Ecosystem approach to trachoma control in Northern Tanzania : IDRC final technical report

Lack of access to water and personal hygiene are likely to be primary contributors to trachoma “endemicity” of specific populations. In women this is due to constant exposure and interactions with children with active disease. Removal of human faeces from the environment, through the provision of basic sanitation, greatly reduces fly density, fly-eye contact and hence trachoma transmission. Study results show that communities need to develop and learn to modify policies regarding water use. There is evidence that interventions supporting improved hygiene can deliver enormous health gains even in populations with inadequate water supply