Aetiology, clinical profile, management and outcome of acute pancreatitis at public hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a prospective observational study.

Background: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a rare gastrointestinal pathology that has recently become increasingly common owing to lifestyle changes. Its clinical presentation ranges from mild discomfort to organ failure and death. Previous studies in Ethiopia reported that AP is rare. However, lifestyle changes have recently increased. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the aetiology, clinical profile, management, and outcomes of AP. Methods: This prospective observational study included 59 adults diagnosed with AP using the Revised Atlanta Classification between November 2021 and August 2022 at five public hospitals in Addis Ababa. The data were analyzed using SPSS 25. The mean ± standard deviation and adjusted odds ratio (AOR) at 95% CI were used. Results: The mean age was 38.2 (SD±11.5 years), mostly aged 30-44, with 67% males and 89.8% patients presenting with new-onset AP. Abdominal pain and nausea were the most common presentations in 93.2% of patients. More than 52.5% of AP cases were caused by alcohol, followed by gallstones (28.8%), and gallstones (47.1%) underwent cholecystectomy during the index admission. One patient (1.7%) died. The length of hospital stay ranges from 1-47 days and increases with the severity of AP. Patients with recurrent AP had a 2.4 folds increase in complications compared to new-onset AP (AOR=2.4, 95% CI=1.38, 15.71). Conclusion: Most AP cases were caused by alcohol consumption, followed by gallstones, smoking, and hypertriglyceridemia. One death in a 60-year-old male with an alcohol and smoking history was diagnosed and triaged as severe AP with persistent multiple organ failure; BISAP score 4, his Creatinine=2.55 mg/dl, haematocrit 72.6%; and left shift of WBC, was associated.

A rare case of cecal foreign body leading to cecal perforation in 12-year-old child: a clinical case report and review of literature.

Introduction and importance: Cecal foreign bodies are uncommon causes of acute abdomen, and their presentation can often mimic acute appendicitis (AA), making it challenging to diagnose. The authors present the case of a 12-year-old male from Ethiopia who initially presented with symptoms suggestive of AA. However, during surgery, the authors found a multiple magnetic fields result in perforation. This case highlights the importance of considering unusual etiologies. Case presentation: A 12-year-old boy with AA associated with anorexia, nausea, and low-grade fever was referred from a private clinic. Otherwise, no history of recent respiratory infection and diarrhea, and was previously in good health. The patient did not report any history of a foreign body (FB), even to his own family, and, except for himself, no one was aware of the ingested FB. The work has been reported in line with the Surgical CAse REport (SCARE) 2023 criteria. Discussion: In this case, the authors experienced multiple magnetic FB in the cecum, which were not observed on ultrasound (U/S). However, this case closely resembled appendicitis. U/S can aid in differentiation. However, it may not always identify the underlying etiology, specifically in a resource-limited setting. Conclusion: Based on the patient's presentation, AA was diagnosed and emergency surgery was presumed to be inflamed. However, three magnetic FB were the underlying cause of the presentation, which created pressure on the cecal wall, and the authors successfully performed surgical management. This case reminds us of uncommon etiologies, such as magnets in patients with symptoms of appendicitis. This underscores the importance of an open-minded approach to unexpected findings during surgery.

Trachoma Prevention Practice and Associated Factors in Rural Lemo District, Southern Ethiopia, 2021.

