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.

PURPOSE: We aimed to estimate the prevalence of trachoma in each district ("woreda") of Tigray Region, Ethiopia.

METHODS: We conducted 11 cross-sectional community-based surveys in evaluation units covering 34 rural woredas from January to March 2013 using the standardized methodology developed for the Global Trachoma Mapping Project.

RESULTS: Teams visited 8034 households in 275 villages. A total of 28,581 consenting individuals were examined, 16,163 (56.7%) of whom were female. The region-wide adjusted trichiasis prevalence was 1.7% in those aged 15 years and older. All evaluation units mapped had a trichiasis prevalence over the World Health Organization elimination threshold of 0.2% in people aged 15 years and older. The region-wide adjusted prevalence of the clinical sign trachomatous inflammation - follicular (TF) in children aged 1-9 years was 26.1%. A total 10 evaluation units, covering 31 woredas, with a combined rural population of 4.3 million inhabitants, had a prevalence of TF ≥10%, and require full implementation of the SAFE strategy (surgery, antibiotics, facial cleanliness, and environmental improvement) for at least 3 years before impact surveys are undertaken. Of these, four evaluation units, covering 12 woredas, with a combined rural population of 1.7 million inhabitants, had a TF prevalence ≥30%.

CONCLUSION: Both active trachoma and trichiasis are public health problems in Tigray, which needs urgent implementation of the full SAFE strategy.