Achieving trachoma control in Ghana after implementing the SAFE strategy

• Published in: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Vol. 103; no. 10; pp. 993 - 1000
• Main Authors: Yayemain, Daniel, King, Jonathan D., Debrah, Oscar, Emerson, Paul M., Aboe, Agatha, Ahorsu, Felix, Wanye, Seth, Ansah, Manfred Owusu, Gyapong, John O., Hagan, Maria
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2009; Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Bacterial diseases; Bacterial diseases of the eye and orbit; Bacterial diseases of the genital system; Biological and medical sciences; Blindness; Blindness - epidemiology; Blindness - microbiology; Blindness - prevention & control; Blindness - therapy; Child; Child, Preschool; Chlamydia trachomatis; Chlamydia trachomatis - drug effects; Chlamydia trachomatis - isolation & purification; Cluster Analysis; Disease elimination; Family Characteristics; Female; General aspects; Ghana; Ghana - epidemiology; Health Services Accessibility - standards; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Infant; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neglected tropical diseases; Population Surveillance; Prevalence; Sanitation - standards; Trachoma; Trachoma - epidemiology; Trachoma - prevention & control; Trachoma - therapy; Young Adult; Ghana; Africa; Neglected tropical diseases; Trachoma; Chlamydia trachomatis; Ghana; Blindness; Disease elimination; Chlamydiaceae; Vision disorder; Check; Conjunctiva disease; Genital diseases; Infection; Prevention; Eye disease; Neglected disease; Sexually transmitted disease; Tropical disease; Bacteriosis; Chlamydiales; Bacteria; Tropical medicine; Chlamydiosis
• ISSN: 0035-9203; 1878-3503
• DOI: 10.1016/j.trstmh.2009.02.007

The Ghana Health Service plans to eliminate blinding trachoma by 2010 and has implemented the SAFE strategy since 2001. The programme impact was assessed in all endemic districts. A two-stage, cluster random sample of 720 households was selected in each of 18 endemic districts in Upper West and Northern Regions. All eligible residents were examined for trachoma signs. Household environmental risk factors were assessed. In total, 74 225 persons from 12 679 households were examined. Prevalence of trachomatous inflammation-follicular in 1–9 year-old children was 0.84% (95% CI 0.63–1.05, range of point estimates by district 0.14–2.81%) and prevalence of trichiasis in adults aged ≥15 years was 0.31% (95% CI 0.24–0.38, range by district 0.00–1.07%). An estimated 4950 persons have trichiasis, of whom 72.6% are aged ≥60 years and 71.4% are women. Latrines were observed in 11.6% of households and 79.2% of interview respondents reported use of an improved water source. Active trachoma is no longer a public health problem in Ghana after successful implementation of the SAFE strategy. The programme should maintain health education, advocate for improved water and sanitation and focus on providing surgery. Surveillance activities are needed to ensure sustained control.