Indigenous eye health measures 2018

Measure 1.3.1: The estimated number, and proportion of Indigenous children in at-risk communities with active trachoma.

Trachoma is an infectious disease of the eye which 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.

• Between 2009 and 2017, the estimated prevalence of active trachoma in children aged 5–9 in at-risk communities fell from 14% to 3.8%.
• The proportion of children aged 5–9 with active trachoma in screened communities was 8.8% in Western Australia (47 children), 2.5% in South Australia (15 children) and 1.8% in the Northern Territory (29 children).