The prevalence of trachoma in primary school children in Mkuranga district coast region, Tanzania: a cross sectional descriptive study in Mkuranga primary schools

Objective: This was a cross-sectional school based study designed to determine the prevalence of trachoma in primary school pupils in Mkuranga district Coast region, Tanzania. Methods: From the second to last week of July 2002, a total of eight primary schools were visited. One thousand, seven hundred and thirty nine (1739) pupils, aged between 5 and 20 years had their eyes examined for signs of trachoma. A World Health Organization grading chart of 1987 was used to assess for trachoma. Facial cleanliness assessment was also made of the pupils examined. In this study, a clean face is defined as one with no eye discharge, nasal discharge or left over food around the mouth. A dirty face was diagnosed if a child had at least one or more of the above clinical appearances. Environmental sanitation was assessed as being fair or poor based on the availability of a water source within the school compound, presence of a latrine and on the presence of a refuse pit. Results: The examined population varied in age from 5 to 20 years, with a mean age of 11.74 years. Males comprised 49.7% whereas females comprised 50.3%. Active trachoma (T.F. and T.I) was diagnosed in 9% of the examined pupils. There were about four times more pupils with T.I (6.2%) than with T.F (2.8%). The prevalence of trachoma significantly decreased with increase in age from 14.8%(5-9years) to 4.7%(15-20years) p=0.00185972. Of the pupils examined 68(3.9%) had dirty faces 55 (12.3%) and 2(0.6%) from the youngest and oldest age groups respectively. Out of those who had a dirty face 15(22.0%) had trachoma. Environmental Sanitation was poor in terms of proximity to water, unavailability of refuse pits and inadequate latrines. Conclusion: The findings suggest that trachoma is present in primary school pupils in Mkuranga district. Active trachoma is associated with dirty faces. The visited schools sanitation is poor.