Background: Trachoma is a leading cause of preventable blindness. It is more prevalent in areas where there is poor personal and environmental sanitation. Implementing a SAFE strategy will reduce the incidence of trachoma. The purpose of this study was to look into trachoma prevention practices and associated factors in rural Lemo, South Ethiopian communities. Methods: We conducted a community-based cross-sectional study in the rural Lemo district of south Ethiopia, covering 552 households, from July 1 - July 30, 2021. We used a multistage sampling technique. Seven Kebeles were selected using a simple random sampling method. Then, a systematic random sampling procedure with a five-interval size was applied to select the households.Our study assessed the association between the outcome variable and explanatory variables using binary and multivariate logistic regressions. The adjusted odds ratio was calculated, and variables with a p-value below 0.05 at the 95% confidence interval (CI) were considered statistically significant. Results: The study found that 59.6% (95% CI: 55.5%-63.7%) of participants had good trachoma prevention practices. Having a favorable attitude (odds ratio [AOR]: 1.91, 95% CI: 1.26-2.89), receiving health education (AOR: 2.16, 95% CI: 1.46-3.21), and obtaining water from a public pipe (AOR: 2.48, 95% CI: 1.09-5.66) were significantly associated with good trachoma prevention practice. Conclusions: Fifty-nine percent of the participants had good prevention practices for trachoma. Health education, a favorable attitude, and a water source from public pipes were variables associated with good trachoma prevention practice. Improving water sources and disseminating health information are vital to increasing trachoma prevention practices.

Association of Glaucoma with Poor Quality of Sleep in an Ethiopian Glaucoma Population - A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Glaucoma is a group of ocular disorders characterized by progressive optic nerve damage resulting in irreversible visual field defects. Poor quality of sleep in glaucoma patients could be explained by the reduction of the light input to the circadian system as a result of damage to photosensitive retinal ganglion cells in the retina. Information is limited on the association of poor quality of sleep with glaucoma in general and the Ethiopian glaucoma population in particular. Objective: The study aimed to explore the association between poor quality of sleep and glaucoma at a Tertiary Eye Care Center in Ethiopia. Methods: An institutional-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 glaucoma and 201 non-glaucoma participants recruited by systematic random sampling. Each group was administered with a Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire. Stata-14 was employed for data analysis; an independent t-test was used to show the statistical difference in the global mean PSQI score for the two groups. A binary logistic regression model was applied to identify factors associated with poor quality of sleep. Statistical significance was declared at a 95% confidence interval and a p-value of <0.05. Results: The prevalence of poor quality of sleep was 82.5% among the glaucoma population, which statistically differed (p<0.001) from the non-glaucomatous population (55.7%). Poor quality of sleep in glaucoma was associated with older age (adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=4.4, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.5-5.4), depression (AOR=2.9, 95% CI: 1.1-7.3), visual impairment (AOR=3.9, 95% CI: 1.3-12.3) and severe glaucoma (AOR=2.5, 95% CI: 1.1-5.9). Conclusion and Recommendation: Poor quality of sleep was significantly higher in the glaucoma population compared to their non-glaucoma control. It was associated with older age, depression, visual impairment and advanced glaucoma. Incorporating psychiatric counseling into the existing glaucoma follow-up was recommended.

Stereoacuity Among Patients with Refractive Error at University of Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the level of stereopsis, proportion of poor stereopsis, and factors influencing stereopsis in adults with refractive error. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study conducted on 153 adults with refractive error at Gondar University Hospital Tertiary Eye Care Center from April 08 to June 07, 2019. Structured questionnaires and ophthalmic instruments (Retinoscope, Worth Four Dot test and TNO Stereo plates) were used to collect the data. Data were entered and analyzed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. The result was summarized using summary statistics such as mean. Chi-squared test of association was applied between stereopsis and independent variables. RESULTS: The level of stereopsis after correction of refractive error ranged from 1.89 to 2.65 log arc second. Before correction of refractive error, poor stereopsis was observed in 46.4% of the participants, while after correction, it dropped to 39.8% (CI: 95%: 31.1%-47.8%). Stereopsis after correction had a significant association with age, best visual acuity, type of refractive error, and fusional status at distance with a p value < 0.05. CONCLUSION: Given refractive error corrected, the mean stereopsis in patients with refractive error was 2.42 log arc second. Proportion of poor stereopsis was noted in 39.8% of the participants corrected for refractive error. Age, best corrected visual acuity, type of refractive error, and fusional status had a significant association with stereopsis. Further studies on stereoacuity on a large scale are recommended.

