title: Prevalence and risk factors for trachoma and ocular Chlamydia trachomatis infection in Niger.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the association of personal and household risk factors for trachoma and ocular Chlamydia trachomatis infection in Niger.
  
  
  METHODS
  12 villages were randomly selected. A census of all households was carried out, and 651 children aged 1-5 years were randomly selected and examined. Household and personal characteristics were determined, trachoma was clinically assessed and a swab for ocular C trachomatis infection was taken.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of trachoma was 43% (95% confidence interval (CI) 39% to 47%) and of infection was 21% (95% CI 18% to 24%). Children aged 3-5 years had a stronger association of clinical signs with infection, compared with those aged 1-2 years. Those with unclean faces were three times more likely to have clinical trachoma or ocular C trachomatis infection, compared with those with clean faces (OR 3.1 (95% CI 1.6 to 6.2) and 3.0 (95% CI 1.4 to 6.3), respectively). 75% of compounds were within 30 min of a water source. Flies on the face were a risk factor for trachoma but not for C trachomatis infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The different association of clinical signs with infection in younger versus older children may be an age-dependent difference in the duration of clinical disease. In Niger, unclean faces are a major risk factor for trachoma. The ready availability of water for washing suggests that further research on the effect of a strong health education campaign promoting clean children is warranted in this area.
authors.affiliation: Dana Center for Preventive Ophthalmology, Wilmer Room 129, Johns Hopkins Hospital, 600 N Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abdou
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nassirou
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kadri
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Moussa
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Munoz
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Opong
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: West
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009548:Niger / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014141:Trachoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D014881:Water Supply