Prevalence and factors associated with trichiasis among patients receiving eye health care at Jinja regional referral hospital. A cross-sectional study.

Abstract

Background

Trichiasis is the misalignment of eyelashes that rub against the eyeball. The study aims to assess the prevalence and factors associated with trichiasis among patients receiving eye health care at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital.

Methodology

This was a cross-sectional descriptive study design employing quantitative methods of data collection. A purposive sampling technique was used to obtain 35 respondents, and included all ocular patients/caretakers at the eye clinic.

Results

In the study,51.1% of the respondents were female while 42.9 were male. 14.3% were civil servants, 28.6 % farmers, and 57.1% had other occupations. Eastern Uganda had the highest prevalence 43% of trichiasis, while the western region had the least prevalence, 8%. Environmental factors were the leading factor associated with trichiasis (54%) compared to sex, which was the least common factor with 6%. Water scarcity, poor sanitation, lack of latrines, and overpopulation were the environmental factors associated with trichiasis. Water scarcity (34.3%) was the leading environmental factor associated with trichiasis, as compared to overpopulation with 11.4%. Trichiasis was common among patients aged between 61-80 (31.4%) and lowest in patients aged between 21-30 (11.4%).

Conclusion

The prevalence of trichiasis is high in patients from the Eastern region. The Leading Environmental factors associated with trichiasis were poor sanitation and water scarcity. Surgical intervention was the most commonly used management of trichiasis among patients receiving eye health care at JRRH.

Recommendation

More emphasis should be put on the Eastern and Northern regions by the government as it sets strategies to eliminate trichiasis by setting up more health centers and organizations to fight trichiasis in the shortest time possible.