Use of Eye Care Service and Associated Factors Among Adult Diabetic Patients Attending at Diabetic Clinics in Two Referral Hospitals, Northeast Ethiopia.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to determine the proportion of use of eye care service and associated factors among adult diabetic patients attending diabetic clinics in two referral hospitals, Northeast Ethiopia, 2020. METHODS: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out with a sample size of 546 at Dessie and Debre-Birhan Comprehensive Specialized Hospitals from July 06 to August 14/2020. Systematic random sampling with a sampling fraction of 2 was employed to select study participants at outpatient departments in diabetic clinics. A pre-tested structured questionnaire, checklist, and visual acuity chart were used to collect the data. The collected data were entered into EPI-data version 4.4 and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25. Binary logistic regression was fitted to identify the possible factors associated with the outcome variable, and the strength of association was expressed using an adjusted odds ratio at a 95% confidence interval. Variables with p-values of less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 531 adult patients with diabetes participated with a response rate of 97.3%. In this study, the proportion of use of eye care service within the past 1 year was 31.5% (95% CI: 27.5, 35.4). Age from 40 to 64 years (AOR=2.86, 95% CI; 1.43,5.70) and >65 years (AOR=3.15, 95% CI: 1.32,7.50), duration of diabetes 6-10 years (AOR=2.15, 95% CI: 1.26, 3.69) and >11 years (AOR=2.93, 95% CI: 1.51, 5.69), presence of visual symptoms (AOR=3.12, 95% CI: 1.56, 6.18), good attitude on the need of a regular eye checkup (AOR=2.87, 95% CI: 1.68, 4.94), and good knowledge about diabetic ocular complication (AOR=2.29, 95% CI: 1.33, 3.94) were positively associated with the use of eye care service. CONCLUSION: The proportion of use of eye care service among adult diabetic patients was low. The use of eye care service was significantly and independently associated with older age, longer duration of diabetes, presence of visual symptoms, good attitude on the need of a regular eye checkup, and good knowledge about diabetic ocular complication. We recommend that the patients with diabetes should be taught about diabetic ocular complications and the importance of regular eye check-ups by health professionals to increase utilization of eye care services by patients with diabetes.

Protection of the Eye from Ultraviolet Radiation Damage Among Adults in Addis Zemen Town, Northwest Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Ultraviolet radiation is electromagnetic radiation or light having a wavelength of less than 400 nm but greater than 100 nm. Ultraviolet radiation, majorly from sunlight, can potentially damage any organ that is exposed to any part of its spectrum. Aside from the skin, the organ most susceptible to sunlight-induced damage is the eye. Ultraviolet radiation is reported to be the cause of multiple ocular problems ranging from benign conditions like pterygium and pinguecula to ocular malignancies such as basal cell carcinoma which finally leads to visual impairment and blindness. Protection practice is mandatory to avoid the burden of diseases caused by ultraviolet exposure and maximizing the protection measures implementation is important. To maximize this, it is essential to know the current practice and the associated factors affecting the usage of protective devices in the study area. METHODS: Community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April to May 2019 on 453 study participants. The study participants were selected through a systematic random sampling method. Data were collected using a pretested structured questionnaire. The analyzed result was summarized and presented using texts, tables and charts. A Chi-square test was applied to assess the significant association. RESULTS: A total of 430 study subjects were participated and completed the questionnaire with a response rate of 94.92%. The mean age of the study participants was 35.3 (SD±6.68). Two hundred forty-three (56.5%) study participants were males. About 228 (53%) of participants were married, and 356 (82.8%) were Christian in religion. From the total study participants, 173 (40.23%) had good practice in protecting the eye from ultraviolet radiation damages while the remaining 59.77% had poor practice. A significant association was found between sex and protection practice of the eye from ultraviolet radiation damages. CONCLUSION: The majority of the study participants had poor protection practice of the eye from ultraviolet radiation damages. Improving awareness and protection practice are vital to reduce the burden of ocular abnormalities due to excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

