Isaac Phiri1, Portia Manangazira1, Colin K Macleod2,3, Takafira Mduluza4,5, Tinashe Dhobbie1, Shorai Grace Chaora6, Chriswell Chigwena1, Joshua Katiyo1, Rebecca Willis7, Ana Bakhtiari7, Peter Bare8, Paul Courtright9, Boniface Macheka10, Nicholas Midzi11, And Anthony W Solomon2,12. 1. a Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control , Ministry of Health and Child Care , Harare , Zimbabwe. 2. b Clinical Research Department , London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine , London , UK. 3. c Sightsavers, Haywards Heath , UK. 4. d Department of Biochemistry , Faculty of Sciences, University of Zimbabwe , Mt Pleasant , Harare , Zimbabwe. 5. e School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences , College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal , Durban , South Africa. 6. f National Statistical Agency , Harare , Zimbabwe. 7. g Task Force for Global Health , Atlanta , GA , USA. 8. h Sightsavers , Harare , Zimbabwe. 9. i KCCO International, Division of Ophthalmology , University of Cape Town , South Africa. 10. j Department of Ophthalmology , Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals , Harare , Zimbabwe. 11. k Department of Medical Microbiology , College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe , Harare , Zimbabwe. 12. l Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases , World Health Organization , Geneva , Switzerland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Trachoma, a leading cause of blindness, is targeted for global elimination as a public health problem by 2020. In order to contribute to this goal, countries should demonstrate reduction of disease prevalence below specified thresholds, after implementation of the SAFE strategy in areas with defined endemicity. Zimbabwe had not yet generated data on trachoma endemicity and no specific interventions against trachoma have yet been implemented. METHODS: Two trachoma mapping phases were successively implemented in Zimbabwe, with eight districts included in each phase, in September 2014 and October 2015. The methodology of the Global Trachoma Mapping Project was used. RESULTS: Our teams examined 53,211 people for trachoma in 385 sampled clusters. Of 18,196 children aged 1-9 years examined, 1526 (8.4%) had trachomatous inflammation-follicular (TF). Trichiasis was observed in 299 (1.0%) of 29,519 people aged ≥15 years. Of the 16 districts surveyed, 11 (69%) had TF prevalences ≥10% in 1-9-year-olds, indicative of active trachoma being a significant public health problem, requiring implementation of the A, F and E components of the SAFE strategy for at least 3 years. The total estimated trichiasis backlog across the 16 districts was 5506 people. The highest estimated trichiasis burdens were in Binga district (1211 people) and Gokwe North (854 people). CONCLUSION: Implementation of the SAFE strategy is needed in parts of Zimbabwe. In addition, Zimbabwe needs to conduct more baseline trachoma mapping in districts adjacent to those identified here as having a public health problem from the disease.
BACKGROUND: Trachoma, a leading cause of blindness, is targeted for global elimination as a public health problem by 2020. In order to contribute to this goal, countries should demonstrate reduction of disease prevalence below specified thresholds, after implementation of the SAFE strategy in areas with defined endemicity. Zimbabwe had not yet generated data on trachoma endemicity and no specific interventions against trachoma have yet been implemented. METHODS: Two trachoma mapping phases were successively implemented in Zimbabwe, with eight districts included in each phase, in September 2014 and October 2015. The methodology of the Global Trachoma Mapping Project was used. RESULTS: Our teams examined 53,211 people for trachoma in 385 sampled clusters. Of 18,196 children aged 1-9 years examined, 1526 (8.4%) had trachomatous inflammation-follicular (TF). Trichiasis was observed in 299 (1.0%) of 29,519 people aged ≥15 years. Of the 16 districts surveyed, 11 (69%) had TF prevalences ≥10% in 1-9-year-olds, indicative of active trachoma being a significant public health problem, requiring implementation of the A, F and E components of the SAFE strategy for at least 3 years. The total estimated trichiasis backlog across the 16 districts was 5506 people. The highest estimated trichiasis burdens were in Binga district (1211 people) and Gokwe North (854 people). CONCLUSION: Implementation of the SAFE strategy is needed in parts of Zimbabwe. In addition, Zimbabwe needs to conduct more baseline trachoma mapping in districts adjacent to those identified here as having a public health problem from the disease.
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Authors: Khaled Amer; Andreas Müller; Hussein Mohamed Abdelhafiz; Tawfik Al-Khatib; Ana Bakhtiari; Sophie Boisson; Gamal Ezz El Arab; Hema Gad; Bruce A Gordon; Ahmad Madian; Ahmed Tarek Mahanna; Samir Mokhtar; Omar H Safa; Mohamed Samy; Mohammad Shalaby; Ziad Atta Taha; Rebecca Willis; Ashraf Yacoub; Abdul Rahman Mamdouh; Ahmed Kamal Younis; Mohamed Bahaa Eldin Zoheir; Paul Courtright; Anthony W Solomon Journal: Ophthalmic Epidemiol Date: 2018-12 Impact factor: 1.648
Authors: Christine Tedijanto; Solomon Aragie; Zerihun Tadesse; Mahteme Haile; Taye Zeru; Scott D Nash; Dionna M Wittberg; Sarah Gwyn; Diana L Martin; Hugh J W Sturrock; Thomas M Lietman; Jeremy D Keenan; Benjamin F Arnold Journal: PLoS Negl Trop Dis Date: 2022-03-11