Prevalence of trachoma in indigenous and nonindigenous areas, Northeastern Brazil, 2019-2021/Prevalencia del tracoma en zonas de poblacion indigena y no indigena del nordeste de Brasil, 2019-2021/Prevalencia de tracoma em areas indigenas e nao indigenas, Nordeste do Brasil, 2019-2021

• Published in: Revista panamericana de salud pública 2024-03, Vol.48
• Main Authors: Gomez, Daniela Vaz Ferreira, Zimmermann, Ivan Ricardo, Szwarcwald, Celia Landmann, Almeida, Wanessa da Silva de, Luna, Expedito Jose de Albuquerque, Gutierrez, Maria Margarita Urdaneta, Lopes, Maria de Fatima Costa, Souza, Paulo Roberto Borges de, Junior, Tavares, Noemia Urruth Leao
• Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• Subjects: Disease susceptibility; Disease transmission; Prevalence studies (Epidemiology); Surveys; Trachoma; World health
• ISSN: 1020-4989
• DOI: 10.26633/RPSP.2024.19

Objective. To estimate the prevalence of trachoma in indigenous and non- indigenous populations in selected areas of the state of Maranhao, in northeastern Brazil. Methods. This was a population-based survey with probabilistic sampling. For the diagnosis of trachoma, external ocular examination was performed using head magnifying loupes, at 2.5X magnification. The prevalence of trachomatous inflammation--follicular (TF) in children aged 1-9 years and the prevalence of trachomatous trichiasis (TT) in the population aged [greater than or equal to] 15 years were estimated. Relative frequencies of sociodemographic and environmental characteristics were obtained. Results. The study included 7 971 individuals, 3 429 from non-indigenous populations and 4 542 from indigenous populations. The prevalence of TF in non-indigenous and indigenous populations was 0.1% and 2.9%, respectively, and the prevalence of TT among indigenous populations was 0.1%. Conclusions. The prevalence of TF and TT in the two evaluation units in the state of Maranhao were within the limits recommended for the elimination of trachoma as a public health problem. However, the prevalence of TF was higher in the indigenous evaluation unit, indicating a greater vulnerability of this population to the disease. The prevalence of TF of below 5.0% implies a reduction in transmission, which may have resulted from improved socioeconomic conditions and/or the implementation of the World Health Organization SAFE strategy. Keywords Trachoma; neglected diseases; prevalence; health surveys; Brazil. Objetivo. Estimar la prevalencia del tracoma en poblaciones indigenas y no indigenas en determinadas zonas del estado de Maranhao, en el nordeste de Brasil. Metodos. Se trato de una encuesta de ambito poblacional con muestreo probabilistico. Para el diagnostico del tracoma, se realizo un examen ocular externo con una lupa frontal de 2,5X aumentos. Se estimo la prevalencia de la inflamacion tracomatosa folicular (TF) en la poblacion infantil de 1 a 9 anos y la prevalencia de la triquiasis tracomatosa (TT) en la poblacion de 15 anos o mas. Se obtuvieron las frecuencias relativas de las caracteristicas sociodemograficas y ambientales. Resultados. En el estudio participaron 7 971 personas, 3 429 de poblaciones no indigenas y 4 542 de poblaciones indigenas. La prevalencia de la TF en las poblaciones no indigenas e indigenas fue de 0,1% y 2,9%, respectivamente, en tanto que la de la TT en las poblaciones indigenas fue d