Browsing by Author "Gomile, Godfrey Evart"

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    The prevalence of trachoma and related factors: its complications in Dodoma District Primary School Children
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 1980) Gomile, Godfrey Evart
    The study was carried out in May 1980 in 1,344 primary school children in the 5-19 year age group. The total prevalence of active trachoma in all age groups is 7.1% with higher prevalence in the 5-9 year age group (13.7%) followed by the 10-14 year age group (6.7%). The total prevalence of healed trachoma is 18.4%, a higher prevalence of 19.6% is observed in the 15-19 year age group. The prevalence of total trachoma (active healed cases), is 25.4% with a prevalence of 26.3% in the under 15 year age group and of 20.6% in the over 15 year age group. Results reflect a significant decline in acute trachoma and an increase in healed trachoma between 1968 and 1980 in the under 15 years. Overall, no change is found in the prevalence of healed or total trachoma. No case of economic blindness was found in the study and there is evidence supporting the fact that trichiasis starts in the early school age group. It was not possible to evaluate the impairment of vision due to trachoma. The survey also shows that the prevalence of total trachoma is significantly less in schools with an attached water system than in schools without . it is concluded from this study that the previous anti-trachoma programme implemented in 1968 was not very effective in terms of reducing the prevalence of trachoma. Trachoma still remains to be a public health problem amongst the school children in Dodoma district.