Recorded presentation

Kevin D. Frick, PhD¹, Anna J. Sanyiwa, MD, MMed², Edith M. Ngirwamungu, MD, MPH³, Gretchen A. Jacobson, MS⁴, Ralf Buhrmann, MD, MPH, PhD⁵, and Peter Kilima, MD, MSc³. (1) Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins University, 624 N. Broadway, Rm. 606, Baltimore, MD 21205, 410-614-4018, kfrick@jhsph.edu, (2) Department of Ophthalmology, Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, P.O. Box 65001, Dar es Saalam, Tanzania, (3) International Trachoma Initiative, NSSF Building, 7th Floor, Morogoro / Bi Titi Road, P.O. Box 3545, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, (4) School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, (5) Department of Ophthalmology, University of Ottawa Eye Institute, 501 Smyth Road, Tower 3, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada

Objective: To describe differences in the following variables between men and women with unoperated trichiasis in two trachoma endemic districts of Tanzania: demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, symptoms and severity of trichiasis, and functional limitations. To determine whether men’s and women’s functional limitations are differentially affected by the number of eyes with trichiasis and the combination of trichiasis and visual impairment. Methods: 164 unoperated trichiasis patients were interviewed in the Dodoma Rural and Mpwapwa districts of the Dodoma region of Tanzania. Respondents were asked about demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, functional limitations and whether those limitations were due to their eyes. Analyses adjusting for clustering at the village level were used to test for differences between men and women and for associations of functional limitations with number of eyes with trichiasis and visual acuity impairment. Results: Men had a higher average number of dependents but otherwise were similar to women on all characteristics other than functional limitations. Women had a marginally significantly greater proportion of task limitations than men among those who were limited. Both men and women with trichiasis in two eyes were more likely to have functional impairments than those with trichiasis in one eye, with a larger difference among men. Having a combination of visual acuity impairment in both eyes and trichiasis has an effect on only women’s likelihood of functional limitations. Conclusion: The combination of results suggests that the gender equity of burden of trachoma in Tanzania is a function of the relative impact of the condition and disease prevalence and not of differences in resources available to or other patient characteristics.

Learning Objectives:

(
• To be aware of the presence of unoperated trichiasis patients even in a setting where the surgery is available in villages in Tanzania; (
• To understand the differences in socioeconomic and demographic characteristics among men and women with unoperated trichiasis in two districts in Tanzania; (
• To understand differences among men and women in the symptoms and severity of trichiasis and functional limitations; (
• To be able to describe the differences in the ways that the number of eyes with trichiasis is related to functional limitations for men and women.

Keywords: Vision Care, Disability

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation