Tropical Data: approach and methodology as applied to trachoma prevalence surveys

Summary

Population-based prevalence surveys are essential for decision-making on interventions to achieve trachoma elimination as a public health problem. Tropical Data supports health ministries to conduct globally standardised prevalence surveys that conform to World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations. Founding principles are health ministry ownership, partnership and collaboration, and quality assurance and quality control at every step of the process.

Between 29th February 2016 and 24th April 2023, Tropical Data supported 3,373 trachoma surveys, examining >10.8 million people, across 50 countries. Flexibility to meet specific country contexts, adaptation to changes in global guidance and adjustments in response to user feedback have facilitated innovation in evidence-based methodologies and supported health ministries to strive for global elimination targets.