Causes of Severe Visual Impairment and Blindness in Children in Schools for the Blind in Eastern Africa: Changes in the Last 14 Years

Njuguna, M; Msukwa, Gerald; Shilio, Bernadeth; Tumwesigye, Cillasy; Courtright, Paul; Lewallen, Susan

doi:10.1080/09286580902738183

Cited by 30 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 6 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Similar to other recent studies from schools for the blind in Africa,8–10 there is no single major cause of childhood blindness in children in these schools; instead, it is a mix with corneal causes and lens related causes being the most common. Lens related conditions predominate in the younger (<16 years old) age group while corneal conditions predominate in the older (≥16 years old) age groups.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

“…Lens related conditions predominate in the younger (<16 years old) age group while corneal conditions predominate in the older (≥16 years old) age groups. Earlier studies in schools for the blind in Africa, India and Indonesia have listed preventable corneal causes (notably corneal scars due to vitamin A deficiency, measles or harmful traditional eye medicines) 8–13. Vitamin A deficiency blindness has not been recognized as a problem in Burundi.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Blindness and severe visual impairment in pupils at schools for the blind in Burundi

Ruhagaze

Njuguna

Kandeke

et al. 2013

Middle East Afr J Ophthalmol

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Purpose:To determine the causes of childhood blindness and severe visual impairment in pupils attending schools for the blind in Burundi in order to assist planning for services in the country.Materials and Methods:All pupils attending three schools for the blind in Burundi were examined. A modified WHO/PBL eye examination record form for children with blindness and low vision was used to record the findings. Data was analyzed for those who became blind or severely visually impaired before the age of 16 years.Results:Overall, 117 pupils who became visually impaired before 16 years of age were examined. Of these, 109 (93.2%) were blind or severely visually impaired. The major anatomical cause of blindness or severe visual impairment was cornea pathology/phthisis (23.9%), followed by lens pathology (18.3%), uveal lesions (14.7%) and optic nerve lesions (11.9%). In the majority of pupils with blindness or severe visual impairment, the underlying etiology of visual loss was unknown (74.3%). More than half of the pupils with lens related blindness had not had surgery; among those who had surgery, outcomes were generally poor.Conclusion:The causes identified indicate the importance of continuing preventive public health strategies, as well as the development of specialist pediatric ophthalmic services in the management of childhood blindness in Burundi. The geographic distribution of pupils at the schools for the blind indicates a need for community-based programs to identify and refer children in need of services.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Blindness and severe visual impairment in pupils at schools for the blind in Burundi

Ruhagaze

Njuguna

Kandeke

et al. 2013

Middle East Afr J Ophthalmol

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…5,6 Training more ophthalmologists and reinforcing ROP screening programs are important VISION 2020 targets for medium-income countries. 6 Hereditary factors, ranging from 23% to 44% (albinism, congenital cataracts with family history, retinitis pigmentosa) predominate in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Western Pacific region (including Uzbekistan, 10 Finland, 11 Sri Lanka, 12 Cambodia, 13 India, 12,14-17 and China [18][19][20][21]. Most childhood blindness occurs after the perinatal period, that is, between 1 month and 15 years of age in the African (38%) and Eastern Mediterranean (43%) regions (Table 2).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An update on progress and the changing epidemiology of causes of childhood blindness worldwide

Kong

Fry

Al-Samarraie

et al. 2012

Journal of American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and

333

197

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…Albinism is also likely to have contributed to the condition. According to Njuguna et al, (2009) the major etiology of visual loss is childhood factor and an estimated 40% of severe visual impairment and blindness are due to potentially avoidable causes. Visual loss dues to corneal pathology, cataract and retinopathies were the main causes of low vision among children in studies in Malawi, Kenya and Uganda (Gilbert et al, 1995).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite this, low vision among children (<16 years) attending schools for the blind in is also an important public health problem in Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, and Tanzania, 65.2% developing countries (Gilbert et al, 2008). In a study of childhood blindness among 491 pupils were found with severe visual impairment in Malawi, Kenya and Uganda, 62.9% and 14.1% or blindness (Njuguna et al, 2009). Among were blind and severely visually impaired, the major causes of blindness (<3/60) include respectively (Gilbert et al, 1995).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence and causes of low vision among schoolchildren in Kibaha District, