The objective of this study was to determineprevalence of trachoma and risk factors associated with the disease in rural areas of the Sistan-va-Baluchestan province in Iran from 2012–2013.Population-based prevalence data for trachoma is lacking in this region.

In this population-based cross-sectional study, 80 clusters were selected using a systematicand probability proportional to size method. All participants underwent clinical eye examination according to the World Health Organizationsimplified trachoma grading system.The prevalence of follicular trachomatous inflammation (TF)in children aged 1-9 years and the prevalence of trachomatoustrichiasis (TT) in women aged over 15 years were the most important clinical indicators of trachoma.

The study surveyed 8,187 individuals and analyzed 7,912 participants (96.6%) including 3,737 children aged 1- 9and 4,175 females 15 years. The prevalence of TF and TT in the relevant indicator groups were 0.59% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.36-0.89) and0.02 %( 95% CI: 0.00-0.13), respectively.

Previously trachoma prevalence data for this region were lacking. This study confirms that the Sistan-va-Baluchestan region is not endemic for trachoma. This has important implications for national trachoma elimination activities.