Ng'etich Arthur S, Owino Claudio, Juma Ahmad, Khisa Kevin N
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health and School of Medicine, Moi University , Kenya.
Department of Surgery and Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, Moi University , Kenya.
J Public Health Afr. 2015 Mar 31;6(1):531. doi: 10.4081/jphia.2015.531.
Trachoma is responsible for the visual impairment of about two million people worldwide, out of which a majority are irreversibly blind. The study aimed to assess the level of knowledge, attitudes and eye care seeking practices of the community regarding the available trachoma eye care services. Community members aged eighteen and over participated. Descriptive cross-sectional study design was adapted. Data analysis was performed using Stata. The level of awareness of trachoma disease in the study area was high (95%). About three quarters (71%) of the respondents were knowledgeable of the available trachoma eye care services. A majority had a positive attitude towards the available services and expressed need for the services. Public health facilities were mostly preferred. The study concluded that the community was knowledgeable of the available trachoma eye care services and had a positive attitude towards the services. Concerned stakeholders should reinforce the positive attitudes through community based educational programs and improve eye care seeking practices through community participation in education and outreach services.
沙眼导致全球约200万人视力受损，其中大多数人双目不可逆失明。该研究旨在评估社区对现有沙眼眼部护理服务的知识水平、态度及寻求眼部护理的行为。18岁及以上的社区成员参与了研究。采用描述性横断面研究设计。使用Stata进行数据分析。研究区域内对沙眼疾病的知晓率较高（95%）。约四分之三（71%）的受访者了解现有的沙眼眼部护理服务。大多数人对现有服务持积极态度，并表示需要这些服务。公共卫生设施是最受欢迎的。研究得出结论，社区了解现有的沙眼眼部护理服务，并对这些服务持积极态度。相关利益攸关方应通过社区教育项目强化这种积极态度，并通过社区参与教育和外展服务改善寻求眼部护理的行为。
