Impact of trachoma among rural Ethiopian women

ABSTRACT

Trachoma; an endemic disease in Ethiopia; is known to be associated with poverty; poor personal and environmental hygiene; overcrowding; female gender; living in rural areas; etc. In a cross sectional; community-based; ocular morbidity study among; 7;423 people in Jimma zone; about 1 percent were found to be blind (20;000 people) in the zone. Trachoma accounted for 29 percent of males. About 7 percent of women over 15 years of age had trichiasis. An overall prevalence of blinding trachoma (CO/TT) of 4.6 percent was documented among females as opposed to 3 percent prevalence among males. There was a significant difference in the prevalence of blinding trachoma by gender (X2=11.84; p inferior to 0.01). This higher prevalence of blinding trachoma among women has been recognized for quite some time. The reason is believed to be the close contact of mothers and older female siblings with infected children. Children; in rural Ethiopia; have important socio-economic roles. They contribute to the family income through direct labor in the fields; tending to cattle; or in domestic labor. A family with many children is expected to have more agricultural produce. It augments the family income; secures the family status in society; and ensures parental security in old age. Women are more responsible than men for the success of this noble venture of child upbringing in rural Ethiopia. During the process; they are under constant risk; of acquiring trachoma and its blinding complications