Prevalence of trachoma and risk factors for disease in Benue State, Nigeria

Background: Trachoma is a common contagious bacterial eye infection caused by Chlamydia trachomatis serovariants A, B, Ba or C. It is the leading infectious cause of blindness worldwide and is responsible for about 3% of global blindness. World Health Organization (WHO) reports suggest that of the 2.2 million people who have been rendered visually impaired worldwide by trachoma, 1.2 million are irreversibly blind while an additional 7.3 million people are suffering from trachomatous trichiasis (TT) and are at risk of developing blindness. According to WHO 2007 reports, globally about 84 million people suffer from active trachoma while an estimated 299 million people still live in trachoma endemic districts. In order to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem, The Global Trachoma Mapping Project (GTMP) was initiated on 23 July 2012 as a first step in generating population-level prevalence estimates of the disease so as to determine the need for intervention. Between 2013 and 2015, the GTMP mapped suspected endemic districts including Benue state of Nigeria. This current study took advantage of this data to generate prevalence information on Trachomatous inflammation Follicular (TF) and Trichiasis for Benue state and to describe the some of the household risk factors associated with the disease. The thesis is structured in three parts 0(Preamble), A (Protocol), B (Literature Review), C (Article) and D (Appendix). Methods: A two-stage cluster random sampling technique was utilized in a population based prevalence survey to generate estimates for TF and Trichiasis. Results: Overall unadjusted prevalence of TF among persons 1-9 years was 2.00% (95% CI: 1.20 – 2.98) and that of trichiasis among persons ≥15 years was 0.11% (95% CI 0.06 – 0.12). Trichiasis was more prevalent among adult women 0.05% (95% CI: 0.03 – 0.07) compared to males 0.03 % (95% CI: 0.02 – 0.05), (p=0.13). LGA-level prevalence of TF and Trichiasis among persons 1-9 years and persons ≥15 years ranged from 0.30% (95% CI: 0.1–0.5) to 5.30% (95% CI: 3.30–7.70) and 0.00% to 0.35% (95% CI: 0.12–0.50) respectively. Two LGAs had trichiasis prevalence above 0.2%. TF prevalence was between 5% and 9.9% in 2 LGAs. The common risk factors identified included age, sex, inaccessibility to water and latrine facility. Adults ≥15 years were 8.94(95%CI: 2.79 – 29.64) times more likely to have trichiasis compared to persons between 1-9 years of age. Conclusion: Trachoma was found to be a public health problem in 3 LGAs of Benue state. One round of mass antibiotic distribution will be required in 2 LGAs. With an estimated trichiasis backlog of 1,064, about 173 individuals with trichiasis needed to be managed to reduce the prevalence to less than the elimination threshold

Ophthalmic Anthropometry among Rural Dwellers in Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe

Introduction The measures of ophthalmic anthropometric parameters may vary among races and ethnic groups but are of immense importance in clinical diagnosis and management of oculo-visual defects. There is paucity of data on these measures among the Zimbabwean population. Purpose  The aim was to determine ophthalmic anthropometric parameters among rural dwellers in Zimbabwe. Methods Six ophthalmic anthropometric parameters including interpupillary distance (IPD), head width (HW), temple width (TW), length to bend (LTB), and apical radius were measured using a pupillometer, PD rule, Head width calipers, Fairbank facial gauge, and ABDO frame rule. Results A total of 471 participants aged 18 to 100 years (mean age = 55.13; SD± 17.33 years). Of the 471 participants, 206 (43.7%) were males and 265 (56.3%) were females. A mean interpupillary distance at far was 65.57 ± 4.80 mm, mean temple width of 12.49 ± 1.53 cm, mean head width of 13.61 ± 1.39 cm and a side length to bend of 10.24 ± 1.20 cm and the apical radius was 9.94 ± 1.37. There was a significant (P < 0.05) difference between the ophthalmic anthropometric parameters of males and females except for temple width and apical radius. Conclusion A narrower interpupillary distance but a wider temple width was observed among adult Zimbabweans. A significant difference in ophthalmic anthropometric parameters between males and females were observed except for temple width and apical radius. This should inform eyewear manufacturers and importers of frames on the facial and ocular parameters of Zimbabweans to improve the aesthetics and ensure a comfortable vision for wearers of already-made near vision spectacles for presbyopes. Rwanda J Med Health Sci 2021;4(1):99-11

Clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of glaucoma patients at a tertiary referral facility in Zimbabwe

