Prevalence of trachoma
- Measure 1.3.1
- The estimated number, and proportion of First Nations children in at-risk communities with active trachoma.
Trachoma is an infectious disease of the eye. Repeated trachoma infections can result in scarring, in-turned eye-lashes (trichiasis) and blindness if left untreated. Trachoma is found in some remote areas of Australia. Prevalence data are important for assessing the effectiveness of trachoma control activities (Figure 9 and Figure 10).
Figure 9: Prevalence of trachoma in at-risk communities for children aged 5–9, 2009 to 2022
Prevalence of trachoma in at-risk communities for children aged 5–9, 2009 to 2022
This line graph presents changes in the proportion of First Nations children aged 5–9 with active trachoma from 2009 to 2021. The chart shows that, between 2009 and 2021, the estimated prevalence of active trachoma in children aged 5–9 in all at-risk communities fell from 15% to 2.2%.
Prevalence of trachoma declined from 15% in 2009 to 2.2% in 2022
Figure 10: Prevalence of trachoma: interactive data
Prevalence of trachoma: Interactive data
This interactive visualisation shows 2 separate charts showing the prevalence of active trachoma in at-risk Indigenous communities, by various characteristics.
Prevalence of active trachoma in at-risk communities for children aged 5–9 by jurisdiction, 2022
This vertical bar chart compares the proportion of Indigenous children aged 5–9 with active trachoma, by state and territory. The chart shows that, in 2022, the proportion of children aged 5–9 in the screened communities who had active trachoma was 10% in Western Australia (37 children), 5% in the Northern Territory (50 children) and in South Australia no children were found with active trachoma. No screening was conducted in Queensland.
Prevalence of active trachoma in at-risk communities for children aged 5–9 by jurisdiction, 2009 to 2021
This line graph presents changes in the proportion of Indigenous children aged 5–9 with active trachoma from 2009 to 2021 for five jurisdictions
- From 2009 to 2022, the estimated overall prevalence of active trachoma in children aged 5–9 years screened in all at-risk communities fell from 15% to 2.2%. The overall prevalence has been below 5% since 2012.
- In 2022, the proportion of children aged 5–9 years with active trachoma in screened communities was 10% in Western Australian (37 children), and 5% in the Northern Territory (50 children). In South Australia no children were found with active trachoma. In Queensland no screening was conducted in 2022.