title: Integrated Mapping of Yaws and Trachoma in the Five Northern-Most Provinces of Vanuatu.
abstract: Yaws and trachoma are targeted for eradication and elimination as public health problems. In trachoma-endemic populations mass administration of azithromycin can simultaneously treat yaws. We conducted a population-based prevalence survey in the five northernmost provinces of Vanuatu, where trachoma and yaws are suspected to be co-endemic. Clinical signs of trachoma were evaluated using the WHO simplified grading system, and skin examination with a serological rapid diagnostic test used to identify yaws. We enrolled 1004 households in 59 villages over 16 islands, and examined 3650 individuals of all ages for trachoma. The overall adjusted prevalence of trachomatous inflammation-follicular (TF) in 1-9 year-olds was 12.0% (95% Confidence Interval: 8.1-16.7%), and the overall adjusted prevalence of TT in those aged 15 years and greater was 0.04% (95% CI 0-0.14%). In multivariate analysis, the odds of children having TF was 2.6 (95% CI = 1.5-4.4) times higher in households with unimproved latrines, and independently associated with the number of children in the household (OR 1.3, 95% CI = 1.0-1.6 for each additional child). We examined the skin of 821 children aged 5-14 years. Two children had yaws, giving an estimated prevalence of active yaws in those aged 5-14 years of 0.2% (95% CI = 0.03-0.9%). Mass treatment with azithromycin is recommended in these provinces. Given the apparent low burden of yaws, integration of yaws and trachoma control programmes is likely to be useful and cost-effective to national programmes.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, Port Vila, Vanuatu.
authors.forename: Fasihah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Taleo
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Department, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.|Sightsavers, Haywards Heath, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Colin K
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8119-8391
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Macleod
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Department, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.|Hospital for Tropical Diseases, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marks
authors.affiliation: Eyecare Department, Ministry of Health, Honiara, Solomon Islands.
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sokana
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Department, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Last
authors.affiliation: Task Force for Global Health, Decatur, GA, United States of America.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Willis
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, Port Vila, Vanuatu.
authors.forename: Mackline
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garae
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Department, Port Vila Central Hospital, Port Vila, Vanuatu.
authors.forename: Annie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bong
authors.affiliation: Task Force for Global Health, Decatur, GA, United States of America.
authors.forename: Brian K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.affiliation: KCCO International, Division of Ophthalmology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Courtright
authors.affiliation: WHO Country Office, World Health Organization, Port Vila, Vanuatu.
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kool
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, Port Vila, Vanuatu.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Taleo
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, Port Vila, Vanuatu.
authors.forename: Jean Jacque
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Rory
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Department, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.|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; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014141:Trachoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009514:Vanuatu / Q000453:epidemiology; D015001:Yaws / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents