Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35395003›Full record

SynthesisPLoS neglected tropical diseases2022

Community-level trachoma ecological associations and the use of geospatial analysis methods: A systematic review.

Clara R Burgert-Brucker, Molly W Adams, Pia Mingkwan, Rebecca Flueckiger, Jeremiah M Ngondi, Anthony W Solomon, Emma M Harding-Esch

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
11citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

11 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. A systematic review of variables associated with snakebite risk in spatial and temporal analyses.Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene · 2025
    Pooled it
  2. Discrepancy Between Active Trachoma and Tests of Chlamydial Infection in Alto Amazonas, Peru.Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Trachoma.Lancet (London, England) · 2025
    Review
  9. Article
  10. Article
  11. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Clara R Burgert-BruckerRTI International, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America.ORCID 0000-0002-6001-4960
Molly W AdamsRTI International, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America.ORCID 0000-0002-0245-161X
Pia MingkwanRTI International, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America.
Rebecca FlueckigerRTI International, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America.
Jeremiah M NgondiRTI International, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America.
Anthony W SolomonDepartment of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0001-7101-6649
Emma M Harding-EschLondon School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0002-1432-8109

Funding

World Health Organization 001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTrachoma is targeted for global elimination as a public health problem by 2030. Understanding individual, household, or community-associated factors that may lead to continued transmission or risk of recrudescence in areas where elimination has previously been achieved, is essential in reaching and maintaining trachoma elimination. We aimed to identify climatic, demographic, environmental, infrastructural, and socioeconomic factors associated in the literature with trachoma at community-level and assess the strength of their association with trachoma. Because of the potential power of geospatial analysis to delineate the variables most strongly associated with differences in trachoma prevalence, we then looked in detail at geospatial analysis methods used in previous trachoma studies.

methodsWe conducted a systematic literature review using five databases: Medline, Embase, Global Health, Dissertations & Theses Global, and Web of Science, including publications from January 1950 to January 2021. The review protocol was prospectively registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020191718).

resultsOf 35 eligible studies, 29 included 59 different trachoma-associated factors, with eight studies also including spatial analysis methods. Six studies included spatial analysis methods only. Higher trachomatous inflammation-follicular (TF) prevalence was associated with areas that: had lower mean annual precipitation, lower mean annual temperatures, and lower altitudes; were rural, were less accessible, had fewer medical services, had fewer schools; and had lower access to water and sanitation. Higher trachomatous trichiasis (TT) prevalence was associated with higher aridity index and increased distance to stable nightlights. Of the 14 studies that included spatial methods, 11 used exploratory spatial data analysis methods, three used interpolation methods, and seven used spatial modelling methods.

conclusionResearchers and decision-makers should consider the inclusion and potential influence of trachoma-associated factors as part of both research activities and programmatic priorities. The use of geospatial methods in trachoma studies remains limited but offers the potential to define disease hotspots and areas of potential recrudescence to inform local, national, and global programmatic needs.

Indexed as

Infant, Newborn, DiseasesTrachomaTrichiasisCross-Sectional StudiesHumansInfantInfant, NewbornPrevalenceRecurrenceRisk Factors

Identifiers

PMID35395003
PMCPMC9020723

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.