Tropical Data: Approach and Methodology as Applied to Trachoma Prevalence Surveys

Harding-Esch, Emma M; Burgert-Brucker, Clara R; Jimenez, Cristina; Bakhtiari, Ana; Willis, Rebecca; Bejiga, Michael Dejene; Mpyet, Caleb; Ngondi, Jeremiah; Boyd, Sarah; Abdala, Mariamo; Abdou, Amza; Adamu, Yilikal; Alemayehu, Addisu; Alemayehu, Wondu; Al-Khatib, Tawfik; Apadinuwe, Sue-Chen; Awaca, Naomie; Awoussi, Marcel S; Baayendag, Gilbert; Badiane, Mouctar Dieng; Bailey, Robin L; Batcho, Wilfrid; Bay, Zulficar; Bella, Assumpta; Beido, Nassirou; Bol, Yak Yak; Bougouma, Clarisse; Brady, Christopher J; Bucumi, Victor; Butcher, Robert; Cakacaka, Risiate; Cama, Anaseini; Camara, Mamoudou; Cassama, Eunice; Chaora, Shorai Grace; Chebbi, Amel Chenaoui; Chisambi, Alvin Blessings; Chu, Brian; Conteh, Abdulai; Coulibaly, Sidi Mohamed; Courtright, Paul; Dalmar, Abdi; Dat, Tran Minh; Davids, Thully; Djaker, Mohamed El Amine; de Fátima Costa Lopes, Maria; Dézoumbé, Djore; Dodson, Sarity; Downs, Philip; Eckman, Stephanie; Elshafie, Bilghis Elkhair; Elmezoghi, Mourad; Elvis, Ange Aba; Emerson, Paul; Epée, Emilienne EE; Faktaufon, Daniel; Fall, Mawo; Fassinou, Aréty; Fleming, Fiona; Flueckiger, Rebecca; Gamael, Koizan Kadjo; Garae, Mackline; Garap, Jambi; Gass, Katie; Gebru, Genet; Gichangi, Michael M; Giorgi, Emanuele; Goépogui, André; Gómez, Daniela Vaz Ferreira; Gómez Forero, Diana Paola; Gower, Emily W; Harte, Anna; Henry, Rob; Honorio-Morales, Harvy Alberto; Ilako, Dunera R; Issifou, Amadou Alfa Bio; Jones, Ellen; Kabona, George; Kabore, Martin; Kadri, Boubacar; Kalua, Khumbo; Kanyi, Sarjo Kebba; Kebede, Shambel; Kebede, Fikreab; Keenan, Jeremy D; Kello, Amir B; Khan, Asad Aslam; Khelifi, Houria; Kilangalanga, Janvier; Kim, Sung Hye; Ko, Robert; Lewallen, Susan; Lietman, Thomas; Logora, Makoy Samuel Yibi; Lopez, Yuri A; MacArthur, Chad; Macleod, Colin; Makangila, Felix; Mariko, Brehima; Martin, Diana L; Masika, Michael; Massae, Patrick; Massangaie, Marilia; Matendechero, Hadley S; Mathewos, Tsedeke; McCullagh, Siobhain; Meite, Aboulaye; Mendes, Elsa Palma; Abdi, Hirpa M; Miller, Hollman; Minnih, Abdellahi; Mishra, Sailesh Kumar; Molefi, Tuduetso; Mosher, Aryc; M’Po, Nerkoua; Mugume, Francis; Mukwiza, Robson; Mwale, Consity; Mwatha, Stephen; Mwingira, Upendo; Nash, Scott D; Nassa, Christophe; Negussu, Nebiyu; Nieba, Cece; Noah Noah, Jean Claude; Nwosu, Christian O; Olobio, Nicholas; Opon, Rapheal; Pavluck, Alexandre; Phiri, Isaac; Rainima-Qaniuci, Merelesita; Renneker, Kristen K; Saboyá-Díaz, Martha Idalí; Sakho, Fatoumata; Sanha, Salimato; Sarah, Virginia; Sarr, Boubacar; Szwarcwald, Celia L; Shah Salam, Ahmad; Sharma, Shekhar; Seife, Fikre; Serrano Chavez, Gloria Marina; Sissoko, Mactar; Sitoe, Henis Mior; Sokana, Oliver; Tadesse, Fentahun; Taleo, Fasiah; Talero, Sandra Liliana; Tarfani, Youcef; Tefera, Amsayaw; Tekeraoi, Rabebe; Tesfazion, Andeberhan; Traina, Abubaker; Traoré, Lamine; Trujillo-Trujillo, Julián; Tukahebwa, Edridah M; Vashist, Praveen; Wanyama, Ernest B; Warusavithana, Supriya D.P.; Watitu, Titus K; West, Sheila; Win, Ye; Woods, Geordie; Yajima, Aya; Yaya, Georges; Zecarias, Alem; Zewengiel, Solomon; Zoumanigui, Akoi; Hooper, Pamela J; Millar, Tom; Rotondo, Lisa; Solomon, Anthony W

doi:10.1080/09286586.2023.2249546

Cited by 6 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…[ 7 ] Furthermore, in areas with low prevalence of trachoma, it becomes both costlier to train field graders [ 8 ] and more difficult for graders to pass the inter-grader agreement test. [ 9 – 11 ]…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acceptability and feasibility of tests for infection, serological testing, and photography to define need for interventions against trachoma

