Risk factors for active trachoma and ocular Chlamydia trachomatis infection in treatment-naive trachoma-hyperendemic communities of the Bijagos Archipelago, Guinea Bissau.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Trachoma, caused by ocular infection with Chlamydia trachomatis, is hyperendemic on the Bijagós Archipelago of Guinea Bissau. An understanding of the risk factors associated with active trachoma and infection on these remote and isolated islands, which are atypical of trachoma-endemic environments described elsewhere, is crucial to the implementation of trachoma elimination strategies.

Methodology/principal findings

A cross-sectional population-based trachoma prevalence survey was conducted on four islands. We conducted a questionnaire-based risk factor survey, examined participants for trachoma using the World Health Organization (WHO) simplified grading system and collected conjunctival swab samples for 1507 participants from 293 randomly selected households. DN

SUBMITTER: Last AR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4072588 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature