AIMS To establish the presence or absence of trachoma in the Pacific Island region. METHODS Trachoma Rapid Assessment methodology was used in Kiribati, Nauru, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Fiji. Advised by key informants, high-risk communities were chosen from each country. All available children aged 1-9 years and adults > or = 40 years were examined. RESULTS A total of 903 adults > or = 40...

OBJECTIVE This study aims to determine the prevalence and correlates of active trachoma in Ankober, Ethiopia. METHODS A cross-sectional community-based study was conducted during July 2007. A total of 507 children (ages 1-9 years), from 232 households were included in the study. All children were examined for trachoma by ophthalmic nurses using the WHO simplified clinical grading system. Inte...

BACKGROUND Trachoma is a major cause of blindness in Southern Sudan. Its distribution has only been partially established and many communities in need of intervention have therefore not been identified or targeted. The present study aimed to develop a tool to improve targeting of survey and control activities. METHODS/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS A national trachoma risk map was developed using Bayesia...

BACKGROUND Trachoma continues to be hyperendemic in many rural areas of Ethiopia. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of active trachoma among children in Gazegibela district, Ethiopia. METHODS A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in April 2015 among children aged 1-9 years. Data were collected through an interview and eye examina...

OBJECTIVES To estimate the prevalence of active trachoma (TF) in children aged one to nine years and potentially blinding trachoma (TT) in adults aged 15 years and older in six known trachoma-endemic districts in Kenya. DESIGN Community based survey. SETTING Six known trachoma endemic districts in Kenya (Samburu, Narok, West Pokot, Kajiado Baringo and Meru North). SUBJECTS A total of 6,98...

The objective of this study was to use a modified Lot Quality Assurance Sampling methodology to classify communities according to prevalence of active trachoma and to estimate the prevalence of trachoma and trichiasis in Nioro department, Kaolack Region, Senegal. A survey was conducted using two-stage cluster sampling to select 50 children aged 2-5 years in each of 33 clusters. In total 1,648 c...

The National Blindness Prevention Program in Mali has broadcast messages on the radio about trachoma as part of the country's trachoma elimination strategy since 2008. In 2011, a radio impact survey using multi-stage cluster sampling was conducted in the regions of Kayes and Segou to assess radio listening habits, coverage of the broadcasts, community knowledge and behavior specific to trachoma...

AIM Trachoma is a public health problem in Ethiopia accounting for 35-50% of cases of blindness. This study aims to determine the prevalence of trachoma in Tigray and to evaluate whether common risk factors are also risk factors in this region. METHOD A cross sectional community-based survey was conducted. From six districts, a total of 48 villages were selected by a multistage cluster random...

OBJECTIVE To assess the prevalence of trachoma among preschool and school children of public schools to give new focus to control programs. METHODS An epidemiological survey was carried out in São Paulo City in 1999. Children between four and 14 years old were selected by a cluster sampling where school shift was the sampling unit. External eye examination was conducted to detect trachoma. ...

The WHO Alliance for Global Elimination of Trachoma by 2020 has increased the need to identify ocular chlamydial infections by clinical examination in areas of both high and low prevalence. The relationship between clinically active trachoma (as defined by clinical examination) and chlamydial infection is known for areas with hyperendemic trachoma, but not for areas with a low prevalence of the...