title: Trachoma prevalence in Niger: results of 31 district-level surveys.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide is trachoma, a condition caused by an infection of the inner eyelid. In Niger, a landlocked republic in Western Africa, surveys in 1988-89 identified trachoma as endemic in all but one region and, as a result, there is a National Prevention of Blindness Program plan to eliminate trachoma by 2015.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-one districts in eastern and western Niger were surveyed for trachoma prevalence from May 2009 to March 2012 as part of routine program impact evaluations. Prevalence surveys were implemented independently in each district using a two-stage cluster random design. Probability proportional to size was used to randomly select villages and 25 households were selected in each cluster. The prevalence of trachoma of clinical grade trachomatous follicular (TF) was estimated in children aged 1-9 years, and the prevalence of blinding trachoma, trachomatous trichiasis (TT), was measured in adults aged ≥15 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 14 211 households was surveyed; 58 617 individuals were evaluated for clinical signs of trachoma, of whom 27 087 were children aged 1-9 years. District-wide implementation of the full SAFE strategy is warranted in 16 districts where TF prevalence exceeds 10% and targeted implementation of the SAFE strategy (surgery for trichiasis; antibiotic therapy to control transmission; facial cleanliness for hygiene promotion; environmental change for improvements in access to water and sanitation) is recommended in the remaining 15 districts. The prevalence of TT among adults exceeded 1% in nine districts, suggesting that surgical services to treat TT should be implemented district-wide.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results establish the need for continued SAFE strategy implementation throughout Niger.
authors.affiliation: The Carter Center, Trachoma Control Program, 1149 Ponce de Leon, Atlanta GA 30306, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Cromwell
authors.forename: Abdou
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amza
authors.forename: Boubacar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kadri
authors.forename: Nassirou
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Beidou
authors.forename: Jonathan D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Dieudonne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sankara
authors.forename: Aryc W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Mosher
authors.forename: Sabo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.forename: Salissou
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kane
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Emerson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009548:Niger / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D014141:Trachoma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Niger; Prevalence; Trachoma; Trichiasis