SUMMARY
Joinville is the largest city in the State of Santa Catarina, southern Brazil. It has had a considerable industrial growth in the last fifteen years and its 1990 estimated population is of450, inhabitants. A great part of them are newly-arrived people from rural areas of this State and the neighbouring State (Paraná), seeking for better jobs.
A trachoma prevalence survey was carried out among 2,822 pre-school and school children, aged 3 months to 15 years (average 8.4years), who attended six public educational institutions located in different areas in the suburbs of Joinville. 53,2% of them were males. Trachoma was assessed using the simplified W.H.O. grading scheme by two ophthalmologists. The TF prevalence was 7.9% and the TS prevalence was 1.1%. No TI, TT or CO were found among them. 65% of the trachomatous children came from urban centers and 35% came from rural areas.
The DFA citology was positive in 57% of the TF cases.