Prevalence, Risk Factors and Circulating Species of Trachoma in East Pokot, Baringo County, Kenya

Abstract

Trachoma is an eye disease caused by Chlamydia trachomatis which can lead to blindness. Objective of the study was to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors for trachoma among people residing in East Pokot, Baringo County, Kenya. A cross-sectional study conducted in November 2016 using a multistage and simple random sampling procedure. Samples were taken from all members from selected household. A structured questionnaire was used to collect social demographic data. An eye swab was collected from each consenting adult, transported to KEMRI laboratories and tested for trachoma infection using PCR. Data was analyzed using multivariate logistic regression to determine the relationship between predicator variables and active trachoma. Trachoma infection was present in 180 (44.44%) out of the 405 study participants. Of those, 57 (14.07%) were confirmed PCR positive. A total of 31 (7.65%) individuals were infected with C. psittaci, 14 (3.46%) with C. pneumonia and 12 (2.96%) with C. trachomatis. Dual infection with both C. trachomatis and C. psittaci was present in 7 (12.28%) participants, while that with both C. psittaci and C. pneumonia was present in 5 (8.77%) participants. Secondary education was significantly associated with increased odds of chlamydia trachomatis infection (OR 5.15, 95% CI 1.01-26.28, p > 0.05) and chlamydia pneumonia (OR 5.74, 95% CI 1.11-29.74, p > 0.05). Ethnic religion was associated with increased odds of chlamydia trachomatis infection (OR 4.87, 95% CI 1.04-22.79, p > 0.05). Infection with chlamydia spp is common in East Pokot and is associated with the significant morbidity.