Abstract

Conjunctivitis is an inflammation due to infection in the lining over the eyeball and inside the eyelids. Inflammation can cause blood vessels in the eye to become larger; this makes the white of the eye look pink or red. Conjunctivitis is common among children under five years of age and is the leading cause of blindness among many children. The purpose of this study was to assess mothers’ knowledge, attitudes and practices for their children with conjunctivitis.

To achieved this objective, the study employed a descriptive study design along with Simple random sampling technique to sample 100 respondents in the Buea Town Community using a structured-questionnaire. Collected data were analyzed descriptive statistics in SPSS (25.0).

Results revealed that more than half (66.0%) of the mothers have good knowledge on the causes symptoms, mode of transmission and prevention of conjunctivitis. About 59.0% had a positive attitude towards children with conjunctivitis while most mothers (69.0%) had good practices towards the management of conjunctivitis in children.

The study concluded that mothers in Buea Town community have a good knowledge, favourable attitude and good practices towards children with conjunctivitis. The study recommend that health educational program should be developed and implemented for mothers to improve and update them with the most current information about the disease and practices.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Conjunctivitis is the most common ocular disease worldwide, characterised by the inflammation of the conjunctiva, the mucous membrane that lines the eyelids and covers the white of the eyeball. Symptoms of conjunctivitis include redness, discharge, burning, and sometimes itching and light sensitivity (Brunner & Suddath, 2008).

It is estimated that up to 30% of people will experience an episode of conjunctivitis at some point in their lives. The symptoms of conjunctivitis include redness, itching, and watering of the eyes. In some cases, there may also be discharge from the eyes. There are two types of conjunctivitis; Bacterial and Viral Conjunctivitis. Both Viral and Bacterial conjunctivitis may attack both eyes, but usually, the infection is in one eye but, spreads to the other by mainly hand contact.

Bacterial conjunctivitis is very infectious, occurs in all age groups but is commonly in ages 0 to                 5 years due to exposure to poor hygienic practices and is caused by Staphylococcal and Haemophilus influenza. It is self-limiting; lasting 2 weeks if untreated, and progresses to chronic conjunctivitis if it has not cleared in the 2 weeks. It manifests with acute onset, crusted eyelids, white or yellowish discharge, foreign body sensation, scratching or burning sensation,                  itching, and mild photophobia (Brunner & Suddath, 2008).

Viral Conjunctivitis is commonly caused by adenovirus type 8. It is transmitted by airborne respiratory droplets and it produces mild self-limiting conjunctivitis but sometimes it can produce severe disability difficulties (Lewis, 2006). It manifests with acute or sub-acute onset, minimal pain, pruritus, a clear watery discharge, severe photophobia and foreign body sensation (Brunner & Suddath. 2008).

Conjunctivitis is the most common infectious disease of the eyes affecting children. In developing countries, poverty, and sociocultural beliefs. taboos and exposure to harmful traditional practices predispose children to conjunctivitis infection which when not properly treated or attended to may lead to complications.

Most cases of conjunctivitis are mild and resolve on their own within a week or two. However, some people may seek home remedies or over-the-counter medications to relieve their symptoms. Home remedies for conjunctivitis include warm compresses, artificial tears, and over-the-counter eye drops. There is limited evidence on the effectiveness of home remedies for conjunctivitis. Some studies have shown that warm compresses and artificial tears may help to relieve symptoms, but there is no evidence that over-the-counter eye drops are effective for treating conjunctivitis (Navachetan, 2011).

Children are exposed to various epidemiological factors in the environment which influence their present and future state of health. Suffering from conjunctivitis is the most frequent episode in childhood experiences. A productive and energetic population cannot grow from unhealthy children who are chronically affected by repeated conjunctivitis. So eye diseases represent an important public health problem in childhood (Navachetan, 2011).

