Eyelash Epilation in the Absence of Trichiasis: Results of a Population-Based Prevalence Survey in the Western Division of Fiji.
BACKGROUND:The WHO definition of trachomatous trichiasis (TT) is "at least one eyelash touching the globe, or evidence of recent epilation of in-turned eyelashes", reflecting the fact that epilation is used as a self-management tool for TT. In Fiji's Western Division, a high TT preval...
Published in: | PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2017
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0005277 https://doaj.org/article/12ce1230d48842a187b376757eda328b |
id |
ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:12ce1230d48842a187b376757eda328b |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:12ce1230d48842a187b376757eda328b 2023-05-15T15:15:18+02:00 Eyelash Epilation in the Absence of Trichiasis: Results of a Population-Based Prevalence Survey in the Western Division of Fiji. Colin Macleod Chelsea Yalen Robert Butcher Umesh Mudaliar Kinisimere Natutusau Mere Rainima-Qaniuci Chris Haffenden Conall Watson Naomi Cocks Luisa Cikamatana Chrissy H Roberts Michael Marks Eric Rafai David C W Mabey Mike Kama Anthony W Solomon 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0005277 https://doaj.org/article/12ce1230d48842a187b376757eda328b EN eng Public Library of Science (PLoS) http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5256864?pdf=render https://doaj.org/toc/1935-2727 https://doaj.org/toc/1935-2735 1935-2727 1935-2735 doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0005277 https://doaj.org/article/12ce1230d48842a187b376757eda328b PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Vol 11, Iss 1, p e0005277 (2017) Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 article 2017 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0005277 2022-12-31T12:07:18Z BACKGROUND:The WHO definition of trachomatous trichiasis (TT) is "at least one eyelash touching the globe, or evidence of recent epilation of in-turned eyelashes", reflecting the fact that epilation is used as a self-management tool for TT. In Fiji's Western Division, a high TT prevalence (8.7% in those aged ≥15 years) was reported in a 2012 survey, yet a 2013 survey found no TT and Fijian ophthalmologists rarely see TT cases. Local anecdote suggests that eyelash epilation is a common behaviour, even in the absence of trichiasis. Epilators may have been identified as TT cases in previous surveys. METHODS:We used a preliminary focus group to design an interview questionnaire, and subsequently conducted a population-based prevalence survey to estimate the prevalence of epilation in the absence of trichiasis, and factors associated with this behaviour, in the Western Division of Fiji. RESULTS:We sampled 695 individuals aged ≥15 years from a total of 457 households in 23 villages. 125 participants (18%) reported epilating their eyelashes at least once within the past year. Photographs were obtained of the eyes of 121/125 (97%) individuals who epilated, and subsequent analysis by an experienced trachoma grader found no cases of trachomatous conjunctival scarring or trichiasis. The age- and sex- adjusted prevalence of epilation in those aged ≥15 years was 8.6% (95% CI 5.7-11.3%). iTaukei ethnicity, female gender, and a higher frequency of drinking kava root were independently associated with epilation. CONCLUSION:Epilation occurs in this population in the absence of trichiasis, with sufficient frequency to have markedly inflated previous estimates of local TT prevalence. Individuals with epilated eyelashes should be confirmed as having epilated in-turned eyelashes in an eye with scarring of the conjunctiva before being counted as cases of TT. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic Kava ENVELOPE(146.513,146.513,59.524,59.524) PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases 11 1 e0005277 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 |
spellingShingle |
Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 Colin Macleod Chelsea Yalen Robert Butcher Umesh Mudaliar Kinisimere Natutusau Mere Rainima-Qaniuci Chris Haffenden Conall Watson Naomi Cocks Luisa Cikamatana Chrissy H Roberts Michael Marks Eric Rafai David C W Mabey Mike Kama Anthony W Solomon Eyelash Epilation in the Absence of Trichiasis: Results of a Population-Based Prevalence Survey in the Western Division of Fiji. |
topic_facet |
Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 |
description |
BACKGROUND:The WHO definition of trachomatous trichiasis (TT) is "at least one eyelash touching the globe, or evidence of recent epilation of in-turned eyelashes", reflecting the fact that epilation is used as a self-management tool for TT. In Fiji's Western Division, a high TT prevalence (8.7% in those aged ≥15 years) was reported in a 2012 survey, yet a 2013 survey found no TT and Fijian ophthalmologists rarely see TT cases. Local anecdote suggests that eyelash epilation is a common behaviour, even in the absence of trichiasis. Epilators may have been identified as TT cases in previous surveys. METHODS:We used a preliminary focus group to design an interview questionnaire, and subsequently conducted a population-based prevalence survey to estimate the prevalence of epilation in the absence of trichiasis, and factors associated with this behaviour, in the Western Division of Fiji. RESULTS:We sampled 695 individuals aged ≥15 years from a total of 457 households in 23 villages. 125 participants (18%) reported epilating their eyelashes at least once within the past year. Photographs were obtained of the eyes of 121/125 (97%) individuals who epilated, and subsequent analysis by an experienced trachoma grader found no cases of trachomatous conjunctival scarring or trichiasis. The age- and sex- adjusted prevalence of epilation in those aged ≥15 years was 8.6% (95% CI 5.7-11.3%). iTaukei ethnicity, female gender, and a higher frequency of drinking kava root were independently associated with epilation. CONCLUSION:Epilation occurs in this population in the absence of trichiasis, with sufficient frequency to have markedly inflated previous estimates of local TT prevalence. Individuals with epilated eyelashes should be confirmed as having epilated in-turned eyelashes in an eye with scarring of the conjunctiva before being counted as cases of TT. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Colin Macleod Chelsea Yalen Robert Butcher Umesh Mudaliar Kinisimere Natutusau Mere Rainima-Qaniuci Chris Haffenden Conall Watson Naomi Cocks Luisa Cikamatana Chrissy H Roberts Michael Marks Eric Rafai David C W Mabey Mike Kama Anthony W Solomon |
author_facet |
Colin Macleod Chelsea Yalen Robert Butcher Umesh Mudaliar Kinisimere Natutusau Mere Rainima-Qaniuci Chris Haffenden Conall Watson Naomi Cocks Luisa Cikamatana Chrissy H Roberts Michael Marks Eric Rafai David C W Mabey Mike Kama Anthony W Solomon |
author_sort |
Colin Macleod |
title |
Eyelash Epilation in the Absence of Trichiasis: Results of a Population-Based Prevalence Survey in the Western Division of Fiji. |
title_short |
Eyelash Epilation in the Absence of Trichiasis: Results of a Population-Based Prevalence Survey in the Western Division of Fiji. |
title_full |
Eyelash Epilation in the Absence of Trichiasis: Results of a Population-Based Prevalence Survey in the Western Division of Fiji. |
title_fullStr |
Eyelash Epilation in the Absence of Trichiasis: Results of a Population-Based Prevalence Survey in the Western Division of Fiji. |
title_full_unstemmed |
Eyelash Epilation in the Absence of Trichiasis: Results of a Population-Based Prevalence Survey in the Western Division of Fiji. |
title_sort |
eyelash epilation in the absence of trichiasis: results of a population-based prevalence survey in the western division of fiji. |
publisher |
Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
publishDate |
2017 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0005277 https://doaj.org/article/12ce1230d48842a187b376757eda328b |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(146.513,146.513,59.524,59.524) |
geographic |
Arctic Kava |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Kava |
genre |
Arctic |
genre_facet |
Arctic |
op_source |
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Vol 11, Iss 1, p e0005277 (2017) |
op_relation |
http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5256864?pdf=render https://doaj.org/toc/1935-2727 https://doaj.org/toc/1935-2735 1935-2727 1935-2735 doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0005277 https://doaj.org/article/12ce1230d48842a187b376757eda328b |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0005277 |
container_title |
PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases |
container_volume |
11 |
container_issue |
1 |
container_start_page |
e0005277 |
_version_ |
1766345672851718144 |