PMID- 30081851 OWN - NLM STAT- MEDLINE DCOM- 20180822 LR - 20181114 IS - 1471-2415 (Electronic) IS - 1471-2415 (Linking) VI - 18 IP - 1 DP - 2018 Aug 6 TI - Coverage of azithromycin mass treatment for trachoma elimination in Northwestern Ethiopia: a community based cross-sectional study. PG - 193 LID - 10.1186/s12886-018-0868-1 [doi] LID - 193 AB - BACKGROUND: Mass drug administration with antibiotics predominantly with azithromycin is one of the four arms of the SAFE strategy. The elimination of ocular chlamydial infection is only achieved as long as the azithromycin mass treatments (AMT) are given frequently enough and at a high enough coverage. This study was conducted to assess the coverage of azithromycin mass treatment and its determinants in Awi Zone, Northwestern Ethiopia. METHODS: House to house survey using a structured questionnaire was done between July 7 to July 25, 2013. Coverage is defined as the proportion of individuals in the eligible population who actually ingested the Azithromycin during the Campaign. RESULTS: A total of 1267 households were enrolled in the survey in which 5826 eligible members were living in these households. Almost half (54.6%) of the community members who were eligible for all six campaigns had participated in more than three campaigns of azithromycin mass treatment. The overall average self-reported coverage of the azithromycin mass treatment (AMT) in all six campaigns was 62.8% (64% in rural vs. 61.6% urban). On average, each eligible person had taken the drug 3.77 times. The rural residents were significantly more likely to have received treatment during the last round of AMT in 2012 AOR = 2.35; 95% CI [1.80-3.06]. Azithromycin uptake status of female household heads was less than the corresponding male household heads AOR = 0.41; 95% CI [0.24-0.72]. Household heads' awareness about trachoma (AOR = 2.55; 95% CI [1.19-5.44]) and AMT AOR = 7.19; 95% CI [3.27-15.82] had positive association with acceptability. CONCLUSION: The overall average AMT coverage was found to be low. There was low coverage of the treatment in the urban community as compared to the rural residents. Misconceptions of household heads about trachoma and azithromycin have negatively affected the coverage. Further work on why female household heads are associated with higher risk of non-participation in AMT is warranted. Strengthening awareness creation and consideration of additional campaigns is essential. FAU - Tilahun, Zelalem AU - Tilahun Z AD - Social and Adminstrative Pharmacy Working Group, Departement of Pharmaceutics and Social Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O.Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. FAU - Fenta, Teferi Gedif AU - Fenta TG AD - Social and Adminstrative Pharmacy Working Group, Departement of Pharmaceutics and Social Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, P.O.Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. tgedif@gmail.com. LA - eng PT - Journal Article PT - Multicenter Study DEP - 20180806 PL - England TA - BMC Ophthalmol JT - BMC ophthalmology JID - 100967802 RN - 0 (Anti-Bacterial Agents) RN - 83905-01-5 (Azithromycin) SB - IM MH - Adolescent MH - Adult MH - Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use MH - Azithromycin/*therapeutic use MH - Child MH - Child, Preschool MH - Cross-Sectional Studies MH - Ethiopia/epidemiology MH - Female MH - Humans MH - Incidence MH - Infant MH - Male MH - Middle Aged MH - *Surveys and Questionnaires MH - Trachoma/*drug therapy/epidemiology MH - Young Adult PMC - PMC6091195 OTO - NOTNLM OT - Azithromycin mass treatment OT - Coverage OT - Northwest Ethiopia OT - Trachoma elimination COIS- Before the study began, all procedures and methods planned was reviewed and approved by the Ethics Review Committee of the School of Pharmacy, Addis Ababa. Then, official letter was written from the Department of Pharmaceutics and Social Pharmacy to Amhara Regional Health Bureau to get permission for conducting the study. The purpose of the study was clearly explained to all study participants, and verbal informed consent was obtained from each participant. Not applicable. All authors declared that there are no competing interests. Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. EDAT- 2018/08/08 06:00 MHDA- 2018/08/23 06:00 PMCR- 2018/08/06 CRDT- 2018/08/08 06:00 PHST- 2017/10/16 00:00 [received] PHST- 2018/07/25 00:00 [accepted] PHST- 2018/08/08 06:00 [entrez] PHST- 2018/08/08 06:00 [pubmed] PHST- 2018/08/23 06:00 [medline] PHST- 2018/08/06 00:00 [pmc-release] AID - 10.1186/s12886-018-0868-1 [pii] AID - 868 [pii] AID - 10.1186/s12886-018-0868-1 [doi] PST - epublish SO - BMC Ophthalmol. 2018 Aug 6;18(1):193. doi: 10.1186/s12886-018-0868-1.