Prevalence of active and potentially blinding trachoma in Laikipia district, Kenya
Abstract
Objectives: To estimate with reasonable precision the prevalence of active trachoma (TF) in
children aged 1-9 years and potentially blinding trachoma (TT) in adults 15 years and older in
Laikipia District.
Design: Baseline community based survey conducted from 22nd to 30th July 2007 using the
standardized WHO protocol
Setting: Laikipia District of the Lift Valley Province of Kenya.
Subjects: A total of 348 households were visited. 1,017 children aged 1-9 years and 1,225
adults aged >15 years were examined.
Results: Ninety seven out of the 1,017 children had TF hence the prevalence of TF in Laikipia
is 9.5% (95% CI: 6.3-13.9). 14 out of the 1,225 adults had TT. Prevalence of TT in Laikipia is
1.1% (95% CI: 0.5-2.4).
Conclusions: Active trachoma is not a district wide public health problem in Laikipia. Potentially
blinding trachoma (TT) is a district wide public health.
Recommendations: District-wide mass antibiotic treatment is not justi fi able but all the suspected
endemic sub-locations should be surveyed and treated where necessary. There is need for TT
surgical services in the entire district
Citation
Karimurio, J., Ilako, F., & Gichangi, M. (2007). Prevalence of active and potentially blinding trachoma in Laikipia district, Kenya. ., 13(3).Publisher
University of Nairobi
Collections
- Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) [10378]