PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS OF NIGHT BLINDNESS AND BITOT’S SPOT AMONG CHILDREN IN AGE OF 24-59 MONTHS IN LAY ARMACHIHO DISTRICT,CENTRAL GONDAR ,NORTHWEST ETHIOPIA,2019.

Abstract

Background: Night blindness (XN) a condition in which a person cannot see in dim light is generally the earliest clinical manifestation of vitamin A deficiency. Globally Vitamin A deficiency is public health problem in 122 countries, among these, 45 countries have moderate to severe child night blindness. Even though the magnitude of previous night blindness among Amhara region children was reported as (1.0%), factors related to night blindness are not well established particularly in the study area. Objective: To assess the prevalence and associated factors of night blindness and Bitot’s spot among children 24-59 months in Lay Armachiho District, central North Gondar zone, Northwest Ethiopia 2019. Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was employed from February to March, 2019 among children in the age of 24-59 months in Lay- Armachiho District, Amhara region. A total of 1012 children in the age of 24-59 months were selected using multi-stage sampling technique. A structured and pre-tested questionnaire was used for data collection. The data were entered into epi.info version 7 and transported to SPSS version 20 for analyses. Descriptive summary statistics were used to describe the study population. P-value and AOR with 95% CI were used to identify variables significantly associated with the outcome variable. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models were conducted to identify associated factors. Variables that have p-value < 0.2 in the bivariable analysis were used during multivariable analysis. The result of P-value < 0.05 in multivariable logistic regression model were considered as statistically significant. Results: Out of 1007 children in the age of 24-59 months (1.9%) and (2.2%) were suffered from night blindness and Bitot’s spot respectively. children from illiterate mothers were 3 times more likely to be night blinded as compared to the children from literate mothers [AOR = 2.94; 95 % CI = (1.12, 6.72)]. Children in the age of 48 to 59 months were 9.8 times more likely to be night blinded compared to children 36 to 48 months of age [AOR=9.81; 95% CI: (1.24, 77.36)]. The children from ≥ 4 family sizes were 4.5 times more likely to be night blinded as compared to children from < 4 family size [AOR = 4.52; 95 % CI = (1.02,19.90)]. The children who had diarrhea were 5 times more likely to be night blinded compared to children who did not have diarrhea [AOR=5.00; 95%CI: (1.73, 14.54)]. Children with respiratory tract infection were 3 times more likely to be night blinded compared to children who did not have respiratory tract infection [AOR=3.14; 95% CI :( 1.02, 9.70)]. And those children in the age of 48-59 months were 4 times more likely to have Bitot’s spot compared to children in age of 36 to 47 months [AOR=4.23; 95% CI =(1.13, 14.86)].Children whose mothers did not wash their hands after toilet were 3 times more likely to had Bitot’s spot [AOR = 3.02; 95 % CI = (1.01, 9.13)] Conclusion: Child age, mothers educational status, family size, hand washing practice after toilet, diarrhea in the last 2 weeks, respiratory tract infection in the last 2 weeks were predictor for night blindness and Bitot’s spot among children in age of 24 to 59 months. Recommendations: Both night blindness and Bitot’s spots are public health problem among 24-59 months at lay armachiho district which calls the attention of health professionals in primary healthcare facilities.