Knowledge about Computer Vision Syndrome among Bank Workers in Gondar City, Northwest Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Globally, computer vision syndrome is the most common eye problem which is associated with prolonged exposure to a computer. It has a great socioeconomic impact on the users due to its effect on job performance. Recently, many people in the world, including our country Ethiopia, especially bank workers, are spending most of their time in front of a computer screen to facilitate their work. Since it is assumed that knowledge is pertinent to prevent computer vision syndrome, this study was aimed at assessing the understanding of bank workers towards computer vision syndrome. METHODS: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 248 bank workers. The study participants were selected by using a simple random sampling technique. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data from the bank workers. The data was entered and analyzed by SPSS version 21 software. RESULTS: A total of 248 bank workers completed the questionnaire fully, which was a response rate of 93.5% (n = 234). Among them, 155 (66.20%) were males and the majority of the respondents were in the age group of 20-39 years (223, 95.3%). The study revealed that from 234 respondents, 211 (90.20%) were aware of computer vision syndrome, while 26.9% of them had a good knowledge about the disorder. Majority of the respondents (40, 17.1%) cited mass media as a source of information. CONCLUSION: Even though the majority of computer-using bank workers heard of computer vision syndrome, it was recognized that only a small portion of the participants had good knowledge.

Xerophthalmia and Its Associated Factors among School-Age Children in Amba Giorgis Town, Northwest Ethiopia, 2018.

INTRODUCTION: Xerophthalmia is a general term applied to all the ocular manifestations from night blindness through complete corneal destruction (keratomalacia) due to vitamin A deficiency. Xerophthalmia is the main contributing factors for childhood blindness in developing countries. However, there is limited evidence that can implicate the current situation. This study aimed to determine the magnitude of xerophthalmia and associated factors among school-age children in Northwest Ethiopia. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 490 children, age range of 6 to 12 years. The study participants were selected through systematic random sampling method. Data were collected using a pretested structured questionnaire and ophthalmic examination with different ophthalmic instruments. The analyzed result was summarized and presented using descriptive statistics. Binary logistic regression was used to determine the factors associated with xerophthalmia. Variables with a p value of <0.05 in the multivariable logistic regression analysis were considered as statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 484 study participants with a response rate of 98.8 were involved in this study, and their median age was 8 years with IQR of 4 years. The prevalence of xerophthalmia was 8.26% (95% CI: 5.8, 10.7). Family income less than 1000 Ethiopian birr (AOR = 4.65, 95% CI: 1.31, 16.4), presence of febrile illness (AOR = 2.8, 95% CI: 1.49, 6.11), poor consumption of fruits and vegetables (AOR = 3.18, 95% CI: 1.30, 7.80), and nonimmunized status (AOR = 3.43, 95% CI: 1.49, 7.89) were significantly associated with xerophthalmia. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: The prevalence of xerophthalmia was high as compared to the World Health Organization criteria for public health significance. Factors identified for xerophthalmia in this study are low income, the poor dietary practice of fruits and vegetables, and the presence of febrile illness and not immunized. Hence, it is a public problem that needs attention.

Knowledge about cataract and associated factors among adults in Gondar town, northwest Ethiopia.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess knowledge regarding cataract and associated factors among adults in Gondar town Northwest Ethiopia. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 836 adults age ≥18years, using multi-stage systematic random sampling technique, in Gondar town Northwest Ethiopia from April 15-May 7, 2017. Data were collected using pre-tested structured questionnaires through face to face interview. The collected data was entered to Epi info version 7 and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Binary logistic regression was used to identify associated factors. Those variables with p-value <0.05 and confidence interval ≠ 1 in multivariable logistic regression were considered as statistically significant factors for knowledge regarding cataract. RESULT: Among 845 eligible adults, 98.9% (836) of them were fully participated. The median age of participants was 28 years with an interquartile range of 17 years. Of the total participants, 67.2% (562) of them had awareness about cataract [95% CI, 63.8-70.2]. Among 562 participants, 61.7% of them had good knowledge about cataract [95% CI, 57.5-66.00]. It was also found that higher level of education [AOR = 2.86, 95%CI: 1.37-5.96], higher family monthly income [AOR = 1.92, 95%CI: 1.03-3.57], having previous eye examination [AOR = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.02-2.31] and positive family history of cataract [AOR = 1.76, 95%CI: 1.03-3.01] were positively associated with good knowledge. CONCLUSION: Significant portion of the participants had good knowledge about cataract, which was positively associated with higher level of education, higher family monthly income, presence of previous eye examination and positive family history of cataract. However, significant knowledge gap regarding the risk factors and prevention strategies was recognized. Hence, it might be logical to pay special attention in prospering knowledge on how to prevent the occurrence of the disease.

