Prevalence of trachoma in Yobe State, north-eastern Nigeria.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence and types of trachoma in all persons resident in Yobe state, Nigeria and establish baseline data for monitoring and evaluation of trachoma control programmes.


METHODS
A population based cross-sectional survey of 27 villages' selected based on probability proportional to size. Three thousand, three hundred and fifty seven persons residing in these villages were examined with a x2.5 magnifying binocular loupe for trachoma. Trachoma was graded according to the World Health Organisation grading scheme.


RESULTS
Three thousand three hundred and thirty five persons were examined. Blindness prevalence was 2.5% (CI, 2.0-3.1%); 17.9% of blindness was due to trachomatous corneal opacity. The prevalence of trachoma follicular conjunctivitis in children less 1-9 years was 18.3% (CI 16.1%-20.8%) while trachomatous trichiasis prevalence in adults above 15 years was 3.8% (CI 3.0%-4.8%). Adult females were more likely to have trichiasis than males, odds ratio 2.12 (CI 1.23-3.71).


CONCLUSIONS
Trachoma remains a major cause of blindness in Yobe state; thereby supporting the need to implement all aspects of the trachoma control programme recommended by the World Health Organisation to eliminate this avoidable cause of blindness.
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Jos Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria. mpyetc@yahoo.com
Caleb
C
Mpyet
Chris
C
Ogoshi
Musa
M
Goyol
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001766:Blindness / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013222:State Medicine; D014141:Trachoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology