Prevalence of Ocular Chlamydia trachomatis Infection in Amhara Region, Ethiopia, after 8 Years of Trachoma Control Interventions.
Am J Trop Med Hyg
; 108(2): 261-267, 2023 02 01.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-36623484
ABSTRACT
Although trachoma mass drug administration (MDA) programs target ocular Chlamydia trachomatis, the global trachoma control program does not monitor infection as a measure of impact but instead relies on monitoring clinical indicators. This study aimed to monitor the prevalence of ocular C. trachomatis among a population-based sample of children ages 1-5 years throughout Amhara, Ethiopia, a region that has received approximately 8 years of annual MDA as part of trachoma control. Between 2014 and 2021, trachoma impact surveys and surveillance surveys were conducted in all 156 districts of Amhara using a multistage cluster randomized methodology. Certified graders assessed individuals ages ≥ 1 year for trachomatous inflammation-follicular (TF), and a random subset of children ages 1-5 years also provided a conjunctival swab. Polymerase chain reaction was used to test for C. trachomatis. A total of 28,410 conjunctival swabs were collected from children ages 1-5 years across Amhara. The regional C. trachomatis infection prevalence was 4.7% (95% uncertainty interval 4.3-5.1%). Infection was detected in all 10 zones of the region and ranged from 0.2% in Awi Zone to 11.9% in Waghemra Zone. Infection was detected in 17 (26%) districts with a TF prevalence < 10% and in 7 (21%) districts with a TF prevalence < 5%. Through programmatic monitoring of C. trachomatis infection, this study demonstrated that considerable infection remained throughout Amhara despite approximately 8 years of trachoma interventions and that enhanced interventions such as more frequent than annual MDA will be needed if elimination thresholds are to be reached.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Trachoma
Type of study:
Clinical_trials
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Child
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Child, preschool
/
Humans
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Infant
Country/Region as subject:
Africa
Language:
En
Journal:
Am J Trop Med Hyg
Year:
2023
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Georgia