Trachoma Rapid Assessments in Venezuela, an Example of the Integration of Data Gathering with Service Delivery in Hard-to-reach Populations

ABSTRACT

a) Purpose

The objective of the study was to assess the presence of trachoma in high priority districts in the Amazon state of Venezuela (the Bolivarian Republic of), and use trachoma data gathering platform to offer integrated primary health care services to underserved hard-to-reach populations living in the border with Colombia.

b) Methods

Trachoma Rapid Assessments (TRA) were conducted in indigenous communities of three municipalities of the Amazonas State of Venezuela from June 2018 to April 2019 using the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Integrated health services were delivered based on the identified needs of the population of the assessed communities.

c) Results

1,185 children aged 1–9 years were examined for trachoma in the three municipalities, of which 6.92% had active trachoma; 994 people 15 years and above were examined for trachomatous trichiasis (TT) finding two cases (0.2%). 1,635 people were examined for other health-related problems and the most common diagnoses were intestinal parasites (54.74%), eye diseases (16.81%), cavities (7.34%), scabies (5.56%), headache (4.40%), and malaria (2.81%); additionally, 2,233 vaccine doses were provided to children and adults to complete vaccination series.

d) Conclusion

The results of the TRA in the Amazon state of Venezuela suggest that trachoma could be a public health problem and standardized population-based surveys to establish the prevalence and determine the interventions to implement are needed.

KEYWORDS:

• Trachoma
• rapid assessments
• neglected diseases
• venezuela

Acknowledgments

Ministry of Popular Power for Health from Venezuela, the Regional Health Directorate of Amazonas State, the Autonomous Service Amazonian Centre for Research and Control of Tropical diseases “Simón Bolivar” (CAICET), local leaders and people of the communities assessed, Superior School of Ophthalmology, Barraquer Institute of America and the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO).

Financial support

This work was supported by the Ministry of Popular Power for Health from Venezuela, the Regional Health Directorate of Amazonas State, Amazonas Centre for Research and Control of Tropical Diseases “Simón Bolivar” (CAICET) of Ministry of Popular Power for Health from Venezuela, and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

Declaration of interest

None of the authors have any proprietary interests or conflicts of interest related to this submission.

This submission has not been published anywhere previously and that it is not simultaneously being considered for any other publication.

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