Tropical Data: Approach and Methodology as Applied to Trachoma Prevalence Surveys.

Purpose: Population-based prevalence surveys are essential for decision-making on interventions to achieve trachoma elimination as a public health problem. This paper outlines the methodologies of Tropical Data, which supports work to undertake those surveys.

Methods: Tropical Data is a consortium of partners that supports health ministries worldwide to conduct globally standardised prevalence surveys that conform to World Health Organization recommendations.

Prevalence of visual impairment among school children in three primary schools of Sekela Woreda, Amhara regional state, north-west Ethiopia.

Background: Although there are limited studies, recent data are lacking to determine the prevalence of eye problems in Ethiopia accurately and there is no scientific evidence of such study in Sekela Woreda. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of visual impairment among school children in Sekela Woreda, Ethiopia.

Methods: The study design was a community-based analytical cross-sectional with a multi-stage cluster random sampling technique from September to November 2016.

Prevalence of trachoma in the Afar Region of Ethiopia: results of seven population-based surveys from the Global Trachoma Mapping Project.

Purpose: Trachoma is to be eliminated as a public health problem by 2020. To help the process of planning interventions where needed, and to provide a baseline for later comparison, we set out to complete the map of trachoma in Afar, Ethiopia, by estimating trachoma prevalence in evaluation units (EUs) of grouped districts ("woredas").

Methods: We conducted seven community-based surveys from August to October 2013, using standardised Global Trachoma Mapping Project (GTMP) survey methodologies.

Prevalence of Trachoma in 47 Administrative Districts of Zambia: Results of 32 Population-Based Prevalence Surveys.

Purpose: A number of previous administrative-district-level baseline trachoma prevalence estimates in Zambia required verification. We used methodologies and systems for trachoma surveys considered to represent international best practice in order to generate reliable estimates of the prevalence of trachoma.

Methods: Between March 2016 and July 2017, we undertook 32 population-based prevalence surveys covering 47 administrative districts.

Optimising age adjustment of trichiasis prevalence estimates using data from 162 standardised surveys from seven regions of Ethiopia.

Purpose: The prevalence of trichiasis is higher in females and increases markedly with age. Surveys carried out in the daytime, particularly in developing countries, are prone to find older individuals and females at home at the time of the survey. Population-level trichiasis estimates should adjust sample proportions to reflect the demographic breakdown of the population, although the most accurate method of doing this is unclear.

Prevalence of color blindness among school children in three primary schools of Gish -Abay town district, Amhara regional state, north-west Ethiopia.

Background: Although there are limited studies, recent data are lacking to accurately determine the magnitude of color blindness in Ethiopia and there is no evidence of such a study in Gish Abay town district. The purpose of thie study was to assess the prevalence of color blindness among school children in Gish Abaya town district, Ethiopia.

Methods: The study used a community-based analytical cross-sectional study design with multistage cluster random sampling technique from September to October 2016.

Prevalence of Trachoma in Benishangul Gumuz Region, Ethiopia: Results of Seven Population-Based Surveys from the Global Trachoma Mapping Project.

Purpose: Trachoma is a major cause of blindness in Ethiopia, and targeted for elimination as a public health problem by the year 2020. Prevalence data are needed to plan interventions. We set out to estimate the prevalence of trachoma in each evaluation unit of grouped districts ("woredas") in Benishangul Gumuz region, Ethiopia.

Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Trachoma in Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region, Ethiopia: Results of 40 Population-Based Prevalence Surveys Carried Out with the Global Trachoma Mapping Project.

Purpose: We sought to estimate the prevalence of trachoma at sufficiently fine resolution to allow elimination interventions to begin, where required, in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region (SNNPR) of Ethiopia.

Methods: We carried out cross-sectional population-based surveys in 14 rural zones. A 2-stage cluster randomized sampling technique was used.

Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Trachoma in Oromia Regional State of Ethiopia: Results of 79 Population-Based Prevalence Surveys Conducted with the Global Trachoma Mapping Project.

Purpose: To complete the baseline trachoma map in Oromia, Ethiopia, by determining prevalences of trichiasis and trachomatous inflammation - follicular (TF) at evaluation unit (EU) level, covering all districts (woredas) without current prevalence data or active control programs, and to identify factors associated with disease.

Methods: Using standardized methodologies and training developed for the Global Trachoma Mapping Project, we conducted cross-sectional community-based surveys from December 2012 to July 2014.

Results: Teams visited 46,244 households in 2037 clusters from 252 woredas (79 EUs).

Bacteriological study of dacryocystitis among patients attending in Menelik II Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Background: Dacryocystitis usually results from blockage of the nasolacrimal duct. The treatment of such obstruction is surgery. There is a fivefold risk of soft tissue infection after open lacrimal surgery without systemic antibiotic prophylaxis that represents a significant risk of failure in lacrimal surgery.

Outcome of external dacryocystorhinostomy in Ethiopian patients.

Background: An imbalance between tear production and drainage results in epiphora, which is an annoying symptom embarrassing the patient socially and functionally. The two widely accepted modalities of treatment for nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO) are external dacryocystorhinostomy (EDCR) and endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy. EDCR is the mainstay of treatment of NLDO and it remains to be the gold standard with which all other methods must be compared.

Modified grading system for upper eyelid trachomatous trichiasis.

Aim: This study was conducted to determine the level of inter-observer agreement in the modified grading scheme for trichiasis of the upper eyelid.

Methods: A grading system that covers the entire spectrum of trachomatous trichiasis, extending from the simple to the severe forms, was initially developed by the first and second authors and field-tested. The grading scheme recognizes three levels of severity, based on deviation of the lid margin (TT1, TT2 and TT3); and four anatomical locations indicating where the eyelashes touch the globe in TT1 (nasal, central, temporal, or combined).

A randomized clinical trial of the success rates of bilamellar tarsal rotation and tarsotomy for upper eyelid trachomatous trichiasis.

A randomized clinical trial study was conducted to compare the success rates of two surgical methods: Bilamellar Tarsal Rotation (BTR) and Tarsotomy (Transverse Tarsotomy and lid margin Rotation = TTR) for trachomatous trichiasis of the upper lid; where success was defined as no lash/eyeball contact in all positions of gaze, complete lid closure, no under or over correction. The study was conducted at Minellik II Hospital, Addis Ababa. Two hundred fifty six upper eyelids of 153 patients with entropion/trichiasis related to trachoma were enrolled in the two groups.

Accidentally discovered large metallic intra-orbital foreign body.

A 6.2 cm long and 2.7 cm thick metallic foreign body was accidentally found and removed from a 62 years old man.