03037nas a2200457   4500000000100000008004100001653001300042653001700055653003000072653001500102653001600117653001800133653001100151653001100162653003400173653001800207653001400225653003500239653002000274653002700294653002100321653001200342653002100354653001000375653001400385653000900399653001000408653001500418100001300433700001400446700001200460700001600472700001200488700001300500245004900513856007300562300001000635490000700645520191300652022001402565       2005                            d10aTrachoma10aRisk Factors10aPublic Health Informatics10aPrevalence10aMiddle Aged10aMaps as Topic10aInfant10aHumans10aHealth Services Accessibility10aGlobal health10aGeography10aGeographic Information Systems10aEyelid Diseases10aEnvironmental Exposure10aCluster Analysis10aClimate10aChild, Preschool10aChild10aBlindness10aAged10aAdult10aAdolescent1 aPolack S1 aBrooker S1 aKuper H1 aMariotti SP1 aMabey D1 aFoster A00aMapping the global distribution of trachoma.  uhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2626493/pdf/16462983.pdf  a913-90 v833 a<p><strong>OBJECTIVE: </strong>We aimed to summarize and map the existing global population-based data on active trachoma and trichiasis. Detailed distribution maps of various infectious diseases have proved a valuable tool in their control. Such maps play an important role in assessing the magnitude of the problem, defining priority areas for control, monitoring changes, and advocacy. Until now, information on trachoma prevalence at within country levels has not been systematically collated, analysed and reported.</p>

<p><strong>METHODS: </strong>We gathered the last 18 years' worth of reported data on active trachoma in children aged less than 10 years, and the last 25 years of reported trichiasis in adults aged 15 years and over from 139 population-based surveys in 33 countries. We collated these data into one database using the "district" (second administrative level) as the standard unit of reporting. We used Geographical Information Systems as a database and cartographic tool to generate a global map of the prevalence of trachoma and trichiasis.</p>

<p><strong>FINDINGS: </strong>We obtained data on active trachoma and trichiasis from 18 countries in the WHO African Region, 6 in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, 3 in the South-East Asia Region, 3 in the Western Pacific Region and 2 in the Region of the Americas. In 23 countries suspected of having endemic trachoma no reliable district-level population-based data were available. In China and India, data were limited to a few districts. The data highlighted important regional differences and marked national variations in prevalence of active trachoma and trichiasis.</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSION: </strong>This is the first attempt to summarize and map the existing population-based data on active trachoma and trichiasis. The lack of data in many countries remains an important obstacle to trachoma control efforts.</p>
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