KNOWLEDGE, ATITUDE AND PRACTICEOFPARENTS TOWARDS UNDER FIVES`TRACHOMA PREVENTION AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG HOUSE HOLDS IN GUNCHIRE TOWN, GURAGE ZONE, SNNPR, ETHIOPIA, 2022A COMMUNITY BASED CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: Trachoma is caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, a bacterium transmitted by direct spread of infected ocular material from one person to another. Despite of effective implementation with collaboration of (ORBIS international), in Gunchire town,especially by mass antibiotic administration program for last 9 year, it has still remain high prevalence 13.8% of active trachoma among under five children.In this area there is no published research on this and related topic which describes the recent status of parents knowledge, attitude, practice towards trachoma prevention mechanism and among under five children. Objectives: To assess knowledge, attitude and associated factors of parents towards under fives’ trachoma prevention mechanism among households in Gunchire town, Gurage zone, South west Ethiopia, 2022.Methods: A community based cross-sectional study design was conducted I Gunchire town from May 12 to June 7 2022 among 384 households selected by systematic random sampling method. The data were collected by face-to-face interview and observation by using semi structured questionnaire. The data were cleaned, coded and analyzed using SPSS version 21. All variables with P-value less than 0.25 during bivariable binary analysis were entered into a multivariable logistic regression model. The results of the study were summarized frequency, proportion, and mean, median and presented by text, table, and graphs. The results of significant variables were presented using odds ratio with their 95% CI and P-value <0.05.Result: Out of 384 samples, all of them participated in the study making response rate of 100%. In this study, 218(56.3%) of respondent were knowledgeable and about half (50.1%)of participants had favorable attitude while 121(31.3%) of participants had good trachoma prevention practice. Educational status (higher education) (AOR (1.493) (95 CI: 1.377-1.644)), being government employee (AOR (2.641) (95 CI: 2.022-3.450)), access to health education by health person worker (AOR 4.017 (95 CI: 3.008-5.038)), participants visited by HEW (AOR10.7 (95 CI: 4.7-24.2)) were significantly associated with knowledge status of participants at p < 0.05). Conclusion and recommendation: This study revealed as an overall knowledge and attitude was good in the study participant and their practice was poor. So, the zonal health department and woreda health office should design culturally sensitive communication and behavioral change strategy that focus on improvement of knowledge, attitude and, especially practice by continuous recognition and evaluation