A study to confirm persistence/recrudescence of trachoma and understand factors facilitating ongoing transmission in six districts of Oromia and SNPP regions of Ethiopia

This research study is part of a six-country portfolio of operational research from the Coalition for Operational Research on neglected tropical diseases (CORNTD)/International Trachoma Initiative (iTi) on tailored endgame strategies for persistent and recrudescent active trachoma. With leadership from country programmes, Sightsavers supported the research studies in Ethiopia, Kenya and Nigeria.

Primary research question:

• Is there concordance in the trachoma follicular (TF) infection and serology data (at EU level) in confirming persistence and/or recrudescence of trachoma and the need for on-going interventions?

Secondary research questions:

• How does TF, anti-Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) antibody and infection data correlate at cluster level and what implications does this have for targeting programmatic interventions?
• Are there treatment coverage, geographic, demographic and WASH factors that are correlated with higher pgp3 antibody, Ct infection and/or TF prevalence that could inform more effective program interventions?
• Are there sociocultural and behavioural factors that are associated with higher TF prevalence that could inform more effective programme interventions?

• Read more about our study in Kenya
• Read more about our study in Nigeria