Knowledge and attitude towards antimicrobial resistance among final year undergraduate paramedical students at University of Gondar, Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Globally, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a complex public problem, which is mainly fuelled by inappropriate use of antimicrobials. Rational use of antimicrobials is the main strategy for the prevention of AMR, which can be achieved by changing the prescribers' behavior and knowledge. Hence, this study aimed to assess knowledge and attitude of paramedical students regarding antimicrobial resistance, which helps to rationalize the use of antimicrobials. METHODS: An institutional based cross-sectional study was performed on 323 graduates paramedical students at the University of Gondar, Ethiopia. Participants were invited to complete a self-reported structured questionnaire on hard copy. The data were summarized using summary statistics such as the median. Furthermore, Kruskal Wallis test, at the level of significance of 0.05, was conducted to compare group difference. RESULTS: Among 360 eligible paramedical students, 323 (90%) of them participated and most of them were males 202 (62.5%). Nearly 96% of the participants perceived that antimicrobial resistance is a catastrophic and preventable public problem but about half of the participants (55%) had a poor level of knowledge. It was also found that there was a statistically significant knowledge and attitude difference across the department (p-value< 0.0001) and (p = 0.002), respectively. Furthermore, those participants who had a good level of knowledge had greater attitude rank as compared to those who had a moderate and poor level of knowledge (p-value< 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Majority of the participants viewed antimicrobial resistance as a preventable public problem if appropriate strategies are formulated. Nonetheless, most of them had a poor knowledge regarding antimicrobial resistance, and their knowledge and attitude significantly vary across their field of study. This result implicates that improving the students' level of knowledge about antimicrobial resistance might be an approach to flourish their attitude and to rationalize their antimicrobial use.

Knowledge and Attitude toward Eye Donation among Adults, Northwest Ethiopia: A Community-based, Cross-sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: In developing countries, the leading cause of childhood blindness is corneal scarring. Although the service of corneal transplantation depends on several factors, availability of potential donors is of paramount importance. Attitude of eligible donors is the main factor that affects corneal supply. However, limited data exist on eye donation. Hence, this study intended to assess the knowledge and attitude toward eye donation and its associated factors. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted on 760 adults aged ≥18 years selected using multistage systematic random sampling in Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia. A face-to-face structured questionnaire interview in home-to-home visit was applied to collect the data. Descriptive and analytical tests were performed. A binary logistic regression was fitted. Those variables with P < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: This study comprised 760 adults with a median age of 30 years. The proportion of overall level of good knowledge and favorable attitude toward eye donation was 8.4% and 59.9%, respectively. It has been also recognized that attitude was positively associated with educational level of high school (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.41, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.41-4.14) and college/university (AOR = 2.73, 95% CI: 1.53-4.89) and awareness (AOR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.05-2.03). CONCLUSIONS: Although the overall level of knowledge about eye donation was poor, the proportion of favorable attitude toward eye donation was fair. Since it was associated with educational level and awareness, it is strategic to follow multidisciplinary approaches to facilitate multi-stakeholder partnerships and to motivate the people to donate their eyes.

