Magnitude and associated factors of ocular lesions/complications among leprosy patients treated at Boru Meda General Hospital, Ethiopia: Cross sectional study design, 2021
Abstract:
Background: Leprosy is one of the world’s oldest diseases, also known as Hansen’s disease. It is one of the major blinding diseases. Visual impairment of leprosy patients needs special consideration by dermatologists and ophthalmologists, not only preventable but also has a severe burden that affects productivity if not managed early. Nevertheless, little was understood about ocular complications and associated factors among leprosy patients in low–income countries like Ethiopia including the study locality.
Methods: An Institution based cross-sectional study was used among a total of 423 leprosy patients at dermatology clinic at Boru Meda hospital. Then the collected data entered using entered EpiData v3.1 and exported to statistical package for Social Sciences (SPSS) v20 for statistical analysis. The odds ratio along with a 95% confidence interval was estimated to measure the strength of association between dependent and independent variables. P≤0.05 was used to determine the level of statistical significance.
Result: A total of 419 leprosy patients were participated in this study, which accounts a response rate of 99%. The proportion of ocular complication was found to be 69.9%, (95% CI:(65.09-73.9)). Age 40years and above{(AOR=5.2,95% CI:(3.14-8.83)}, presence of leprosy reaction {(AOR=1.92,95%CI:(1.12-3.24)}, and leprosy disability grading (grade1 disability{(AOR=2.9,95%CI:(1.35-6.33)},grade 2 disability{(AOR=3.0,95% CI:(1.36-7.08)} were associated with the presence of ocular complication among leprosy patients.
Conclusion: Our finding showed that, the magnitude of ocular complication/lesion was high. Age 40 and above, presence of leprea reaction, and disability were significant factors associated with developing ocular complications among leprosy patients. This emphasizes the need for a strong collaboration efforts and commitment to handle ophthalmologic complication among leprosy patients with the age 40 and above, having leprosy reaction and disability
