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Trachoma in Indigenous Settlements in Brazil, 2000-2008
Helen Selma de Abreu Freitas1, Norma Helen Medina2, Maria de Fátima Costa Lopes1
1a Trachoma Control Program , Ministry of Health , Brazil.
Ophthalmic Epidemiology
|May 5, 2016
Summary
Trachoma, an infectious eye disease, significantly impacts indigenous communities in Brazil, particularly children. Urgent public health programs are needed to eliminate this leading cause of avoidable blindness.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Trachoma, caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, is a chronic inflammatory eye condition.
- It is the leading infectious cause of preventable blindness globally.
- Prevalence is higher in low socioeconomic and indigenous populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the epidemiological profile of trachoma in indigenous communities in Brazil.
- To highlight the public health significance of trachoma in these populations.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of surveillance and screening data from indigenous settlements in Brazil (2000-2008).
- Ocular examinations using the World Health Organization simplified trachoma grading system.
- Inclusion of data from 9582 individuals across six states and 2301 schoolchildren in two states.
Main Results:
- Follicular trachomatous inflammation (TF) prevalence was 35.2% in children aged 1-9 years.
- Trachomatous trichiasis (TT) prevalence was 1.2% in individuals aged ≥15 years (1.6% in females, 0.8% in males).
- TF prevalence was 4.9% in schoolchildren aged 5-9 years in a two-state survey.
Conclusions:
- Trachoma represents a significant public health issue in Brazilian indigenous settlements.
- These communities require priority in national trachoma elimination strategies.
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