Willingness to donate eyes and its associated factors among adults in Gondar town, North West Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: In Ethiopia, there is a substantial mismatch between need and supply of corneal transplant. Although corneal transplantation service is affected by various factors, willingness to donate eyes is an essential indicator of its availability, accessibility, and acceptability. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the magnitude of willingness to donate eyes and its associated factors, which help to develop appropriate strategies that can address this undersupply and unmet need. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted on 774 adults who were selected using multistage random sampling in Gondar town, North West, Ethiopia. The data were collected through interviews. RESULTS: In this survey, 774 adults with a median age of 30 ± 14.33 years participated. The proportion of willing to donate eyes was 37.6% [95% CI: 34.3%-41.3%]. It was positively associated with the religious belief of Christianity [AOR = 1.73, 95% CI: 1.08-2.75], having awareness about eye donation [AOR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.01-1.92], educational level of high school [AOR = 2.90, 95% CI: 1.72-4.90], and College/University [AOR = 2.23, 95% CI: 1.28-3.87]. CONCLUSION: The magnitude of willingness to donate eyes was moderate and positively associated with the higher educational level and awareness. It is, therefore, strategic to plan awareness creation programs to mobilize the community.

Visual outcome of cataract surgery at Gondar University Hospital Tertiary Eye Care and Training Center, North West Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Globally, cataract is the leading cause of blindness which accounts for 51% of 39 million blind people. The visual rehabilitation is made through sight-restoring surgery. The patients' postoperative visual satisfaction, vision related quality of life, ability to function in daily activities and their overall productivity mainly depend on the visual outcome. However, there are limited data on the visual outcome and its associated factors in the study area. Therefore, this study intended to evaluate the postoperative level of visual acuity to provide a baseline information regarding visual outcome and design a standardized protocol to maximize it. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted at the Gondar University Hospital Tertiary Eye Care and Training Center on 223 patients who underwent cataract surgery, selected using simple random technique from April to June 2015. RESULTS: This study consisted of 218 patients or eyes that underwent cataract surgery. The median age of the participants was 65 years with an interquartile range of 20 years. Of 218 cataract-operated visually impaired eyes (<6/60), 26.6% of them achieved good visual acuity (≥6/18), 28.9% of them had borderline acuity (<6/18-6/60), and the remaining of 44.5% were remained as poor visual acuity (<6/60). It has been observed that the postoperative visual acuity had an association with postoperative follow up time duration (P=0.035). CONCLUSION: In this study, the visual outcome of cataract surgery was significantly low as compared to World Health Organization's recommendations, and it has been recognized that there is significant progression of visual acuity in different consecutive weeks.

Prevalence and associated factors of myopia among high school students in Gondar town, northwest Ethiopia, 2016.

INTRODUCTION: Myopia is an important cause of correctable visual impairment and preventable blindness worldwide. Prevalence rates are approximately 20%-35% among the older teenage population globally. It has a medical burden of pathologic complications such as maculopathy and glaucomatous optic neuropathy. High school students experience high-performance and study pressures in the preparation for the final national examination. As a result they are exposed to excessive near work and indoor activities. They are also ignored for regular screening. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and associated factors of myopia among high school students in Gondar town, Ethiopia. METHODS: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 498 high school students with systematic random sampling method from April 18 to April 29, 2016, in three full-cycle high schools (9th-12th grades). A standardized structured questionnaire, Snellen acuity chart, pinhole, retinoscope, trial case lenses, pen torch, and direct ophthalmoscope were used to collect data. RESULTS: A total of 495 study participants were included, and they had a mean age of 17.48±1.59 years. The prevalence of myopia was 11.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 10.2, 17.9). Family history of myopia (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=8.08 [95% CI: 4.30, 15.16]), school being private (AOR=2.88 [95% CI: 1.02, 8.11]), longer time spent for near work (AOR=2.89 [95% CI: 1.12, 7.43]), longer time spent partaking in indoor activities (AOR=4.32 [95% CI: 1.69, 10.99]), shorter near working distance (AOR=3.06 [95% CI: 1.33, 7.06]), lack of outdoor sport activities (AOR=2.27 [95% CI: 1.05, 4.90]), use of visual display units (AOR=2.81 [95% CI: 1.30, 6.10]), and abnormal ocular findings (AOR=6.69 [CI: 3.43, 13.03]) were found to be independently associated with myopia. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of myopia was 11.9%. Family history for myopia, school being private, longer time spent partaking in indoor activities, shorter working distance, lack of outdoor sport activities, use of visual display units, and presence of abnormal ocular findings were positively associated with myopia.