Abstract:
Background Information - Trachoma is considered the second leading cause of
avoidable blindness in Kenya, accounting for 19% of the blind. Kajiado County has
been documented as an area with a high prevalence of the eye disease. The focus of
most researchers has been on risk factors for trachoma and the interventions put in
place towards prevention and treatment of this eye disease but not much has been
done concerning utilization of the available trachoma eye care services by the
communities and on the factors affecting utilization of these services.
Specific Objectives- To determine the level of knowledge, attitudes and eye care
seeking practices of the community towards the available trachoma eye care services
and assess utilization of these in Central division of Kajiado County.
Methodology- A cross-sectional study design was conducted. A sample of 321
respondents who met the inclusion criteria were randomly selected from the
community while eleven health workers were purposively sampled from facilities
providing the eye care services. Questionnaires, structured interview schedules and
observational checklists were used for data collection. Data analysis was performed
using STATA version 12. Categorical variables were summarized as frequencies and
corresponding percentages while the continuous variables were summarized as the
median and the corresponding lower and upper quartiles. The association between
categorical variables was assessed using the Pearson’s Chi Square test at 95%
confidence level. Data was presented in prose, tabular and graphical forms.
Results- Of the 321 respondents included in the study, the response rate was 98.7%.
The mean age of the respondents was 37 years, with female participants (65%) being
the majority and most respondents (62%) having attained at most a primary level of
education. The level of awareness of trachoma disease in the study area was
significantly high (95%). Close to three quarters (71%) of the respondents were
knowledgeable of the available trachoma eye care services provided by health
facilities and NGOs in the area. The community had a positive attitude towards the
available services with most of the respondents expressing need for the eye care
services. Majority (59%) felt the health facilities and NGOs in the area adequately
met their eye care needs. Public health facilities were preferred by most respondents.
Age and educational level of the respondents were found to be associated with
communities’ eye care seeking practices. Most respondents subscribing to cultural
practices believed in the efficacy of traditional medicine. Utilization of the available
trachoma eye care services in the region was low (36%). The statistically significant
factors found to influence utilization of these services were knowledge of the
available eye care services and gender of respondents. The main barriers to utilization
of trachoma eye care services were accessibility and affordability of the services.
Conclusion– The community was knowledgeable of the available trachoma eye care
services and had a positive attitude towards these services. Despite this, utilization of
the trachoma eye care services was quite low in the region. Accessibility and
affordability of the eye care services were the main barriers to utilization of these
services. Recommendations- Reinforcement of positive attitudes towards the services through community based educational programs and overcoming local barriers to uptake of the services through community participation in education and provision of outreach services through mass treatment programmes