Baayenda, Gilbert; Mugume, Francis; Mubangizi, Alfred; Turyaguma, Patrick; Tukahebwa, Edridah M; Byakika, Sarah; Kahwa, Binta; Kusasira, Darlson; Bakhtiari, Ana; Boyd, Sarah; +12 more... Butcher, Robert; Solomon, Anthony W; Binagwa, Ben; Agunyo, Stella; Osilo, Martin; Crowley, Kathryn; Thuo, Wangeci; French, Mike; Plunkett, Elizabeth; Mosher, Aryc W; Harding-Esch, Emma M; Ngondi, Jeremiah; (2021) Baseline Prevalence of Trachoma in Refugee Settlements in Uganda: Results of 11 Population-based Surveys. Ophthalmic Epidemiology, 30 (6). pp. 580-590. ISSN 0928-6586 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09286586.2021.1961816
Permanent Identifier
Use this Digital Object Identifier when citing or linking to this resource.
Abstract
PURPOSE: There are several settlements in the Northern and Western Regions of Uganda serving refugees from South Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), respectively. Trachoma prevalence surveys were conducted in a number of those settlements with the aim of determining whether interventions for trachoma are required. METHODS: An evaluation unit (EU) was defined as all refugee settlements in one district. Cross-sectional population-based trachoma prevalence survey methodologies designed to adhere to World Health Organization recommendations were deployed in 11 EUs to assess prevalence of trachomatous inflammation-follicular (TF) in 1-9-year-olds and trachomatous trichiasis (TT) unknown to the health system in ≥15-year-olds. Household-level water, sanitation and hygiene coverage was also assessed in study populations. RESULTS: A total of 40,892 people were examined across 11 EUs between 2018 and 2020. The prevalence of TF in 1-9-year-olds was <5% in all EUs surveyed. The prevalence of trachomatous trichiasis (TT) unknown to the health system in ≥15-year-olds was <0.2% in 5 out of 11 EUs surveyed and ≥0.2% in the remaining 6 EUs. A high proportion of households had improved water sources, but a low proportion had improved latrines or quickly (within a 30-minute return journey) accessible water sources. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of the antibiotic, facial cleanliness and environmental improvement components of the SAFE strategy is not needed for the purposes of trachoma's elimination as a public health problem in these refugee settlements; however, intervention with TT surgery is needed in six EUs. Since instability continues to drive displacement of people from South Sudan and DRC into Uganda, there is likely to be a high rate of new arrivals to the settlements over the coming years. These populations may therefore have trachoma surveillance needs that are distinct from the surrounding non-refugee communities.
Item Type | Article |
---|---|
Faculty and Department | Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases > Dept of Clinical Research |
Research Centre | International Centre for Eye Health |
PubMed ID | 34488539 |
Elements ID | 167249 |
Download
Filename: Baayenda_etal_2021_Baseline-prevalence-of-trachoma-in.pdf
Licence: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 IGO
Download