Abstract:Background: Trachomatous trichiasis is worldwide leading cause of blindness. Surgical intervention is one of the means of prevention of this blindness. Objectives: To assess determinants of eyelid surgical care utilization among trichiasis patients and associated factors. Method: A community based cross-sectional study design was employed. Sample size was determined using a single population proportion formula. Result: Among 348 interviewed patients, 253(72.7%) were in the age group of 16-45 years. Two hundred eighty nine (83.1%) were non-operated and 59(16.9%) operated trichiasis cases. Bilateral eye trichiasis cases were 245(70.4%) and 195(56%) of them were ill for 5-8 years. Ninety-seven (27.9%) believe treatment of trichiasis is surgery. Reasons for not using trichiasis surgery were distance of treatment center (X 2 = 36.2), lack of awareness (X 2 = 46.8), and false beliefs about treatment (X 2 = 14.6). Conclusion: Associated factors were distance, lack of information, lack of time, fear of surgery.
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