Eye health measures for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 2024: interactive data

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

Trachoma is an infectious disease of the eye. Repeated trachoma infections can result in scarring, in-turned eyelashes (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.

Latest data and time trend

In 2023, there were 74 children aged 5–9 with active trachoma in the 67 communities that were screened for trachoma. The observed prevalence of active trachoma was 5.7% of 5–9-year-olds in the screened communities. Overall prevalence was 1.8% (Figure 8).

From 2007 to 2023 the national overall prevalence of trachoma in children aged 5–9 screened in all current and former at-risk communities fell from 14% to 1.8%. (Figure 8). 

Figure 8: Overall prevalence of trachoma in Indigenous communities, children aged 5–9 years, 2007 to 2023

Notes

1. Data are crude rates.
2. Overall prevalence was calculated based on the most recent estimates carried forward in all communities who were considered at risk at some time.

Source: Australian Trachoma Surveillance reports Kirby Institute 2010, 2011, 2012,2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019a, 2019b, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 in press

By jurisdiction

In 2023, the observed prevalence of active trachoma in children aged 5–9 in screened communities was 4.2% in Western Australian (17 children) and 8.3% in the Northern Territory (57 children). In South Australia no children were found with active trachoma. In Queensland, screening for trachoma was not undertaken in 2023 (Figure 10 – jurisdiction).

Figure 9: Observed prevalence of trachoma in at-risk Indigenous communities, children aged 5–9 years: interactive data