title: Prevalence of Trachoma in Car-Nicobar Island, India after Three Annual Rounds of Mass Drug Administration with Azithromycin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A high proportion of active trachoma infection in children of Car-Nicobar Island was reported through the Trachoma Rapid Assessment survey conducted in year 2010 by the same researchers. Annual mass drug treatment with azithromycin was administered from years 2010-12 to all individuals residing in this island for reducing the burden of active trachoma infection. A cross-sectional prevalence survey was conducted in the year 2013 to assess the post-treatment burden of trachoma in this population.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the 15 randomly selected compact segments from each village of the island, children aged 1-9 years were examined for evidence of active trachoma infection and participants aged ten years and above were examined for trachomatous trichiasis and corneal opacity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 809 children (1-9 years) and 2735 adults were examined. Coverage with azithromycin for all the three rounds was more than 80%. The prevalence of active trachoma infection in children aged 1-9 years old was 6.8% (95% CI 5.1, 8.5) and Trachomatous Trichiasis (TT) was 3.9% (95% CI 3.2, 4.6). The risk factors associated with active trachoma infection were older age and unclean faces. The risk factors associated with TT were older age and lower literacy level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Trachoma has not been eliminated from Car-Nicobar Island in accordance to 'Global Elimination of Trachoma, 2020' guidelines. Sustained efforts and continuous surveillance admixed with adequate programmatic response is imperative for elimination of trachoma in the island.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Ophthalmology, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Sumit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Malhotra
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Ophthalmology, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Praveen
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vashist
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Ophthalmology, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Noopur
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Mani
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kalaivani
authors.affiliation: Department of Ocular Microbiology, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Gita
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Satpathy
authors.affiliation: Gobind Ballabh Pant Hospital, Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Sujaya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Krishnan
authors.affiliation: Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Rajvardhan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Azad
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003318:Corneal Opacity / Q000188:drug therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014141:Trachoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D058457:Trichiasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D017963:Azithromycin