Prevalence of active and potentially blinding trachoma in Laikipia district, Kenya
Date
2007Author
Karimurio, J
lako, F
Gichangi, M
Type
ArticleLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
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 justifi 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
East African Journal of Ophthalmology November 2007Publisher
Department of Ophthalmology, College of Health Sciences, University of Nairobi
Collections
- Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) [10377]