 18% (95% CI: 15.4% – 21.1%) had a prevalence of active trachoma. Children who had clean faces (absence of nasal and ocular discharges) had a lower chance of having active trachoma [aOR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.37 – 0.82]. The odds of having active trachoma decreased with an increase in the distance to a water point [aOR = 0.51, 95% CI: 0.33 – 0.78]. Similarly, no or poor utilization of liquid waste disposal in the child’s household was associated with an increased chance of having active trachoma [aOR = 3.83, 95% CI: 1.26 – 11.61].

Conclusion

The prevalence of active trachoma in these preschool-aged children was found to be high and needs special interventions that focus on educating families about proper face washing, liquid waste disposal, and improving safe water supply near the households.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40249-017-0345-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Prevalence and degrees of myopia and hyperopia at Gondar University Hospital Tertiary Eye Care and Training Center, Northwest Ethiopia

BACKGROUND

Refractive errors are the second and third leading cause of visual impairment and blindness in Ethiopia, respectively. The situation is worse where accessing spectacles, which are the only management option in developing countries, is a major issue. Gondar University Hospital Tertiary Eye Care and Training Center is the only referral eye care center, and it lacks published evidence on the prevalence and degrees of refractive errors (myopia and hyperopia).

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and degrees of myopia and hyperopia at Gondar University Tertiary Eye Care and Training Center.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Records of 1,921 patients presented to refraction service at Gondar University Hospital Tertiary Eye Care and Training Center from January 2010 to January 2014 were reviewed. All cases of refractive errors (with visual improvement of at least one line) were converted into spherical equivalents (SE = sphere + ½ cylinder). Myopia was defined as SE ≤ -0.25 D and hyperopia ≥ +0.25 D.

RESULTS

The study comprised of 61.1% males and 38.9% females; the patients had an average age of 40±17 years. The overall prevalence of refractive errors (myopia and hyperopia) was 76.3% (95% confidence interval: 75%-77%). Myopia was present in 34.5% patients and hyperopia in 38.3%. Low-degree hyperopia (86%) and low-degree myopia (49.5%) were the most frequent refractive errors.

CONCLUSION

Myopia and hyperopia are major reasons for patients to visit Gondar University Hospital Tertiary Eye Care and Training Center. Low-degree myopia and hyperopia were the most common refractive errors. Stocking appropriate power lenses is needed at this tertiary eye care center in order to alleviate this problem in Ethiopia.

Vitamin-A deficiency and its determinants among preschool children: a community based cross-sectional study in Ethiopia

Background

Vitamin A deficiency is the leading cause of preventable visual impairments in children. It is also an underlying cause for nearly one-fourth of global child mortality associated with measles, diarrhea, and malaria. The limited literature available in Ethiopia shows severe public health significance of vitamin-A deficiency. Hence the aim of the current study was to assess the prevalence and factors determining vitamin-A deficiency among preschool children in Dembia District, northwest Ethiopia.

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among preschool children of Dembia District from January to February, 2015. A multi-stage sampling, followed by a systematic sampling technique was employed to select study participants. A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Using a binary logistic regression model, multivariable analysis was fitted to identify the associated factors of vitamin-A deficiency. The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95 % confidence interval was computed to assess the strength of the association, and variables with a p value of <0.05 in multivariable analysis were considered as statistically significant.

Results

Six hundred eighty-one preschool children were included in the study, giving a response rate of 96.5 %. The overall prevalence of xerophthalmia was 8.6 %. The result of the multivariable analysis revealed that nonattendance at the antenatal care clinic [AOR 2.65,95 % CI (1.39,5.07)], being male [AOR 1.81, 95 % CI (1.01,3.24)], and in the age group of 49–59 months [AOR 3.00, 95 % CI (1.49,6.02)] were significantly associated with vitamin-A deficiency.

Conclusions

Vitamin-A deficiency is a severe public health problem in the study area. Further strengthening antenatal care utilization and giving emphasis to preschool children will help to mitigate vitamin-A deficiency in the study area.

Nearly half of preschool children are stunted in Dembia district, Northwest Ethiopia: a community based cross-sectional study

Background

Stunting has been the most pressing public health problem throughout the developing countries. It is the major causes of child mortality and global disease burden, where 80 % of this burden is found in developing countries. In the future, stunting alone would result in 22 % of loss in adult income. About 40 % of children under five-years were stunted in Ethiopia. In the country, about 28 % of child mortality is related to undernutrition. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and determinants of stunting among preschool children in Dembia district, Northwest Ethiopia.

Methods

A community based cross–sectional study was carried out in Dembia district, Northwest Ethiopia from January 01 to February 29, 2015. A multi-stage sampling followed by a systematic sampling technique was employed to reach 681 mother-child pairs. A pretested and structured questionnaire was used to collect data. After exporting anthropometric data to ENA/SMART software version 2012, nutritional status (stunting) of a child was determined using the WHO Multicenter Growth Reference Standard. In binary logistic regression, a multivariable analysis was carried out to identify determinants of stunting. The Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with a 95 % confidence interval was computed to assess the strength of the association, and variables with a P-value of <0.05 in multivariable analysis were considered as statistically significant.

Results

A total 681 of mother-child pairs were included in the study. The overall prevalence of stunting was 46 % [95 % CI: 38.7, 53.3 %]. In multivariable analysis, the odds of stunting was higher among children whose families had no latrine [AOR = 1.6, 95 % CI: 1.1, 2.2)]. Likewise, children living in household with more than four family size [AOR =1.4, 95 % CI: 1.1, 1.9)] were more likely to be stunted.

Conclusions

This study confirms that stunting is a very high public health problem in Dembia district. The family size and latrine availability were significantly associated with stunting. Hence, emphasis should be given to improve the latrine coverage and utilization of family planning in the district.