Abstract
Abstract
Background
Trachoma is the prevalent neglected tropical disease in Ethiopia and it was earmarked for elimination at the end of 2020 using SAFE (surgery, antibiotics, facial cleanness, and environmental improvement) strategy. One of the aims of this study was to explore perceptions of stakeholders about SAFE strategy in controlling and eliminating Trachoma following the Ethiopian government and partner organizations’ implementation of the strategy from 2006 to 2020. The second aim was describing the recommendation of the stakeholders for future intervention in Bugna district in order to eliminate trachoma in the study area, Ethiopia.
Methods
The study design of this study was descriptive qualitative and the study setting was Bugna district, Northeast Ethiopia. The study participants were all district level health care leaders, all district level public health professionals, all rural and urban Health Extension Workers (HEWs), and all kebele leaders (lowest level community leaders) of the district. The participants were selected by purposive sampling. An in-depth interview and focus group discussion were held to explore the participants' perception about SAFE strategy and their recommendation to eliminate trachoma in the study area. Both the in-depth interview and focus group discussion (FGD) sessions were audio-taped, and the interview lasted one to two hours, while the FGD lasted two to three hours. The data analysis framework was an inductive thematic analysis supported by N-Vivo.
Results
All sub-districts leaders from 16kebeles (sub-districts) of Bugna district were included. Participants' opinions were categorized into two broad themes; contributors to the ineffectiveness of SAFE strategy in controlling trachoma in Bugna district, and suggested recommendations to reduce the prevalence of both trachomatous inflammation-follicular (TF) and trachomatous trichiasis (TT).
Conclusions
To control and eliminate trachoma in Bugna district, awareness creation part about trachoma prevention and elimination should be the priority. In addition, participants were requested a new approach to bring behavioural change in the community. The stakeholders believed that addressing contributing factors that caused SAFE ineffectiveness would be an important approach to control trachoma.