Prevalence of trachoma in Pakistan: results of 42 population-based prevalence surveys from the Global Trachoma Mapping Project

Summary

The purpose of this study undertaken in 2015 was to estimate the prevalence of trachoma in 15 suspected-endemic districts of Pakistan. The study divided the 15 districts into 42 rural evaluation units (EUs) and used the standardised methodologies of the Global Trachoma Mapping Project.

Only three of 42 EUs mapped were shown to qualify for public health level deployment of trichiasis surgical services, and only six (different) EUs were shown to qualify for intervention with the A, F, and E components of the SAFE (surgery for trichiasis (in-turned eyelashes), antibiotics, facial cleanliness and environmental improvement) strategy. Because the current outbreak of extremely drug-resistant typhoid in Pakistan limits domestic use of azithromycin mass drug administration, other interventions against active trachoma should be considered.