Prevalence of trachoma and its determinants in Dalocha District,Central Ethiopia

AIM. This community-based cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of trachoma in Dalocha District, Central Ethiopia. METHODS. A multistage sampling method was used to identify the peasant associations and households included in the study. The WHO clinical grading method for trachoma was used. RESULTS. Of the 619 sampled persons, 302 (48.8%) males and 317 (51.2%) females, 564 people were available for examination, yielding a response rate of 91.1%. More than half (51.1%) of the children aged 10 years or less had active trachoma (trachomatous inflammation, TI, in 16.5% and trachomatous follicles, TF, in 34.6%). On the other hand, active trachoma and trachomatous trichiasis (TT) were each found in 5.5% of individuals older than 10 years of age. CONCLUSIONS. According to the WHO, the findings of TI and TF in more than 5% and 20%, respectively, of children aged 10 years or less and TT in more than 1% of older individuals indicate that trachoma is a major public health problem in Dalocha community.