Understanding the Role of Gender in Trichiasis Case Finding in Tanzania

Figures & data

Table 1. Outcomes of interest for each case finder.

Population covered (# of households, # of adults) Population examined (#/% of households, #/% of adults, % of adult men, % of adult women) People listed as suspect trichiasis cases (#/% of men/women examined) Suspected cases who attended outreach (#/% of male/female suspect trichiasis cases) Suspected cases confirmed as having trichiasis (#/% of male/female suspect cases) Confirmed cases accepting surgery or other intervention (#/% of male/female confirmed cases) Compliance with follow-up consultations at 7–14 days (#/% male/female surgical cases).

Table 2. Study participants recruited.

Categories of participants	Chamwino		Kilindi
	Men	Women	Men	Women
Case findersInterviews Interviews	7	7	13	6
FGDs	6	6	35	10
Community leadersInterviews Interviews	0	8	0	0
FGDs	8	4	19	3
TT surgeonsInterviews Interviews	1	0	0	2
FGDs	0	0	0	0
Programme staff – implementing partnersInterviews Interviews	1	0	2	0
FGDs	0	0	0	0
District NTD/Trachoma staffInterviews Interviews	1	0	1	0
FGDs	0	0	0	0
TT patientsInterviews Interviews	7	7	4	5
FGDs	0	0	0	0
Total	N = 55 (31 men and 24 women)		N = 90 (74 men and 16 women)

Table 3. Descriptive statistics from data from case finder forms and outreach registers.

Data from case finder forms and outreach registries	Chamwino 2016–2022	Kilindi 2021–2022
Number of case finders trained	306 males 73 females	306 males 91 females
Average # of days spent on case finding	Males: 6.8 Females: 6.7	Males: 12.6 Females: 11.8
Average # of households covered	Males: 194.7 Females: 187.5	Males: 99.9 Females: 115
Total # of adults examined (average)	Males: 375.6 Females: 360.7	Males: 212.1 Females: 233.3
# of males suspected TT cases that came to outreach (proportion)	Males: 81% Females: 81%	Males: 89% Females: 91%
# of females suspected TT cases that came to outreach (proportion)	Males: 82% Females: 82%	Males: 91% Females: 89%
# of males operated (proportion) among those recommended for surgery	98%	94%
# of females operated (proportion) among those recommended for surgery	93%	96%
# of operated patients back for 8–14 days follow up	100%	100%

Table 4. Reasons for refusing to be examined by a case finder.

Women who did not want to be examined without their husbands’ consent People who thought that the team was there to secretly administer the COVID-19 vaccine One man refused to be examined because he believed that TT only affects women Some people refused to be examined because they did not believe their eyes had any problem Traditional/Religious beliefs – one male community member who is a known traditional healer refused to be examined; some community members gave the answer “God has examined our eyes already” Some people were concerned that the examination process would be painful.