Identifying Patient Perceived Barriers to Trichiasis Surgery in Kongwa District, Tanzania.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Trachomatous trichiasis (TT), inturned eyelashes from repeated infection with Chlamydia trachomatis, is the leading infectious cause of blindness in the world. Though surgery will correct entropion caused by trachoma, uptake of TT surgery remains low. In this case-control study, we identify barriers that prevent TT patients from receiving sight-saving surgery.

Methodology/principal findings

Participants were selected from a database of TT cases who did (acceptors) and did not (non-acceptors) have surgery as of August 2015. We developed an in-home interview questionnaire, using open and closed-ended questions on perceived barriers to accessing surgical services. We compared responses between the acceptors and non-acceptors, examining differences in reasons for and

SUBMITTER: Bickley RJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5215731 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature