- Trachoma program coverage
- Screening coverage
- Clean face prevalence
- Trachoma prevalence
- Treatment delivery and coverage
- Trichiasis
- Health promotion
Northern Territory results - Figures
- Figure 2.1 Trachoma prevalence in children aged 5-9 years, number of communities that were screened, treated or both for trachoma and number of at-risk communities in the Northern Territory, 2013
- Figure 2.2 Number of communities at risk, by region, in the Northern Territory, 2007-2013
- Figure 2.3 Number of at-risk communities by region, according to trachoma control strategy implemented, Northern Territory, 2013
- Figure 2.4 Population screening coverage of children aged 5-9 years in communities that required screening for trachoma, by region, in the Northern Territory, 2013
- Figure 2.5 Proportion of screened children aged 5-9 years who had a clean face, by region, in the Northern Territory, 2007-2013
- Figure 2.6a Trachoma prevalence among children aged 5-9 years in communities that were screened, by region, in the Northern Territory, 2007–2013
- Figure 2.6b Trachoma prevalence among children aged 5-9 years, by region, in the Northern Territory with projected values, 2007–2013
- Figure 2.7 Number of at-risk communities according to level of trachoma prevalence in 5-9-year-old children, by region, in the Northern Territory in 2013
- Figure 2.8 Communities according to number of years of trachoma prevalence under 5%, by region, in the Northern Territory, 2013
- Figure 2.9 Number of doses of azithromycin administered for the treatment of trachoma, by region, in the Northern Territory, 2007–2013
Northern Territory results -Tables
- Table 2.1 Trachoma control delivery in the Northern Territory in 2013
- Table 2.2 Trachoma screening coverage, trachoma prevalence and clean face prevalence in children (0-14 years old) in the Northern Territory in 2013
- Table 2.3 Treatment strategies by region in the Northern Territory in 2013
- Table 2.4 Trachoma treatment coverage in the Northern Territory in 2013
- Table 2.5 Trichiasis screening coverage, prevalence and treatment among Aboriginal adults aged over 40 years in the Northern Territory in 2013
- Table 2.6 Health promotion activities by region in the Northern Territory in 2013
Summary
Top of pageTrachoma program coverage
- In 2013, the NT identified 80 communities in five regions as being at risk of trachoma (Table 2.1).
- Of 80 at-risk communities, 42 communities were determined to require screening for trachoma and a further 18 communities were identified as requiring treatment without screening (see methodology) leading to a total of 60 communities were determined to require screening, treatment or both screening and treatment for trachoma (Table 2.1).
- Of these 61 communities, 47 received screening, treatment or both screening and treatment according to the guidelines (Table 2.1, Table 2.3).
- The remaining 20 at-risk communities did not require screening or treatment as their previous year’s prevalence was under 5% (see methodology section).
- In some regions, the NT did not conduct screening or treatment according to the guidelines due to financial and human resource constraints.
Screening coverage
- In 2013, the NT identified 42 communities in the five regions requiring screening for trachoma and, of these, 30 were screened for trachoma (Table 2.1).
- Barkly region had the highest community screening coverage with all 12 communities requiring screening being screened (Table 2.1).
- Katherine region had the lowest community screening coverage with only 3 communities screened of the 13 communities requiring screening (Table 2.1).
- The proportion of children aged 5-9 years screened in the 30 communities was 81%, ranging from 67% in East Arnhem region, to 94% in Katherine region (Table 2.2, Figure 2.4).
Clean face prevalence
- Clean face prevalence was assessed in all communities that were screened.
- The overall prevalence of clean faces among 5-9-year-old children in the screened communities was 78%, ranging from 40% in Alice Springs Remote region, to 83% in the East Arnhem Region (Table 2.2, Figure 2.5).
Trachoma prevalence
- The prevalence of trachoma in children aged 5-9 years screened in 2013 was 2.4%. Prevalence ranged from 0.9% in Darwin Rural region to 7.6% in Alice Springs Remote region (Table 2.2, Figure 2.6a).
- Projecting from the previous year's data in communities that did not screen due to new guideline implementation (see methodology), the prevalence of trachoma was 5%, ranging from 1.4% in East Arnhem region to 10% in Alice Springs Remote region (Table 2.2, Figure 2.6b).
- No trachoma was reported in 31 communities in 2013, including communities that screened for trachoma in 5-9-year-old children and that did not screen in accordance with guidelines (Figure 2.7).
- Endemic levels of trachoma were reported in 28 communities in 2013 including communities that screened for trachoma in 5-9-year-old children that did not screen in accordance with guidelines (Figure 2.7).
- Non endemic levels of trachoma have been reported for 11 communities over a period of 5 years which would reclassify these communities as being not at risk for trachoma (Figure 2.8).
Treatment delivery and coverage
- Trachoma treatment strategies were applied in 33 communities (Table 2.3).
- Treatment was delivered to active cases and households in 12 communities, and to the whole of community in 21 communities as per guidelines (Table 2.3).
- The overall treatment coverage in all regions was 79% with 9232 doses of azithromycin delivered (Table 2.4).
- Three communities did not treat according to CDNA guidelines (Table 2.3).
Trichiasis
- Screening for trichiasis was undertaken in 56 communities (Table 2.5).
- Overall 1984 adults aged over 15 years were screened.
- The prevalence of trichiasis in adults aged 15 years and over was 2%, and 4% in adults aged 40 years and over.
- Surgery for trichiasis was reported to be undertaken for 23 adults in 2013 (Table 2.5).
Health promotion
- Health promotion activities were reported to have occurred in 32 communities in the Alice Springs Remote, Darwin Rural, East Arnhem and Katherine regions.
- A total of 82 health promotion activities were reported.
- The majority of the health promotion activities were delivered to children, teachers and childcare or preschool staff members (Table 2.6). Top of page
Northern Territory results - Figures
Figure 2.1 Trachoma prevalence in children aged 5-9 years, number of communities that were screened, treated or both for trachoma and number of at-risk communities in the Northern Territory, 2013
Figure 2.2 Number of communities at risk, by region, in the Northern Territory, 2007-2013
Figure 2.3 Number of at-risk communities by region, according to trachoma control strategy implemented, Northern Territory, 2013
Figure 2.4 Population screening coverage of children aged 5-9 years in communities that required screening for trachoma, by region, in the Northern Territory, 2013
Figure 2.5 Proportion of screened children aged 5-9 years who had a clean face, by region, in the Northern Territory, 2007-2013
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Figure 2.6a Trachoma prevalence among children aged 5-9 years in communities that were screened, by region, in the Northern Territory, 2007–2013
Figure 2.6b Trachoma prevalence among children aged 5-9 years, by region, in the Northern Territory with projected values,* 2007–2013
* Including communities that screened in 2013 and those that did not screen in 2013 in accordance with revised guideline instructions (see methodology)
Top of pageFigure 2.7 Number of at-risk communities according to level of trachoma prevalence* in 5-9-year-old children, by region, in the Northern Territory in 2013
* Including communities that screened in 2013 and those that did not screen in 2013 in accordance with revised guideline instructions (see methodology)
Top of pageFigure 2.8 Communities according to number of years* of trachoma prevalence under 5%, by region†, in the Northern Territory, 2013
* 5 years with a prevalence below 5% classifies a community as not at risk of trachoma
† Including communities in the Northern Territory that screened in 2013 and those that did not screen in 2013 in accordance with guideline instructions
(see methodology)
Figure 2.9 Number of doses of azithromycin administered for the treatment of trachoma, by region, in the Northern Territory, 2007–2013
Northern Territory results - Tables
Number of communities |
Alice Springs Remote |
Barkly |
Darwin Rural |
East Arnhem |
Katherine |
Total |
Not at-risk |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
*Communities treated without screening in 2013 as per guideline instructions | |||||||
At risk* (A) | 27 |
12 |
12 |
10 |
19 |
80 |
N/A |
Requiring screening for trachoma (B) | 6 |
12 |
4 |
7 |
13 |
42 |
0 |
Screened for trachoma (C) | 5 |
12 |
4 |
6 |
3 |
30 |
2 |
Requiring treatment only (D) | 13 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
18 |
N/A |
Treated† (E) | 13 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
17 |
N/A |
Screened and/or treated for trachoma (F = C+E) | 18 |
12 |
5 |
6 |
6 |
47 |
2 |
Requiring neither screening or treatment for trachoma (G=A-B-D) | 8 |
0 |
7 |
3 |
2 |
20 |
N/A |
Alice Springs Remote |
Barkly |
Darwin Rural |
East Arnhem |
Katherine |
Total |
Not at-risk | ||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
*Jurisdictional estimate †In communities that were screened for trachoma | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of communities screened |
5 |
12 |
4 |
6 |
3 |
30 |
2 |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Age group (years) | 0-4 |
5-9 |
10-14 |
0-14 |
0-4 |
5-9 |
10-14 |
0-14 |
0-4 |
5-9 |
10-14 |
0-14 |
0-4 |
5-9 |
10-14 |
0-14 |
0-4 |
5-9 |
10-14 |
0-14 |
0-4 |
5-9 |
10-14 |
0-14 |
0-4 |
5-9 |
10-14 |
0-14 |
Children examined for clean face | 12 |
110 |
56 |
178 |
45 |
285 |
203 |
533 |
81 |
462 |
208 |
751 |
20 |
383 |
180 |
583 |
22 |
118 |
27 |
167 |
180 |
1358 |
674 |
2212 |
22 |
114 |
41 |
177 |
Children with clean face | 1 |
44 |
23 |
68 |
34 |
226 |
199 |
459 |
67 |
374 |
203 |
644 |
12 |
316 |
163 |
491 |
13 |
97 |
26 |
136 |
127 |
1057 |
614 |
1798 |
22 |
96 |
41 |
159 |
Clean face prevalence (%) | 8 |
40 |
41 |
38 |
76 |
79 |
98 |
86 |
83 |
81 |
98 |
86 |
60 |
83 |
91 |
84 |
59 |
82 |
96 |
81 |
71 |
78 |
91 |
81 |
100 |
84 |
100 |
90 |
Estimated number* of Aboriginal children in communities† | 94 |
113 |
83 |
290 |
71 |
313 |
239 |
623 |
356 |
548 |
562 |
1466 |
613 |
581 |
715 |
1909 |
136 |
126 |
178 |
440 |
1270 |
1681 |
1777 |
4728 |
27 |
167 |
72 |
266 |
Children examined for trachoma | 11 |
105 |
29 |
145 |
40 |
285 |
203 |
528 |
84 |
463 |
212 |
759 |
17 |
390 |
182 |
589 |
15 |
119 |
25 |
159 |
167 |
1362 |
651 |
2180 |
0 |
114 |
41 |
155 |
Trachoma screening coverage (%) | 12 |
93 |
35 |
50 |
56 |
91 |
85 |
85 |
24 |
84 |
38 |
52 |
3 |
67 |
25 |
31 |
11 |
94 |
14 |
36 |
13 |
81 |
37 |
46 |
0 |
68 |
57 |
58 |
Children with active trachoma | 0 |
8 |
0 |
8 |
2 |
12 |
3 |
17 |
0 |
4 |
5 |
9 |
1 |
6 |
3 |
10 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
33 |
12 |
48 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
Active trachoma prevalence (%) | 0.0 |
7.6 |
0.0 |
5.5 |
5.0 |
4.2 |
1.5 |
3.2 |
0.0 |
0.9 |
2.4 |
1.2 |
5.9 |
1.5 |
1.6 |
1.7 |
0.0 |
2.5 |
4.0 |
2.5 |
1.8 |
2.4 |
1.8 |
2.2 |
.. |
2.6 |
0.0 |
1.9 |
Active trachoma prevalence using projected data | 10 |
4.2 |
2.1 |
1.4 |
7.8 |
5.0 |
.. |
Number of communities |
Alice Springs Remote |
Barkly |
Darwin Rural |
East Arnhem |
Katherine |
Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Required treatment for trachoma | 16 |
7 |
3 |
2 |
6 |
34 |
Treated for trachoma | 16 |
7 |
3 |
2 |
5 |
33 |
Screened and treated | 3 |
7 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
