title: Completion of Baseline Trachoma Mapping in Malawi: Results of Eight Population-Based Prevalence Surveys Conducted with the Global Trachoma Mapping Project.
abstract: Following a first phase of trachoma mapping in Malawi with the Global Trachoma Mapping Project, we identified and mapped trachoma districts previously suspected to be non-endemic, although adjacent to districts with estimated trachoma prevalences indicating a public health problem.
  
  
  
  We conducted population-based surveys in eight evaluation units (EUs) comprising eight districts in Malawi (total population 3,230,272). A 2-stage cluster random sampling design allowed us to select 30 households from each of 30 clusters per EU; all residents aged 1 year and older in selected households were examined for evidence of trachomatous inflammation-follicular (TF) and trachomatous trichiasis (TT).
  
  
  
  None of the eight EUs had a TF prevalence in 1-9-year-olds ≥10%, one district (Dedza) had a TF prevalence between 5.0% and 9.9%, and only one district (Karonga) had a trichiasis prevalence in adults ≥0.2%.
  
  
  
  The prevalence of TF and TT in six of eight EUs surveyed was consistent with an original categorization of trachoma being unlikely to be a public health problem. In the absence of formal surveys, health management information system data and other locally available information about trachoma is likely to be useful in predicting areas where public health interventions against trachoma are required.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Ophthalmology , University of Malawi, College of Medicine , Blantyre , Malawi.|b Blantyre Institute for Community Ophthalmology , Lions Sight First Eye Hospital , Blantyre , Malawi.
authors.forename: Khumbo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kalua
authors.affiliation: b Blantyre Institute for Community Ophthalmology , Lions Sight First Eye Hospital , Blantyre , Malawi.
authors.forename: Alvin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chisambi
authors.affiliation: b Blantyre Institute for Community Ophthalmology , Lions Sight First Eye Hospital , Blantyre , Malawi.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chinyanya
authors.affiliation: b Blantyre Institute for Community Ophthalmology , Lions Sight First Eye Hospital , Blantyre , Malawi.
authors.forename: Zachariah
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kamwendo
authors.affiliation: c Ministry of Health , Lilongwe , Malawi.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Masika
authors.affiliation: d International Trachoma Initiative , Task Force for Global Health , Decatur , GA , USA.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Willis
authors.affiliation: e Clinical Research Department , London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine , London , UK.
authors.forename: Rebecca M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Flueckiger
authors.affiliation: e Clinical Research Department , London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine , London , UK.
authors.forename: Alexandre L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Pavluck
authors.affiliation: e Clinical Research Department , London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine , London , UK.|f Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases , World Health Organization , Geneva , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Anthony W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Solomon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene / Q000592:standards; D007223:Infant; D008295:Malawi / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011634:Public Health; D012499:Sanitation / Q000592:standards; D014141:Trachoma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D058457:Trichiasis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014881:Water Supply / Q000592:standards; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Blindness; Global Trachoma Mapping Project; Malawi; epidemiology; mHealth; mapping; neglected tropical diseases; prevalence; trachoma; trichiasis