TY - JOUR
T1 - Prevalence of Trachoma in Benishangul Gumuz Region, Ethiopia
T2 - Results of Seven Population-Based Surveys from the Global Trachoma Mapping Project
AU - Adamu, Yilikal
AU - Macleod, Colin
AU - Adamu, Liknaw
AU - Fikru, Wirtu
AU - Kidu, Beyene
AU - Abashawl, Aida
AU - Dejene, Michael
AU - Chu, Brian K.
AU - Flueckiger, Rebecca M.
AU - Willis, Rebecca
AU - Pavluck, Alexandre L.
AU - Solomon, Anthony W.
PY - 2016/12/7
Y1 - 2016/12/7
N2 - Purpose: Trachoma is a major cause of blindness in Ethiopia, and targeted for elimination as a public health problem by the year 2020. Prevalence data are needed to plan interventions. We set out to estimate the prevalence of trachoma in each evaluation unit of grouped districts (“woredas”) in Benishangul Gumuz region, Ethiopia. Methods: We conducted seven cross-sectional community-based surveys, covering 20 woredas, between December 2013 and January 2014, as part of the Global Trachoma Mapping Project (GTMP). The standardized GTMP training package and methodologies were used. Results: A total of 5828 households and 21,919 individuals were enumerated in the surveys. 19,583 people (89.3%) were present when survey teams visited. A total of 19,530 (99.7%) consented to examination, 11,063 (56.6%) of whom were female. The region-wide age- and sex-adjusted trichiasis prevalence in adults aged ≥15 years was 1.3%. Two evaluation units covering four woredas (Pawe, Mandura, Bulen and Dibate) with a combined rural population of 166,959 require implementation of the A, F and E components of the SAFE strategy (surgery, antibiotics, facial cleanliness and environmental improvement) for at least three years before re-survey, and intervention planning should begin for these woredas as soon as possible. Conclusion: Both active trachoma and trichiasis are public health problems in Benishangul Gumuz, which needs implementation of the full SAFE strategy.
AB - Purpose: Trachoma is a major cause of blindness in Ethiopia, and targeted for elimination as a public health problem by the year 2020. Prevalence data are needed to plan interventions. We set out to estimate the prevalence of trachoma in each evaluation unit of grouped districts (“woredas”) in Benishangul Gumuz region, Ethiopia. Methods: We conducted seven cross-sectional community-based surveys, covering 20 woredas, between December 2013 and January 2014, as part of the Global Trachoma Mapping Project (GTMP). The standardized GTMP training package and methodologies were used. Results: A total of 5828 households and 21,919 individuals were enumerated in the surveys. 19,583 people (89.3%) were present when survey teams visited. A total of 19,530 (99.7%) consented to examination, 11,063 (56.6%) of whom were female. The region-wide age- and sex-adjusted trichiasis prevalence in adults aged ≥15 years was 1.3%. Two evaluation units covering four woredas (Pawe, Mandura, Bulen and Dibate) with a combined rural population of 166,959 require implementation of the A, F and E components of the SAFE strategy (surgery, antibiotics, facial cleanliness and environmental improvement) for at least three years before re-survey, and intervention planning should begin for these woredas as soon as possible. Conclusion: Both active trachoma and trichiasis are public health problems in Benishangul Gumuz, which needs implementation of the full SAFE strategy.
KW - Benishangul Gumuz
KW - Ethiopia
KW - Global Trachoma Mapping Project
KW - prevalence
KW - trachoma
KW - trichiasis
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U2 - 10.1080/09286586.2016.1247877
DO - 10.1080/09286586.2016.1247877
M3 - Article
C2 - 27918248
AN - SCOPUS:85001931441
SN - 0928-6586
VL - 23
SP - 70
EP - 76
JO - Ophthalmic Epidemiology
JF - Ophthalmic Epidemiology
ER -