Browsing by Author "Yayemain, D."
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Item Achieving trachoma control in Ghana after implementing the SAFE strategy(2009-10) Yayemain, D.; King, J.D.; Debrah, O.; Emerson, P.M.; Aboe, A.; Ahorsu, F.; Wanye, S.; Ansah, M.O.; Gyapong, J.O.; Hagan, M.The Ghana Health Service plans to eliminate blinding trachoma by 2010 and has implemented the SAFE strategy since 2001. The programme impact was assessed in all endemic districts. A two-stage, cluster random sample of 720 households was selected in each of 18 endemic districts in Upper West and Northern Regions. All eligible residents were examined for trachoma signs. Household environmental risk factors were assessed. In total, 74 225 persons from 12 679 households were examined. Prevalence of trachomatous inflammation-follicular in 1-9 year-old children was 0.84% (95% CI 0.63-1.05, range of point estimates by district 0.14-2.81%) and prevalence of trichiasis in adults aged ≥15 years was 0.31% (95% CI 0.24-0.38, range by district 0.00-1.07%). An estimated 4950 persons have trichiasis, of whom 72.6% are aged ≥60 years and 71.4% are women. Latrines were observed in 11.6% of households and 79.2% of interview respondents reported use of an improved water source. Active trachoma is no longer a public health problem in Ghana after successful implementation of the SAFE strategy. The programme should maintain health education, advocate for improved water and sanitation and focus on providing surgery. Surveillance activities are needed to ensure sustained control.Item Trachoma in Northern Ghana: A need for further studies(2010-12) Gyasi, M.E.; Nsiire, A.; Yayemain, D.; Debrah, O.A.; Asamani, D.; Gyapong, J.; Amoaku, W.M.K.Background: The northern Ghana Upper East Region [UER], Upper West Region [UWR], and Northern Region (NR) lie within the African trachoma belt. The 3 regions share common features of poverty, dryness, dusty environments, and poor environmental hygiene. Trachoma has been identified previously in the NR and the UWR as a disease of public health importance and a control program is underway. Purpose: To establish baseline prevalence and risk factor parameters in the Upper East for possible control of trachoma in the region. Methods: Population-based cross-sectional survey using multi-staged cluster sampling techniques was used. In all 26,323 participants from 4,374 households in 160 communities were examined with a 2.5x magnifying binocular loupe for trachoma; 7,763 were children aged 19 years and 15,191 were aged 15 years and over. Results: Only 3 children were identified with active trachoma (trachoma with follicles, TF=1; trachoma with intense inflammation, TI=2) giving regional prevalence of 0.01% (Confidence Limits, CL: 0.0-0.1) for TF and 0.03% (CL: 0.0-0.1) for TI. Trachomatous trichiasis was measured at 0.05% (CL: 0.0-0.1) while children with clean faces was measured at 95.5%. Only 3.6% of the examined households in the region had access to a toilet facility. Conclusion: Trachoma is not a disease of public health importance in the UER of Ghana despite being in a trachoma endemic zone and sharing the necessary risk factors for the disease. © 2010 Informa Healthcare USA, Inc.