Conjunctivitis is one of the most common ocular problems seen in the community. Conjunctivitis is a common infection, especially among children under five years old. In children, bacterial conjunctivitis is more common than viral and is mainly caused by H. influenza, S.pneumoniae and M.catarrhlis (Denniston, 2008)

Outbreaks are occurring throughout the world. It usually responds quickly to the right treatment. Some areas of northern Egypt reported an outbreak of pinkeye with the number of cases close to 2000 (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), 2014). A few studies have been done on conjunctivitis both at the continental (in Africa) and national level. In a Health Impact Assessment of a water and sanitation programme in Tangier (Morocco) by Arfi and Detournay 2006, an epidemiologic register was implemented in 17 health facilities to follow the incidence of 3 water-related diseases in under five children: where infective conjunctivitis was one of these diseases. The results showed that 40% of the studied diseases were infective conjunctivitis.

The contagious type of pinkeye spreads quickly through a family and among children who spend time together at school, daycare, or other group events. It spreads easily from one eye to the other through contact with contaminated fingers that have rubbed the infected eye. It then spreads to others through direct contact with an infected person; such as using an infected towel (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2012).

Prevention of infective conjunctivitis relies primarily on good personal hygiene. Ophthalmia neonatorum for example can be prevented by the use of povidone iodine drops, tetracycline eye ointment or other antiseptics or antibiotics. (Sherwin et al., 2002).

Treatment starts by keeping children’s eyes clean eyes should be washed gently several times a day with cotton wool soaked in tepid water. Appropriate antibiotic eye drops or ointment may be prescribed for several days. Topical antihistamines also could be administered if the child has allergic conjunctivitis(American Academy of Pediatrics, 2010).

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Among the causes of blindness in Cameroon, 10% is caused by complications of conjunctivitis the major cause being poor hygienic practices (Koki et al., 2011). This means that approximately one in ten people in Cameroon will experience conjunctivitis at some point in their lives. Conjunctivitis is especially common among children under the age of five. In Cameroon, it is estimated that up to 20% of children under the age of five will experience conjunctivitis each year (Koki et al., 2011). The prevalence of conjunctivitis can vary depending on the geographical location within Cameroon. Areas with poor sanitation and hygiene tend to have higher rates of conjunctivitis.

Lack of understanding about the contagious nature of conjunctivitis can lead to behaviours that increase the risk of transmission, such as sharing towels or eye drops. Misconceptions regarding the spread of conjunctivitis can hinder effective prevention measures. Individuals may not be aware of the different types of conjunctivitis and their corresponding causes, potentially leading to the use of ineffective or even harmful home remedies.

Also, inappropriate home management practices can prolong the duration and severity of conjunctivitis. Overuse of eye drops, particularly those containing vasoconstrictors, can cause rebound redness and worsen symptoms. Additionally, using contaminated towels or eye drops can lead to reinfection and prolong the recovery period.

Records from Buea Regional Hospitals highlighted that a lot of under-five children are brought to the hospital with late/advanced symptoms. No study has been conducted in Buea about conjunctivitis among the under-fives population hence the need for this study in the Buea Town Community.

1.3 Rational of the Study

Mothers play an important role in the care of their children, including the management of conjunctivitis. Their knowledge, attitudes, and practices can have a significant impact on the health and well-being of their children.

Improving mothers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices on home management of conjunctivitis can have several benefits for their children’s health. First, it can help to reduce the spread of infection. Second, it can help to improve the quality of care that children receive at home. Third, it can help to reduce the need for unnecessary medical care.

Teaching mothers how to manage conjunctivitis at home, such as how to clean their child’s eyes and how to use eye drops, can help to improve their practices. By improving mothers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices on home management of conjunctivitis, we can help to improve the health and well-being of children around the world.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What knowledge do mothers have on home management of conjunctivitis in Buea Town Community?
2. What are the attitudes of mothers on home management of conjunctivitis in Buea Town Community?
3. What are the various practices of mothers on home management of conjunctivitis in Buea Town Community?

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