02772nas a2200385   4500000000100000008004100001260002300042653001800065653001700083653001400100653001300114653001600127653003100143653001500174100001200189700001300201700001500214700001500229700001100244700001400255700001600269700001100285700001300296700001400309700001300323700001500336700001500351700001900366700001900385245006600404856008700470300000900557520179500566022002502361       2024                            d  bInforma UK Limited10aOphthalmology10aEpidemiology10aBlindness10aTrachoma10aElimination10aNeglected tropical disease10aPrevalence1 aIlako D1 aMwatha S1 aWanyama BE1 aGichangi M1 aBore J1 aButcher R1 aBakhtiari A1 aBoyd S1 aWillis R1 aSolomon A1 aWatitu T1 aChelanga D1 aNyakundi P1 aHarding-Esch E1 aMatendechero S00aProgress Towards Elimination of Trachoma in Kenya 2017–2020  uhttps://www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10.1080/09286586.2023.2280987?needAccess=true  a1-113 a<p id="d1e322"><strong>Purpose: </strong>Trachoma is endemic in Kenya. Since baseline trachoma surveys in 2004, a concerted programme has been undertaken to reduce the prevalence of disease. Here, we report on trachoma prevalence surveys carried out between 2017 and 2020 after interventions were implemented in some areas for trachoma elimination purposes.</p>

<p id="d1e325"><strong>Methods:&nbsp;</strong>A total of 48 cross-sectional population-based trachoma prevalence surveys were conducted in 39 evaluation units (EUs; covering 45 subcounties) of Kenya between 2017 and 2020. Thirty EUs were surveyed once and nine EUs were surveyed twice over this period. Individuals ≥ 1 year old were assessed for trachomatous inflammation–follicular (TF), trachomatous inflammation–intense (TI) and trichiasis. Data were collected on household access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).</p>

<p id="d1e328"><strong>Results:&nbsp;</strong>A total of 147,573 people were examined. At the end of 2020, in the 39 EUs surveyed, the prevalence of TF in 1–9-year-olds was ≥5% in 11 EUs and the prevalence of trichiasis unknown to the health system in individuals aged ≥15 years was ≥0.2% in 25 EUs. A small minority of households (median &lt;50% for all indicators) had access to improved WASH facilities.</p>

<p id="d1e331"><strong>Conclusion:&nbsp;</strong>Kenya has made excellent progress towards elimination of trachoma as a public health problem. However, there is more work to do. Between one and three rounds of antibiotic mass drug administration are required in 11 EUs. Sustained investment in surgical provision, continued TT case-finding, promotion of facial cleanliness and environmental improvement are required throughout the surveyed area.</p>
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