Abstract:
ABSTRACT
Background:- Repeated infection with Chlamydia trachomatis causes Trachomatous
trichiasis. Surgery is the preferred method of treatment of Trachomatous trichiasis. Surgery
for Trachomatous trichiasis prevents blindness. However people still decline surgery despite
the availability of services in nearby health facilities.
Objective: - To identify determinants of corrective upper eye lid surgery refusals among
Trachomatous trichiasis patients in Mecha woreda, Ethiopia, 2018.
Methods: - A community based unmatched case control study design was conducted in
Mecha woreda from October 5 to December 17, 2018. A total of 676 study participants with
338 controls and 338 cases were involved in this study. Study participants were selected
randomly by lottery method. To collect data, pre-tested structured interviewer-administered
questionnaire was used. Independent factors, with a P-value < 0.2 in the bivariate logistic
regression was entered into the multivariable logistic regression models. P-value < 0.05 was
used as cut-off point for a variable to become significant predictor in multivariable logistic
regretion.
Results:- Observed bad outcome (AOR: 3.51, 95% CI: 1.94-6.35) and lack of knowledge on
trichiasis outcome if untreated (AOR: 1.77, 95% CI: 1.18-2.65) increases refusing to surgery
while, having trust to surgeons (AOR: 0.26, 95% CI: 0.15-0.45), knowledge on eye lid
surgery (AOR: 0.32, 95% CI: 0.16-0.64), long duration with trichiasis (AOR: 0.5, 95% CI:
0.15-0.45), family member decision maker for own health conditions (AOR: 0.29, 95% CI:
0.13-0.64), epilation more than once per week (AOR: 0.31, 95% CI: 0.17-0.6) and epilation
once per week to once per month (AOR: 0.49, 95% CI:0.27-0.86), personal advice from
friends, health development army and government body (AOR: 0.26, 95% CI: 0.14-0.5),
(AOR: 0.11, 95% CI: 0.04-0.28) and (AOR: 0.46, 95% CI: 0.3-0.7) respectively decreases
refuse to surgery.
Conclusions:-Long duration with Trachomatous trichiasis, frequently epilation, Knowledge
on eye lid surgery, having trust to surgeons, deciding by family member for own health, other
person advice decreases refusing to surgery. In the other way Observed bad outcome and lack
knowledge on Trichiasis outcome if untreated increases refusing to surgery.
Key words:-Trachomatous trichiasis, Corrective upper eye lid surgery refusal, Trachomatous
trichiasis treatment, Trachoma, Determinants, Ethiopia