16 |
Received treatment only | 13 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
17 |
Received 6-monthly treatment | 4 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
Did not require treatment | 10 |
5 |
9 |
7 |
3 |
34 |
Treated active cases and households | 2 |
5 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
12 |
Treated the whole of community | 14 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
21 |
Not treated according to CDNA guidelines | 1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
Alice Springs Remote |
Barkly |
Darwin Rural |
East Arnhem |
Katherine |
Total |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Age group (years) | 0-4 |
5-9 |
10-14 |
15+ |
All |
0-4 |
5-9 |
10-14 |
15+ |
All |
0-4 |
5-9 |
10-14 |
15+ |
All |
0-4 |
5-9 |
10-14 |
15+ |
All |
0-4 |
5-9 |
10-14 |
15+ |
All |
0-4 |
5-9 |
10-14 |
15+ |
All |
Active cases requiring treatment | 0 |
8 |
0 |
.. |
8 |
2 |
12 |
3 |
.. |
17 |
0 |
4 |
5 |
.. |
9 |
1 |
6 |
1 |
.. |
8 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
.. |
4 |
3 |
33 |
10 |
.. |
46 |
Active cases who received treatment | 0 |
8 |
0 |
.. |
8 |
2 |
12 |
3 |
.. |
17 |
0 |
4 |
5 |
.. |
9 |
1 |
6 |
1 |
.. |
8 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
.. |
4 |
3 |
33 |
10 |
.. |
46 |
Active cases who received treatment (%) | .. |
100 |
.. |
.. |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
.. |
100 |
.. |
100 |
100 |
.. |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
.. |
100 |
.. |
100 |
100 |
.. |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
.. |
100 |
Estimated contacts requiring treatment | 510 |
668 |
487 |
3131 |
4796 |
18 |
52 |
32 |
108 |
210 |
448 |
585 |
605 |
3522 |
5160 |
14 |
14 |
8 |
37 |
73 |
194 |
178 |
174 |
799 |
1345 |
1184 |
1497 |
1306 |
7597 |
11584 |
Number of contacts who received treatment | 432 |
628 |
437 |
2701 |
4198 |
18 |
52 |
32 |
101 |
203 |
412 |
433 |
430 |
2269 |
3544 |
14 |
14 |
8 |
37 |
73 |
157 |
170 |
150 |
691 |
1168 |
1033 |
1297 |
1057 |
5799 |
9186 |
Estimated contacts who received treatment (%) | 85 |
94 |
90 |
86 |
88 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
94 |
97 |
92 |
74 |
71 |
64 |
69 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
81 |
96 |
86 |
86 |
87 |
87 |
87 |
81 |
76 |
79 |
Total number of doses of azithromycin delivered | 432 |
636 |
437 |
2701 |
4206 |
20 |
64 |
35 |
101 |
220 |
412 |
437 |
435 |
2269 |
3553 |
15 |
20 |
9 |
37 |
81 |
157 |
173 |
151 |
691 |
1172 |
1036 |
1330 |
1067 |
5799 |
9232 |
Estimated overall treatment coverage (%) | 85 |
94 |
90 |
86 |
88 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
94 |
97 |
92 |
74 |
71 |
64 |
69 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
81 |
96 |
86 |
86 |
87 |
87 |
87 |
81 |
76 |
79 |
Alice Springs Remote |
Barkly |
Darwin Rural |
East Arnhem |
Katherine |
Total |
||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
* Population estimate limited to trachoma endemic regions and does not take into account changing endemic regions over time and transiency between regions † Number of adults examined limited to numbers reported. This number does not account for adults who may be examined in routine adult health checks, and may also include multiple screening | |||||||||||||
Number of communities screened for trichiasis |
21 |
5 |
16 |
4 |
10 |
56 |
|||||||
Age group (years) | 15-39 |
40+ |
15-39 |
40+ |
15-39 |
40+ |
15-39 |
40+ |
15-39 |
40+ |
15-39 |
40+ |
15+ |
Estimated population in region* | 3367 |
1801 |
645 |
281 |
4245 |
2124 |
3529 |
1838 |
2301 |
1101 |
14087 |
7146 |
21233 |
Adults examined† | 467 |
388 |
152 |
11 |
34 |
68 |
18 |
36 |
435 |
375 |
1106 |
878 |
1984 |
With trichiasis (% of adults examined) | 4 (0.9%) |
