Results of trachoma rapid assessment in 11 villages of South Gonder zone, Ethiopia.

Abstract

The results of this study show that all the villages have severe trachoma which requires urgent intervention. Nearly half the people with trichiasis (212) were younger than 50 years. If surgery is not provided there is a risk they will develop corneal opacity leading to visual loss and blindness: the male to female ratio is 1:4. Ranking of villages for surgery was based on the number of trichiasis cases rather than prevalence. This gives the actual number of individuals who need surgical intervention and who are at risk of becoming blind. There is a need to deliver a good successful service in the community. However there is a lack of trichiasis surgeons and equipment and transport costs are high. In all 11 villages active infection in children aged 3-7 was more than 20% suggesting a public health problem. Treatment of active infection with 1% tetracycline ointment twice a day for 6 weeks is effective but compliance with such a regimen is problematic. Azithromycin is an alternative to tetracycline ointment which is administered orally once. However it is expensive for a poor country like Ethiopia. If azithromycin could be made available at no or low cost this would greatly facilitate the trachoma control programme. (excerpt)