PurposeTo evaluate the clinical and socio-demographic profile of patients living with glaucoma and receiving care in a tertiary eye center in Zimbabwe.MethodA hospital-based retrospective study of clinical records of glaucoma patients from January 2014 to December 2018. The study involved collating demographic information of patients, visual acuities, (VA) intraocular pressure, (IOP), cup-to-disc ratios, (CDRs), average retinal nerve fibers thickness, (RNFL), cup volume, cup-to-disc area, vertical cup-to-disc ratio, (VCDR), rim area, disc area, glaucoma hemifield test, visual field indices and the management of glaucoma.ResultsNine thousand one hundred and eighty-five (9,185) folders were retrieved. Out of these, 432 (4.7%) qualified for the study and were analyzed. There were 267 (61.8%) males and 165 (38.2%) females. The mean age (± Standard deviation, SD) of the patients was 62.66 ± 15.94 years, (range 10 - 110 years). The means visual acuity (VA): OD =1.30 ± 1.06 Logarithm of the Minimum Angle of Resolution, (logMAR), OS = 1.33 ± 1.06 logMAR; IOP: OD = 29.51 ± 12.89 mmHg, OS: 29.17 ± 12.59 mmHg; CDRs: OD = 0.91 ± 0.14 D, OS = 0.92 ± 0.14 D; and the average RNFL thickness was 72.76 ± 18.26 µm and 71.24 ± 23.17 µm in the right and left eye respectively. The mainstay of treatment was medication only. ConclusionThere were more males than females receiving glaucoma care at the tertiary level. Glaucoma cases included juveniles but the mean age was mostly the elderly. It was characterized by high IOPs, large CDRs, and thin RNFL suggestive of late presentation

Prevalence of Trachoma and Access to Water and Sanitation in Benue State, Nigeria: Results of 23 Population-Based Prevalence Surveys.

PURPOSE: We sought to determine the prevalence of trachoma in each local government area (LGA) of Benue State, Nigeria. METHODS: Two-stage cluster sampling was used to conduct a series of 23 population-based prevalence surveys. LGAs were the evaluation units surveyed. In each LGA, 25 households were selected in each of 25 clusters, and individuals aged 1 year and above resident in those households were invited to be examined for trachoma. Data on access to water and sanitation were also collected at household level. RESULTS: A total of 91,888 people were examined from among 93,636 registered residents across the 23 LGAs. The LGA-level prevalence of trachomatous inflammation-follicular (TF) in 1-9 year olds ranged from 0.3% to 5.3%. Two LGAs had TF prevalences of 5.0-9.9%. The LGA-level prevalence of trichiasis in ≥15-year-olds ranged from 0.0% to 0.35%. Access to improved drinking water sources ranged from 0% in Gwer West to 99% in Tarka, while access to improved sanitation ranged from 1% in Gwer West to 92% in Oturkpo. CONCLUSION: There is a need for public health-level interventions against trachoma in three LGAs of Benue State

Motion adaptation-Experiment 1

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Motion adaptation-Experiment 2

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Scope of optometry practice in Trinidad and Tobago: A cross‐sectional study

Abstract Background and Aim To report the scope of optometry practice in Trinidad and Tobago to identify areas that need improvement. Methods A cross‐sectional study of optometrists in Trinidad and Tobago was conducted using a validated self‐structured questionnaire. Data obtained was exported to the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Descriptive analysis and Pearson χ2 were used to summarize the demographic data and determine associations, respectively. Result A total of 63 optometrists participated in the study. Majority of them were females (69.8%, n = 44), Christians (65.1%), East Indians (47.6%), and 30 years and below (66.7%). Most (87%) of them utilized routine optometric equipment in their clinical practice including autorefractors, retinoscopes, direct ophthalmoscopes, lensometers, phoropters, slit lamp biomicroscopes, trial lens boxes, and visual acuity chart projectors. A few of them have noncontact tonometer (4.8%), Volk lenses (1.6%), and perform color vision tests (1.6%). Fewer (12.7%, n = 8) practitioners provided low‐vision services. The use of pharmaceutical agents was prevalent among the participants (55.6%). Additionally, the provision of contact lenses was the most frequently practiced service among the participants (85.7%, n = 54). A significant association was observed between the provision of low‐vision services and sex (p = 0.03). Conclusion The scope of optometry practice in Trinidad and Tobago is in accordance with the basic guidelines set out by the World Council of Optometry but there is need to get more involved in the provision of low vision and other specialty services

Prevalence of Trachoma and Access to Water and Sanitation in Benue State, Nigeria: Results of 23 Population-Based Prevalence Surveys.

PurposeWe sought to determine the prevalence of trachoma in each local government area (LGA) of Benue State, Nigeria.MethodsTwo-stage cluster sampling was used to conduct a series of 23 population-based prevalence surveys. LGAs were the evaluation units surveyed. In each LGA, 25 households were selected in each of 25 clusters, and individuals aged 1 year and above resident in those households were invited to be examined for trachoma. Data on access to water and sanitation were also collected at household level.ResultsA total of 91,888 people were examined from among 93,636 registered residents across the 23 LGAs. The LGA-level prevalence of trachomatous inflammation-follicular (TF) in 1-9 year olds ranged from 0.3% to 5.3%. Two LGAs had TF prevalences of 5.0-9.9%. The LGA-level prevalence of trichiasis in ≥15-year-olds ranged from 0.0% to 0.35%. Access to improved drinking water sources ranged from 0% in Gwer West to 99% in Tarka, while access to improved sanitation ranged from 1% in Gwer West to 92% in Oturkpo.ConclusionThere is a need for public health-level interventions against trachoma in three LGAs of Benue State