PREDICTING SURGICAL COMPLIANCE IN A COHORT OF WOMEN WITH TRICHIASIS

Trichiasis/Entropion are the severe consequences of chronic trachoma d uring early life. Blindness and vision loss is preventable with timely lid surgery to correct trichiasis. In a trachoma hyperendemic region of Central Tanzania, a two year follow-up survey was conducted among 2 05 women with trichiasis to determine the proportion who had had surge ry and the barriers to having surgery. Only 18% of the women had under gone surgery by the 2 year follow-up. Those who had surgery tended to report more eye problems at baseline and have more corneal opacities a t baseline. Barriers preventing women from going to surgery were costs , problem of children left at home alone, and difficulties in identify ing someone to accompany them to the health center. Over 2/3 of those who had surgery reported a significant decrease in pain, improvement o f vision, and improved ability to carry out activities of daily life. Ways to improve compliance with recommendations for trichiasis surgery need to be developed.