Blinding trachoma among refugees: Complicating social disaster

Objective: To determine the prevalence of blinding trachoma among refugees in South Western Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional outreach clinic based descriptive study was conducted on 1 054 refugees in Southwest Ethiopia. A basic eyelid and cornea examination for signs of trachoma was done by using 2.5× binocular magnifying loupe. The findings were classified by using the World Health Orgnization simplified trachoma grading system and data were analyzed by using SPSS version 16.0. Results: A total of 1 054 refugee patients were examined for trachoma, 179 (16.98%) of them had clinical signs of trachoma. About 6 (3.35%) patients had active trachoma with trachomatous trichiasis (TT), 47 (26.26%) patients had TT only and the rest 126 (70.39%) patients had TT with trachomatous corneal opacity. All of the trachoma patients had blinding trachoma (TT with or without trachomatous corneal opacity), and about 60.89% of them had visual impairment. Blinding trachoma was significantly more common among females, patients in age group of 16-59 years, married patients, illiterates and Fugnido camp settlers (P<0.05). Conclusions: There is a very high burden of blinding trachoma among refugees. Urgent surgical intervention is needed to prevent blindness and low vision in the study subjects, and targeted regular outreach-based eye care service should be commenced.

Cogan's anterior internuclear ophthalmoplegia in young Ethiopian: a case report and review of literature

Lesions in medial longitudinal fasciculus [MLF] produce internuclear ophthalmoplegia [INO] with characteristic horizontal gaze abnormality. Here, the author reports a rare clinical spectrum of internuclear ophthalmoplegia called Cogan's anterior internuclear ophthalmoplegia in young Ethiopian suspected to have multiple sclerosis. To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first report in non-white population near the equator. Case presentation: A 19-year-old female Ethiopian patient presented with bilateral internuclear ophthalmoplegia. Attempted convergence was abnormal. The patient regained normal ocular mobility after six months of follow-up. Isolated reversible internuclear ophthalmoplegia in a previously healthy young patient could be an initial manifestation of a serious illness like multiple sclerosis. Though the incidence of multiple sclerosis in non-white population near the equator is low, high index of suspicion and close follow up are warranted

Reproductive Health Knowledge and Attitude among Adolescents: a Community Based Study in Jimma Town; Southwest Ethiopia

Background: Adolescents often lack basic reproductive health RH information; knowledge; and access to health services for RH. Many have less than favorable attitudes and do not feel comfortable to discuss RH with parents or other key adults. Objectives: To assess RH knowledge; attitude and provider preference among adolescents of age 15 to 19 years. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Jimma Town; Southwest Ethiopia from February to March 2004. A structured questionnaire was utilized to collect data from the sampled population. Adolescents aged between 15 to 19 years old were interviewed about their knowledge and attitudes regarding health services for RH. The data were entered into two different computers using SPSS for windows version 12.0.1 and analyzed using STATA 9.1. Descriptive and bivariate analyses using t-test were employed to depict results. Results: The majority of adolescents knew major health services for RH and the main health service providers of RH. The major sources of information for RH were radio for 80.4and television for 73and school teachers for 71.8of respondents. The overall mean score indices of knowledge for health services of RH; health services providers and source of information were 3.44; 3.78 and 4.68 respectively. The average index score of attitude for health services of RH was also moderately favorable (2.98). Conclusion: The level of knowledge and attitude about health services for RH; source of information for these services and service provider centers is encouraging. However; the role of health professionals and families as the source of information for the adolescents seems to be low. This should be improved using a more integrated all stakeholders particularly adolescents' families and health professionals who have a vital role to ensure adequate knowledge and favorable attitudes for utilization of the RH in the locality.http://indexmedicus.afro.who.int/iah/fulltext/EJHD/vol 22 n3/Reproductive health 243-251.pdf