Prevalence and magnitude of Trachoma in a local government area of Sokoto State, North Western Nigeria

Abstract

In order to have baseline data for monitoring and evaluation of trachoma control activities in Sabon Birni LGA of Sokoto state Nigeria, a population based trachoma survey was conducted. The survey was designed to determine the prevalence of active trachoma and trichiasis as well as assess the prevalence of major risk factors for trachoma in the study area. The survey was a population based cross sectional survey of persons of all ages in the study area. A minimum sample size of 2760 was determined and the study population was selected by two stage cluster random sampling technique. In the first selection stage 34 communities were randomly selected by probability proportional to size, while for the second sampling stage 90 persons of all ages were randomly chosen in each selected cluster. All chosen persons were assessed for trachoma using WHO trachoma simplified grading system and their households were assessed for trachoma environmental risk factors. The prevalence of blindness in the study population was 2.0% (95% CI 1.4%-2.6%) with trachoma responsible for l3.8%. The prevalence of active trachoma amongst children (1-9 years) was 37% (CI 34.3%-39.8%), while trichiasis amongst adults was 2.3% (95% CI 1.9%-2.7%). Over sixty percent of households had no functional latrine, while 81% of households had refuse and animal dung littered within their compounds. Sixty percent of children had 'unclean faces' and over 85% of households had access to water within their villages. Trachoma of public health concern still exists in some districts of northern Nigeria with significant environmental risk factors.