Trachoma Prevalence in Women Living in Rural Northern India: Rapid Assessment Findings

Abstract

Purpose: Rapid assessment of cicatricial trachoma in adult females aged over 15 years in a previously hyperendemic rural area in Haryana, North India.

Methods: Ten disadvantaged villages each with a population of 3000–5000 were chosen by cluster random sampling. One thousand females, 500 between 15–30 years and the rest over 30 years in the underdeveloped parts of the villages, identified by observation and consultation, were examined for signs of trachomatous scarring (TS), trachomatous trichiasis (TT) and trachomatous corneal opacity (TCO). Examinations of both eyes were performed with the aid of a binocular loupe (2.5x magnification) for signs of trachoma, its complications and other ocular morbidities.

Results: Bilateral examination was carried out in all participants. About two-thirds (n = 650; 65%) of subjects did not have any signs of trachoma. The percentages of trachoma stages TS, TT and TCO were found to be 26.4%, 5.4% and 3.2% respectively. Trichiasis was observed in 54 subjects, all in the age group >30 years, and highest in the age group 66–75 years (22.8%). Females in the age group >30 years had significantly higher cicatricial trachoma compared to females <30 years (p < 0.001). Overall 59.3% of affected females had not received any treatment. Epilation and entropion surgery had been performed in 30.3% and 10.4% of affected females, respectively.

Conclusion: The results of our rapid assessment suggest that the presence of cicatricial trachoma remains an important health issue in females over 15 years of age.

KEYWORDS::

• Trachoma
• Females
• Rapid assessment
• Trichiasis
• Prevalence

Declaration of interest: The authors report no declarations of interest.