Impact of face-washing on trachoma in Kongwa, Tanzania

West, Sheila K.; Muñoz, Beatriz; Lynch, Matthew; Kayongoya, Andrew; Chilangwa, Z; Mmbaga, B. B. O.; Taylor, Hugh R.

doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(95)90167-1

Cited by 204 publications

(168 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Hsieh et al 27 found that improved facial cleanliness over a 6-year period was associated with a decline in trachoma at follow-up, 27 and a clinical trial of hygiene intervention resulted in less severe trachoma in children who had sustainable clean faces. 32 Thus, this area of Niger should consider a health communication programme directed at improving hygiene behaviours. Such a programme could take advantage of the village and women's associations as communication networks because these are relatively common.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence and risk factors for trachoma and ocular Chlamydia trachomatis infection in Niger

Amza

Beidou

Kadri

et al. 2006

British Journal of Ophthalmology

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Aims: To determine the association of personal and household risk factors for trachoma and ocular Chlamydia trachomatis infection in Niger. Methods: 12 villages were randomly selected. A census of all households was carried out, and 651 children aged 1-5 years were randomly selected and examined. Household and personal characteristics were determined, trachoma was clinically assessed and a swab for ocular C trachomatis infection was taken. Results: The prevalence of trachoma was 43% (95% confidence interval (CI) 39% to 47%) and of infection was 21% (95% CI 18% to 24%). Children aged 3-5 years had a stronger association of clinical signs with infection, compared with those aged 1-2 years. Those with unclean faces were three times more likely to have clinical trachoma or ocular C trachomatis infection, compared with those with clean faces (OR 3.1 (95% CI 1.6 to 6.2) and 3.0 (95% CI 1.4 to 6.3), respectively). 75% of compounds were within 30 min of a water source. Flies on the face were a risk factor for trachoma but not for C trachomatis infection. Conclusions: The different association of clinical signs with infection in younger versus older children may be an age-dependent difference in the duration of clinical disease. In Niger, unclean faces are a major risk factor for trachoma. The ready availability of water for washing suggests that further research on the effect of a strong health education campaign promoting clean children is warranted in this area.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence and risk factors for trachoma and ocular Chlamydia trachomatis infection in Niger

Amza

Beidou

Kadri

et al. 2006

British Journal of Ophthalmology

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“…They also have been shown to spend less time collecting water (Aiga and Umenai, 2002), use greater quantities of water (Bailey et al, 1991;Polack et al, 2006), and practice improved hygiene behavior (Cairncross and Cliff, 1987;Curtis et al, 1995). Health benefits of hygiene reflect the Mills Reincke phenomenon (Sedgwick and MacNutt, 1908) of multiple health gains; for example, hygiene has been shown to reduce risk and prevalence of respiratory infections (Ryan et al, 2001;Rabie and Curtis, 2006), trachoma (Taylor et al, 1989;West et al, 1995), and diarrhea (Aung Myo and Thein, 1989;Cairncross et al, 2010). Repeated episodes of diarrhea have adverse effects on nutrition and growth in children (Black et al, 1984;Checkley et al, 2003), and the use of improved water sources, defined as water sources protected from outside contamination (WHO/UNICEF, 2012), has been associated with improved child height and weight outcomes (Tomkins et al, 1978;Esrey et al, 1988).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On-plot drinking water supplies and health: A systematic review

Overbo

Williams

Evans

et al. 2016

International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health

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Many studies have found that household access to water supplies near or within the household plot can reduce the probability of diarrhea, trachoma, and other water-related diseases, and it is generally accepted that on-plot water supplies produce health benefits for households. However, the body of research literature has not been analyzed to weigh the evidence supporting this. A systematic review was conducted to investigate the impacts of on-plot water supplies on diarrhea, trachoma, child growth, and water-related diseases, to further examine the relationship between household health and distance to water source and to assess whether on-plot water supplies generate health gains for households. Studies provide evidence that households with on-plot water supplies experience fewer diarrheal and helminth infections and greater child height. Findings suggest that water-washed (hygiene associated) diseases are more strongly impacted by on-plot water access than waterborne diseases. Few studies analyzed the effects of on-plot water access on quantity of domestic water used, hygiene behavior, and use of multiple water sources, and the lack of evidence for these relationships reveals an important gap in current literature. The review findings indicate that on-plot water access is a useful health indicator and benchmark for the progressive realization of the Sustainable Development Goal target of universal safe water access as well as the human right to safe water.

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“…Lack of facial cleanliness is implicated in trachoma transmission (Lynch et al 1994;West et al 1995;Bailey and Lietman 2001;Schémann et al 2002;Ejere et al 2004;Khandekar et al 2006;Ngondi et al 2008;Bailie et al 2012) and this is the key to its control:…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trachoma elimination in remote Indigenous Northern Territory communities: baseline health-promotion study

Lange

Baunach

McKenzie

et al. 2014

Aust. J. Prim. Health

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Abstract. Identify trachoma knowledge, attitudes and practice of staff in clinics, schools and community workplace settings to optimise trachoma-elimination health-promotion programs in the Katherine West Health Board region of the Northern Territory. Prior to the introduction of a suite of health promotion resources the Indigenous Eye Health Unit and Katherine West Health Board conducted a baseline survey of open, multi-choice and closed questions regarding knowledge, attitudes and practices in relation to trachoma with 72 staff members over a 6-month period in 2010À11. Data were analysed for differences between settings. Two significant barriers and one enabling factor were identified. One in five staff members in clinics and 29% of staff members in schools were unaware they lived and worked in a trachoma-endemic area. One-third of school staff and 38% of clinic staff considered it normal for children to have dirty faces. However, the majority of participants felt comfortable talking about hygiene issues with others. The presence of dirty faces in young Indigenous children underpins the continuing prevalence of trachoma. Increasing the awareness of the health effects of children's nasal and ocular secretions and changing community acceptance of dirty faces as the norm will reduce the risk of trachoma and other childhood infections. Staff in clinics, schools and community work settings can play a role in trachoma elimination by actively encouraging clean faces whenever they are dirty and by including face washing in holistic hygiene and health education. Staff in schools may need additional support. Trachoma-elimination health promotion should increase awareness of trachoma prevalence and encourage all who work and live in remote Indigenous communities to take action to promote facial cleanliness and good hygiene practices.

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Impact of face-washing on trachoma in Kongwa, Tanzania

Cited by 204 publications

References 9 publications

Prevalence and risk factors for trachoma and ocular Chlamydia trachomatis infection in Niger

Prevalence and risk factors for trachoma and ocular Chlamydia trachomatis infection in Niger

On-plot drinking water supplies and health: A systematic review

Trachoma elimination in remote Indigenous Northern Territory communities: baseline health-promotion study

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