title: Prevalence of Trachoma in Gambella Region, Ethiopia: Results of Three Population-Based Prevalence Surveys Conducted with the Global Trachoma Mapping Project.
abstract: In Ethiopia, trachoma is a major public health problem, accounting for 11.5% of all cases of blindness. In Gambella, one of the country's most remote regions, the 2005-2006 National Survey of Blindness, Low Vision and Trachoma estimated a region-level prevalence of active trachoma of 19.1% in those aged 1-9 years. Detailed district or sub-regional level estimates are required to implement interventions.
  
  
  
  Population-based prevalence surveys were carried out following a 2-stage cluster random sampling methodology and Global Trachoma Mapping Project protocols. As the 13 districts (woredas) in Gambella had relatively small populations, they were grouped together to form three evaluation units (EUs) of about 100,000 persons each, and all subsequent survey planning and sampling was carried out at EU-level.
  
  
  
  Altogether, 558 cases of TF (17.2%) were identified in 3238 children aged 1-9 years across the three EUs. The adjusted TF prevalences in 1-9-year-olds for the three EUs were 11.5%, 12.5% and 19.3%; 14.4% for Gambella overall. A total of 142 cases of trichiasis (3.8%) were identified among 3781 adults aged 15 years or older, with age- and sex-adjusted EU-level trichiasis prevalences in adults being 0.8%, 1.3% and 2.4%; 1.5% overall.
  
  
  
  The high prevalences of TF and trichiasis throughout Gambella indicate a need for rapid scaling up of the World Health Organization SAFE strategy (surgery, antibiotics, facial cleanliness, and environmental improvement) to help meet the 2020 target of global elimination of trachoma as a public health problem.
authors.affiliation: a Johns Hopkins University , Baltimore , MD , USA.
authors.forename: Aida
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abashawl
authors.affiliation: b Clinical Research Department , London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine , London , UK.|c Sightsavers, Haywards Heath , UK.
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Macleod
authors.affiliation: d Gambella Regional Health Bureau , Gambella , Ethiopia.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Riang
authors.affiliation: d Gambella Regional Health Bureau , Gambella , Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Ferede
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mossisa
authors.affiliation: e Michael Dejene Public Health Consultancy Services , Addis Ababa , Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dejene
authors.affiliation: f Task Force for Global Health , Decatur , GA , USA.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Willis
authors.affiliation: f Task Force for Global Health , Decatur , GA , USA.
authors.forename: Rebecca M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Flueckiger
authors.affiliation: f Task Force for Global Health , Decatur , GA , USA.
authors.forename: Alexandre L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Pavluck
authors.affiliation: g Independent consultant ophthalmologist , Addis Ababa , Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Addisu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tadesse
authors.affiliation: g Independent consultant ophthalmologist , Addis Ababa , Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Tesfaye Haileselassie
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Adera
authors.affiliation: b Clinical Research Department , London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine , London , UK.
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; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D014141:Trachoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D058457:Trichiasis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Ethiopia; Gambella; mapping; prevalence; trachoma