Prevalence of Trachoma in Senegal: Results of Baseline Surveys in 17 Districts

Abstract

Purpose: Senegal is endemic for trachoma, an infectious and potentially blinding eye disease. To complete the country's district-level baseline map of trachoma, we conducted population-based surveys in 17 health districts that were suspected-endemic but had yet to be surveyed. Methods: We randomly selected 30 clusters (villages) per district and 30 households per village, and estimated the district-level prevalences of trachomatous inflammation-follicular (TF) in children aged 1-9 years, and trichiasis in persons aged ≥15 years. Data on household-level water, sanitation, and hygiene variables were also collected. Global Trachoma Mapping Project methods were followed in training, fieldwork, and data handling. Results: 25,704 children aged 1-9 years and 30,345 adults aged 15 years and above were examined. In children aged 1-9 years, the prevalence of TF was <5% in all 17 districts, with the exception of Saint-Louis (5.1%, 95% CI 3.2-7.5). Trichiasis prevalence in participants aged 15 years and above ranged by district from 0%-1.1% (95% CI 0.7-1.5), with 9 districts having trichiasis prevalences above the elimination threshold of 0.2%. Trichiasis was seen to be significantly less frequent in males than in females (0.17% [95% CI 0.12-0.24] versus 0.49% [95% CI 0.38-0.61], p < 0.001). The prevalence of trichiasis rose steeply with age; 62% of cases were observed in people aged 55 years or above. Conclusions: Active trachoma is not a public health problem in 16 of the 17 surveyed districts, and implementation of the full Surgery (S)-Antibiotics (A)-Facial cleanliness (F)-Environmental improvement (E) strategy is not a programmatic priority. Increased provision of trichiasis surgery is warranted in nine districts.

Prevalence of trachoma in indigenous and non-indigenous areas, Northeastern Brazil, 2019–2021

“…There was no difference in the prevalence of TF in the Dsei-MA EU between males and females, which is consistent with the results of studies involving Brazilian schoolchildren ( 19 , 20 ) and of studies in other countries that used the same methodology as this survey ( 21 , 22 ). There was also no significant difference according to age, although the prevalence was higher among children aged 5–9 years, consistent with other studies ( 19 , 23 ).…”

Clinically active trachoma and its associated factors among one to nine year old children in Tarmaber district, Amhara region, Ethiopia: community based crossectional study design

“…The study ndings indicate that the prevalence was above the WHO elimination target of TF < 5% (3,34). This percentage was also higher than that reported in studies from the Monze district, Zambia (3.4%), and Senegal (< 5% in 16 districts) (17,18). This could be due to the geographic discrepancy and availability of WASH facilities, and the implementation of the SAFE strategy in those study areas was better.…”

Magnitude of Active Trachoma Among Host and Refugee Children in Gambella Regional State, Ethiopia

“…The finding is higher than from studies in Pakistan (1.9%), Brazil (8.2%), Darfur-Sudan (8%), Mozambique (10%), Senegal (5%), Uganda (3.9%), Yonan (0.02%), Shanghai (5.2%), Metema (11.8%), and Northwest Amhara (8.3%). 13,[31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39]…”