Prevalence of trachoma in indigenous and non-indigenous areas, Northeastern Brazil, 2019-2021

• Published in: Revista panamericana de salud pública Vol. 48; no. 19; p. e19
• Main Authors: Gomez, Daniela Vaz Ferreira, de Almeida, Wanessa da Silva, de Souza Junior, Paulo Roberto Borges, Lopes, Maria de Fátima Costa, Luna, Expedito José de Albuquerque, Zimmermann, Ivan Ricardo, Tavares, Noemia Urruth Leão, Gutierrez, Maria Margarita Urdaneta, Szwarcwald, Célia Landmann
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Organización Panamericana de la Salud 2024; Pan American Health Organization
• Subjects: brazil; Health Policy & Services; health surveys; neglected diseases; Original Research; prevalence; trachoma; Brazil; Trachoma; neglected diseases; prevalence; health surveys; inquéritos epidemiológicos; prevalencia; enfermedades desatendidas; doenças negligenciadas; prevalência; Brasil; Tracoma; encuestas epidemiológicas
• ISSN: 1020-4989; 1680-5348; 1680-5348
• DOI: 10.26633/RPSP.2024.19

To estimate the prevalence of trachoma in indigenous and non-indigenous populations in selected areas of the state of Maranhão, in northeastern Brazil. This was a population-based survey with probabilistic sampling. For the diagnosis of trachoma, external ocular examination was performed using head magnifying loupes, at 2.5X magnification. The prevalence of trachomatous inflammation - follicular (TF) in children aged 1-9 years and the prevalence of trachomatous trichiasis (TT) in the population aged ≥15 years were estimated. Relative frequencies of sociodemographic and environmental characteristics were obtained. The study included 7 971 individuals, 3 429 from non-indigenous populations and 4 542 from indigenous populations. The prevalence of TF in non-indigenous and indigenous populations was 0.1% and 2.9%, respectively, and the prevalence of TT among indigenous populations was 0.1%. The prevalence of TF and TT in the two evaluation units in the state of Maranhão were within the limits recommended for the elimination of trachoma as a public health problem. However, the prevalence of TF was higher in the indigenous evaluation unit, indicating a greater vulnerability of this population to the disease. The prevalence of TF of below 5.0% implies a reduction in transmission, which may have resulted from improved socioeconomic conditions and/or the implementation of the World Health Organization SAFE strategy.