The Prevalence of Blinding Trachoma in Northern States of Sudan
2011

Mapping Blinding Trachoma in Northern Sudan

Sample size: 106697 publication 10 minutes Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Hassan Awad, Ngondi Jeremiah M., King Jonathan D., Elshafie Balgesa E., Al Ginaid Ghada, Elsanousi Mazin, Abdalla Zeinab, Aziz Nabil, Sankara Dieudonne, Simms Victoria, Cromwell Elizabeth A., Emerson Paul M., Binnawi Kamal H.

Primary Institution: Federal Ministry of Health, Khartoum, Sudan

Hypothesis

What is the prevalence of blinding trachoma in the northern states of Sudan?

Conclusion

The survey findings will help plan and allocate resources for the elimination of trachoma in northern Sudan by 2015.

Supporting Evidence

  • Trachoma prevalence was above 10% in three districts.
  • TT prevalence among adults was above 1% in 20 districts.
  • Overall response rate was 81.6%.

Takeaway

The study looked at how many people in northern Sudan have a serious eye infection called trachoma, which can cause blindness. They found that many people need help to avoid going blind.

Methodology

Population-based cross-sectional surveys were conducted in 88 localities using two-stage cluster random sampling.

Potential Biases

Potential bias due to higher absence rates of adult men during surveys.

Limitations

The desired sample size was not achieved in 32 localities, and some areas could not be surveyed due to security concerns.

Participant Demographics

Mean age of participants was 20.9 years, with 42% male.

Statistical Information

Confidence Interval

95% CI for TT prevalence estimates ranged from 26,125 to 36,955.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pntd.0001027

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