03140nas a2200313   4500000000100000008004100001260003700042653002400079653005700103100001400160700001300174700001200187700001500199700001200214700001600226700001400242700001500256700001200271700001300283700001500296700001300311700001400324245017400338856009900512300000900611490000700620520218500627022001402812       2023                            d  bPublic Library of Science (PLoS)10aInfectious Diseases10aPublic Health, Environmental and Occupational Health1 aAsmare ZA1 aSeifu BL1 aMare KU1 aAsgedom YS1 aKase BF1 aShibeshi AH1 aTebeje TM1 aLombebo AA1 aSabo KG1 aFente BM1 aTeshale AB1 aAsebe HA1 aVinetz JM00aPrevalence and associated factors of active trachoma among 1–9 years of age children in Andabet district, northwest Ethiopia, 2023: A multi-level mixed-effect analysis  uhttps://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0011573&type=printable  a1-140 v173 a<p><strong>Background:</strong> Trachoma is the chief cause of preventable blindness worldwide and has been earmarked for elimination as a public health problem by 2030. Despite the five-year Surgery, Antibiotics, Facial cleanliness, and Environmental improvement (SAFE)-based interventions in the Andabet district, the prevalence of trachomatous follicular (TF) was 37%. With such a high prevalence of TF, the determinant factors were not revealed. Besides, there were no reports on the overall prevalence of active trachoma (i.e.TF and or trachomatous intense (TI)).</p>

<p><strong>Objective:</strong> To determine the prevalence and associated factors of active trachoma among 1–9 years of age children in the Andabet district.</p>

<p><strong>Method:</strong> A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among children aged under nine years from March 1–30, 2023 in Andabet district, Northwest Ethiopia. Multi-stage systematic random sampling was employed to reach 540 children. A multilevel mixed-effect logistic regression analysis was employed to assess factors associated with active trachoma. We fitted both random effect and fixed effect analysis. Finally, variables with p&lt;0.05 in the multivariable multilevel analysis were claimed to be significantly associated with active trachoma.</p>

<p><strong>Result:</strong> In this study, the overall prevalence of active trachoma was 35.37% (95% CI: 31.32%, 39.41%). The prevalence of TF and TI was 31.3% and 4.07% respectively. In the multilevel logistic regression analysis ocular discharge, fly-eye contact, latrine utilization, and source of water were significantly associated with the prevalence of active trachoma.</p>

<p><strong>Conclusion:&nbsp;</strong>In this study, the prevalence of active trachoma was much higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) threshold prevalence. Ocular discharge, fly-eye contact, latrine utilization, and source of water were independent determinants of active trachoma among children (1–9 years). Therefore, paying special attention to these high-risk groups could decrease the prevalence of a neglected hyperendemic disease, active trachoma.</p>
  a1935-2735