Background. Trachoma is a neglected tropical disease which is the leading infectious cause of blindness in the world. Trachoma is one of the major health problems in Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia. However, knowledge, attitudes, and practices about trachoma are not yet studied in depth. The objective of the study was to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices on trachoma and its associated factors among rural communities in two districts of Tigay Region, Northern Ethiopia. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted in two districts of Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia, from May 7–24, 2017. Data were collected on paper based, were entered into Epi Info version 3.5.1, and then exported to SPSS version 21 for analysis. Logistic regression analysis was done to identify factors associated with knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Results. In this study, a total of 194 respondents were included. The overall level of good knowledge, attitudes, and practices on trachoma was 51%, 49.5%, and 35.6%, respectively. Having ever received health education was significantly associated with good knowledge (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 4.10; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.91–8.79) and attitudes (AOR = 2.10; 95% CI: 1.02–4.25). Moreover, good knowledge was associated with good practices on trachoma prevention and control (AOR = 2.86; 95% CI: 1.46–5.62). Conclusion. Our study implies that areas with high burden of trachoma need to improve communities’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards trachoma prevention and control in order to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem. Therefore, health education focused on SAFE strategy should be provided to increase knowledge and changing attitudes that contribute for good practices towards trachoma prevention and control among communities.

INTRODUCTIONDeveloping countries seldom use social health insurance (SHI), and their healthcare finances mostly rely on general revenues and direct out-of-pocket payments. This study investigated the level and factors associated with willingness to pay for SHI among government employees in Tigrai region, North Ethiopia. METHODSAn institution-based quantitative cross-sectional study was carried out from June to July 2018 among government employees in Tigrai, Ethiopia. Sample size was determined using single population proportion formula, and multi-stage cluster sampling was used to select the study participants. Data collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire was analyzed using SPSSVersion 20. RESULTSThere were 544 (64.5%) respondents who were not willing to pay for SHI. Respondents age older than 39 years were 2.2 times more likely to be willing to pay for SHI, as were those who disagreed with the binding rule of referral system (1.4 times), and with exclusion of periodic medical checkup from the SHI (1.4 times), those who didn’t consider health service quality to be poor (1.6 times), and those who disagreed with the presence of financial insecurity in health institutions (1.7 times). CONCLUSIONThis study revealed that government employees’ willingness to pay for SHI was low. SHI agencies should publicize the proclamation for SHI and induce employees with SHI referral system, services excluded, and health facilities’ readiness and service quality to increase willingness to pay. In addition, the government should reconsider the implementation of the proclamation for SHI accordingly.