19 (5%) |
0 |
3 (27%) |
1 (3%) |
3 (4%) |
0 |
0 |
1 (0.2%) |
8 (2%) |
6 (0.05%) |
33 (4%) |
39 (2%) |
Offered ophthalmic consultation | 0 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
13 |
13 |
Declined ophthalmic consultation | 0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
Surgery in past 12 months | 0 |
17 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
23 |
23 |
Alice Springs Remote |
Barkly |
Darwin Rural |
East Arnhem |
Katherine |
Total |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
* 2-4 times per year † 5-12 times per year | ||||||
Number of communities at risk | 27 |
12 |
12 |
10 |
19 |
80 |
Number of communities that reported health promotion activities | 18 |
0 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
32 |
Total number of programs reported | 51 |
0 |
13 |
9 |
9 |
82 |
Methods of Health Promotion | ||||||
One-on-one discussion | 9 |
.. |
5 |
3 |
2 |
.. |
Presentation to group | 14 |
.. |
4 |
2 |
5 |
25 |
Interactive group session | 16 |
.. |
1 |
1 |
.. |
18 |
Social marketing | 1 |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
1 |
Print material/mass media | .. |
.. |
1 |
.. |
.. |
1 |
Sporting/community events | 3 |
.. |
.. |
1 |
.. |
4 |
Other | 2 |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
2 |
Target audience | ||||||
Health professionals/staff | 14 |
.. |
4 |
2 |
2 |
22 |
Children | 19 |
.. |
5 |
4 |
5 |
33 |
Youth | 2 |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
2 |
Teachers/childcare/preschool staff | 14 |
.. |
3 |
3 |
5 |
25 |
Caregivers/parents | 8 |
.. |
.. |
2 |
.. |
10 |
Community members | 11 |
.. |
2 |
1 |
.. |
14 |
Community educators/health promoters | 2 |
.. |
1 |
.. |
.. |
3 |
Interagency members | 4 |
.. |
1 |
1 |
1 |
7 |
Frequency of health promotion activities | ||||||
Once | 1 |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
1 |
Occasional* | 41 |
.. |
13 |
9 |
9 |
72 |
Regular† | 3 |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
3 |
Ongoing/routine | 6 |
.. |
.. |
.. |
.. |
6 |
Health promotion summary
Health promotion in the NT in 2013 followed a comprehensive approach. The Indigenous Eye Health Unit based at the University of Melbourne continued to provide support for health promotion. Territory-wide coverage of the Melbourne Football Club ambassadors’ promotion of trachoma elimination and the presence of the mascot, Milpa the goanna, and the team at clinics and games raised awareness among decision-makers and the public. The Clean Faces, Strong Eyes campaign messages developed by the Indigenous Eye Health Unit and the supporting materials and activities were consistently reinforced during screening and treatment visits to communities and Milpa made frequent appearances. In Central Australia the Health Promotion team led by the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress and the Fred Hollows Foundation continued working on a settings-based approach in schools, clinics and the community to promote face washing and personal hygiene messages. A four-step facial hygiene poster has been developed as part of a Clean Faces – Healthy Places program which complements the Clean Faces, Strong Eyes campaign. These messages have been supported by other agencies and programs that promote personal hygiene, so the messages received by communities are consistent. A pilot Trachoma Story Book in a local language has been developed and was showcased at the 2013 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Environmental Health Conference held in Adelaide. Work to engage and collaborate with the housing and education sectors to improve environmental conditions and support good hygiene is ongoing.
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