Renneker,

Mtuy,

Kabona

et al. 2024

PLoS Negl Trop Dis

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Background Trachoma causes blindness due to repeated conjunctival infection by Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct). Transmission intensity is estimated, for programmatic decision-making, by prevalence of the clinical sign trachomatous inflammation—follicular (TF) in children aged 1–9 years. Research into complementary indicators to field-graded TF includes work on conjunctival photography, tests for ocular Ct infection, and serology. The perceived acceptability and feasibility of these indicators among a variety of stakeholders is unknown. Methodology Focus group discussions (FGDs) with community members and in-depth interviews (IDIs) with public health practitioners in Tanzania were conducted. FGDs explored themes including participants’ experience with, and thoughts about, different diagnostic approaches. The framework method for content analysis was used. IDIs yielded lists of perceived strengths of, and barriers to, implementation for programmatic use of each indicator. These were used to form an online quantitative survey on complementary indicators distributed to global stakeholders via meetings, mailing lists, and social media posts. Results Sixteen FGDs and 11 IDIs were conducted in October–November 2022. In general, all proposed sample methods were deemed acceptable by community members. Common themes included not wanting undue discomfort and a preference for tests perceived as accurate. Health workers noted the importance of community education for some sample types. The online survey was conducted in April–May 2023 with 98 starting the questionnaire and 81 completing it. Regarding barriers to implementing diagnostics, the highest agreement items related to feasibility, rather than acceptability. No evidence of significant differences was found in responses pertaining to community acceptability based on participant characteristics. Conclusions All of the indicators included were generally deemed acceptable by all stakeholders in Tanzania, although community education around the benefits and risks of different sample types, as well as addressing issues around feasibility, will be key to successful, sustainable integration of these indicators into trachoma programs.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acceptability and feasibility of tests for infection, serological testing, and photography to define need for interventions against trachoma

Renneker,

Mtuy,

Kabona

et al. 2024

PLoS Negl Trop Dis

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“…Tropical Data 4 is a service that supports health ministries to conduct globally standardised high-quality trachoma prevalence surveys ( www.tropicaldata.org ) and builds upon protocols, tools and quality assurance mechanisms developed under the Global Trachoma Mapping Project (GTMP). 5 , 6 A key part of the service is a stringent training program to standardise trachoma grading before surveys start.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Accuracy, acceptability and feasibility of photography for use in trachoma surveys: a mixed methods study in Tanzania

Bisanzio,

Butcher,

Turbé

et al. 2023

International Health

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Background Photography could be used to train individuals to diagnose trachomatous inflammation—follicular (TF) as trachoma prevalence decreases and to ensure accurate field TF grading in trachoma prevalence surveys. We compared photograph and field TF grading and determined the acceptability and feasibility of eyelid photography to community members and trachoma survey trainers. Methods A total of 100 children ages 1–9 y were examined for TF in two Maasai villages in Tanzania. Two images of the right everted superior tarsal conjunctiva of each child were taken with a smartphone and a digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera. Two graders independently graded all photos. Focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with community members and Tropical Data trainers. Results Of 391 photos, one-fifth were discarded as ungradable. Compared with field grading, photo grading consistently underdiagnosed TF. Compared with field grading, DSLR photo grading resulted in a higher prevalence and sensitivity than smartphone photo grading. FGDs indicated that communities and trainers found photography acceptable and preferred smartphones to DSLR in terms of practicalities, but image quality was of paramount importance for trainers. Conclusions Photography is acceptable and feasible, but further work is needed to ensure high-quality images that enable accurate and consistent grading before being routinely implemented in trachoma surveys.

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Trachoma: The Last Decade?

Al-Khatib,

Bella,

Saboyá-Díaz

et al. 2023

Ophthalmic Epidemiology

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Tropical Data: Approach and Methodology as Applied to Trachoma Prevalence Surveys

Cited by 6 publications

References 50 publications

Acceptability and feasibility of tests for infection, serological testing, and photography to define need for interventions against trachoma

Acceptability and feasibility of tests for infection, serological testing, and photography to define need for interventions against trachoma

Accuracy, acceptability and feasibility of photography for use in trachoma surveys: a mixed methods study in Tanzania

Trachoma: The Last Decade?

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