Prevalence of trachoma-related trichiasis and corneal opacity in rural Myanmar: The Meiktila eye study

Abstract

<h4>Objective</h4>To describe the prevalence of trachomatous trichiasis and corneal opacity (CO) within central Myanmar.<h4>Design</h4>Population-based cross-sectional ophthalmic survey.<h4>Participants</h4>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.<h4>Methods</h4>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.<h4>Main outcome measures</h4>Trachoma was graded as trachomatous trichiasis (TT) or CO according to the World Health Organization grading system.<h4>Results</h4>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.<h4>Conclusions</h4>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.