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Participatory evaluations of trachoma control programmes in eight countries
Hannah Kuper1, Anthony W Solomon, John C Buchan
1London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK. hannah.kuper@lshtm.ac.uk
Tropical Medicine & International Health : TM & IH
|July 28, 2005
Summary
Participatory evaluations of trachoma control programs in eight countries show progress in implementing the SAFE strategy, but scaling up requires more resources and standardized monitoring. Further improvements in surgery, sanitation, and data collection are needed for national coverage.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Public Health
- Global Health
Background:
- Trachoma is a leading cause of preventable blindness globally.
- Effective control programs are crucial for reducing disease burden.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct participatory process evaluations of trachoma control programs in eight countries.
- Assess the implementation of the SAFE strategy (Surgery, Antibiotics, Facial cleanliness, Environmental change).
Main Methods:
- Evaluations involved data collection at central, district, and community levels.
- Methods included interviews, focus groups, questionnaires, direct observation, and data analysis.
Main Results:
- Disease prevalence mapping was incomplete in half of the countries.
- SAFE strategy implementation varied, with insufficient surgeries and inconsistent quality monitoring.
- Antibiotic distribution achieved good coverage, but water and sanitation infrastructure remained inadequate.
- Programme monitoring was generally insufficient across all countries.
Conclusions:
- Significant progress in SAFE strategy implementation was observed.
- Scaling up to national coverage requires increased resources and strategic planning.
- Standardizing assessment, implementation, and monitoring is key for program expansion.