Completion of Baseline Trachoma Mapping in Malawi: Results of Eight Population-Based Prevalence Surveys Conducted with the Global Trachoma Mapping Project

Figures & data

Table 1. Sex distribution of examined individuals, Global Trachoma Mapping Project, Malawi phase two, 2014–2015.

Sex	Total, n (%)	Children 1–9 years, n (%)	Adults 15+ years, n (%)
Male	12,633 (45.50)	5230 (49.79)	5440 (41.31)
Female	15,132 (54.50)	5275 (50.11)	7728 (58.69)
Total	27,765 (100)	10,505 (100)	13,168 (100)

Figure 1. Map of Malawi showing regions and districts.

Table 2. List of all districts in Malawi not mapped for trachoma prior to May 2014, and action taken, Global Trachoma Mapping Project, Malawi phase two, 2014–2015.

Region	District	Population^a, N	Additional information received	Action taken
North	1. Mzimba north	261,332	Adjacent to Zambia districts with TF >10%	Changed to suspected endemic and mapped
	2. Mzimba south	572,079	Borders Kasungu, which had TF >10%	Changed to suspected endemic and mapped
	3. Nkhatabay and Likoma^b	251,477	Adjacent to Malawi district with TF >10%	Changed to suspected endemic and mapped
	4. Rumphi	197,200	Adjacent to Zambia districts with TF >10%	Changed to suspected endemic and mapped
	5. Karonga	318,098	Adjacent to Tanzania districts with TF >10%	Changed to suspected endemic and mapped
	6. Chitipa	208,815	Adjacent to Tanzania districts with TF >10%	Changed to suspected endemic and mapped
Central	7. Dedza	727,396	Adjacent to Malawi and Mozambique districts with TF >10%	Changed to suspected endemic and mapped
South	8. Mulanje	612,699	Adjacent to Mozambique districts with TF >10%	Changed to suspected endemic and mapped
	9. Blantyre	1,040,652	Not adjacent to any district in which trachoma is a public health problem	Suspected non-endemic; not mapped
	10. Thyolo	658,085	Not adjacent to any district in which trachoma is a public health problem	Suspected non-endemic; not mapped
	11. Chirazulu	339,271	Not adjacent to any district in which trachoma is a public health problem	Suspected non-endemic; not mapped

^aCalculated based on projections from 2008 census figures.¹⁶

^bLikoma is an island with a resident population of 11,859; it was mapped in an evaluation unit with Nkhatabay rather than as a separate evaluation unit, even though it is administratively recognized as a separate district.

TF, trachomatous inflammation–follicular.

Table 3. Prevalences of trachomatous inflammation–follicular (TF) in 1–9-year-old children, and trichiasis in the whole population, Global Trachoma Mapping Project, Malawi phase two, 2014–2015.

Region	District	TF in children 1–9 years, % (95% CI)	Trichiasis in population/1000, (95% CI)	Final status after mapping
North	1. Mzimba north	1.6 (0.3–3.2)	0.9 (0.1–2.2)	Trachoma not a public health problem
	2. Mzimba south	4.3 (2.4–6.8)	0.7 (0.2–1.5)	Trachoma not a public health problem
	3. Nkhatabay and Likoma^a	2.8 (1.1–4.6)	0.7 (0.2–1.3)	Trachoma not a public health problem
	4. Rumphi	2.1 (1.1–3.3)	0.6 (0.1–1.3)	Trachoma not a public health problem
	5. Karonga	4.1 (2.6–6.2)	2.2 (1.2–3.3)	Trichiasis above threshold for elimination
	6. Chitipa	1.4 (0.3–2.7)	0.0 (0.0–0.4)	Trachoma not a public health problem
Central	7. Dedza	6.3 (4.5–8.6)	0.0 (0.0–0.4)	TF above threshold for elimination
South	8. Mulanje	2.1 (0.8–3.9)	0.0 (0.0–0.0)	Trachoma not a public health problem

^aLikoma is an island with a resident population of 11,859. It was mapped in an evaluation unit with Nkhatabay rather than as a separate evaluation unit, even though it is administratively recognized as a separate district.

Bold text: needs program intervention.

CI, confidence interval.

Figure 2. Prevalence of trachomatous inflammation–follicular (TF), Malawi.

Figure 3. Prevalence of trichiasis, Malawi.

International Coalition for Trachoma Control. The end in Sight: 2020 INSIGHT. Atlanta: International Coalition for Trachoma Control, 2011.

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