The Geographical Distribution and Burden of Trachoma in Africa

Abstract

BackgroundThere remains a lack of epidemiological data on the geographical distribution of trachoma to support global mapping and scale up of interventions for the elimination of trachoma. The Global Atlas of Trachoma (GAT) was launched in 2011 to address these needs and provide standardised, updated and accessible maps. This paper uses data included in the GAT to describe the geographical distribution and burden of trachoma in Africa.MethodsData assembly used structured searches of published and unpublished literature to identify cross-sectional epidemiological data on the burden of trachoma since 1980. Survey data were abstracted into a standardised database and mapped using geographical information systems (GIS) software. The characteristics of all surveys were summarized by country according to data source, time period, and survey methodology. Estimates of the current population at risk were calculated for each country and stratified by endemicity class.ResultsAt the time of writing, 1342 records are included in the database representing surveys conducted between 1985 and 2012. These data were provided by direct contact with national control programmes and academic researchers (67%), peer-reviewed publications (17%) and unpublished reports or theses (16%). Prevalence data on active trachoma are available in 29 of the 33 countries in Africa classified as endemic for trachoma, and 1095 (20.6%) districts have representative data collected through population-based prevalence surveys. The highest prevalence of active trachoma and trichiasis remains in the Sahel area of West Africa and Savannah areas of East and Central Africa and an estimated 129.4 million people live in areas of Africa confirmed to be trachoma endemic.ConclusionThe Global Atlas of Trachoma provides the most contemporary and comprehensive summary of the burden of trachoma within Africa. The GAT highlights where future mapping is required and provides an important planning tool for scale-up and surveillance of trachoma control.

Prevalence and associated factors of active trachoma among 1–9 years old children in Deguatemben, Tigray, Ethiopia, 2018: community cross-sectional study

“…Active trachoma includes WHO grades of TF and/ or TI. Endemicity of trachoma is classified based on TF prevalence as non-endemic (< 5%), hypoendemic (≥5 and < 10%), mesoendemic (≥10 and < 30%) and hyper-endemic (≥30%) [5]. WHO Global Elimination of Trachoma (GET2020) Alliance recommends the implementation of the surgery, antibiotics, facial cleanness and environmental improvements (SAFE) strategy which tackles the disease through surgery to correct trichiasis, antibiotics to treat chlamydial infection and facial cleanliness and environmental improvements to suppress transmission of infection to eliminate the disease by 2020 [3].…”

The Prevalence of Trachoma in Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia: Results of 11 Population-Based Prevalence Surveys Completed as Part of the Global Trachoma Mapping Project

“…Endemic trachoma is a major cause of blindness in poorer rural communities of developing countries, especially in arid areas. 1,2 …”

Completion of Baseline Trachoma Mapping in Malawi: Results of Eight Population-Based Prevalence Surveys Conducted with the Global Trachoma Mapping Project

“…Previous findings by Kalua and colleagues 5 ,6 demonstrate that trachoma affects a substantial number of people in Malawi, although the problem is not as bad as it is in other endemic populations 7 …”