Prevalence of trachoma-related trichiasis and corneal opacity in rural Myanmar: the Meiktila Eye Study.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To describe the prevalence of trachomatous trichiasis and corneal opacity (CO) within central Myanmar.

DESIGN:

Population-based cross-sectional ophthalmic survey.

PARTICIPANTS:

Random, stratified, cluster sampling of the inhabitants > or =40 years of age from villages in the Meiktila District was performed; 2481 eligible participants were identified and 2076 participated in the study.

METHODS:

Visual acuity was measured using an E Snellen chart at 6 meters. Lid, ocular surface, and anterior segment examinations were performed at the slit lamp.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Trachoma was graded as trachomatous trichiasis (TT) or CO according to the World Health Organization grading system.

RESULTS:

The population prevalence of trachoma (TT and CO) was 2.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]. 1.67%-3.42%). For every 1-year increase in age, the odds of trachoma increased by 5.3% (95% CI, 4.9%-5.7%). There was no significant effect of gender on the prevalence of trachoma (P = 0.5). No formal schooling was a strong predictor of trachoma (odds ratio, [OR], 4.9; 95% CI, 3.9-6.1), and having <3 children in the house was protective (OR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.61-0.93); however, neither occupation nor the number of people in a household had an effect on trachoma.

CONCLUSIONS:

The prevalence of blinding trachoma in central Myanmar remains relatively low. This is a tribute to the success of the Burma Trachoma Control Program and demonstrates the need for such a program to remain an integral part of public health care and community health services to further diminish the prevalence of this condition. This will be facilitated by a focus on trachoma risk factors and further research into the prevalence of inflammatory trachoma within the pediatric population.

• Authors: Shane R Durkin, Robert J Casson, Henry S Newland, Than H Aung, Win K Shein, James S Muecke, Dinesh Selva, Than Aung
• Journal: Ophthalmology (Ophthalmology) Vol. 114 Issue 5 Pg. e7-11 (May 2007) ISSN: 1549-4713 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 17467521 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Adult
• Age Distribution
• Aged
• Blindness (epidemiology)
• Corneal Opacity (diagnosis, epidemiology)
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Eyelashes
• Female
• Hair Diseases (diagnosis, epidemiology)
• Health Surveys
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Myanmar (epidemiology)
• Odds Ratio
• Prevalence
• Rural Population (statistics & numerical data)
• Sex Distribution
• Trachoma (diagnosis, epidemiology)
• Visual Acuity