Survey of Trachoma Prevalence in Rural Communities of Katsina State, North West Nigeria

Trachoma, caused by repeated conjunctival infection with Chlamydia trachomatis, remains an active public health challenge in northern Nigeria despite ongoing elimination efforts. This study surveys the prevalence of trachoma among residents of selected rural communities in Katsina State, North West Nigeria. A community-based cross-sectional design will be adopted. A total of 1,200 individuals across six randomly selected villages in Dutsin-Ma and Ingawa local government areas will be examined. Ophthalmic assessment including examination for follicular trachoma (TF), intense inflammation (TI), trachomatous scarring (TS), trichiasis (TT), and corneal opacity (CO) will be conducted by trained graders using the WHO simplified trachoma grading system. Environmental hygiene data including access to safe water, sanitation facilities, and facial cleanliness practices will also be recorded. Associations between hygiene indicators and trachoma prevalence will be analysed using logistic regression. Recent national surveys indicate Katsina remains among the states with high trichiasis burden, particularly in women and children. This study updates the situational analysis for targeted SAFE strategy implementation, informing the allocation of surgery, antibiotic distribution, facial cleanliness promotion, and environmental improvement interventions. Findings will be disseminated to the Katsina State Ministry of Health and partner organisations including Sightsavers and the Carter Center. Community-level elimination of trachoma requires sustained, data-driven programming informed by local epidemiological evidence such as that generated by this study. Keywords: trachoma, SAFE strategy, Katsina, Chlamydia trachomatis, eye infection