Prevalence of trachoma among school children in Plateau State, Nigeria

3005 primary school children from randomly selected primary schools in Jos and its environ were screened for trachoma. The schools were divided into 3 groups reflecting the socio-economic status, and the degree of personal hygiene of the pupils. The prevalence of trachoma was 7.5% in the group A schools attended by the children of the rich, 15.9% in the group B schools attended by children of the poor but living in the urban town and 19.4% in group C schools attended by children of the poor living in the sub-urban town. The difference in the prevalence and severity of trachoma in the 3 groups was found to be statistically significant (P less than 0.01). Trachoma was found to be more common in freshly scholarised pupils as compared to pupils in the terminal class. There was no difference in the frequency of trachoma among girls and boys in our study group. The type of water used in bathing was not found to be important in the prevalence of trachoma. The authors next discussed the simplicity of the Dawson's classification, the need to start a trachoma control programme in Nigeria and the possible role of community health workers in any programme for the eradication of trachoma.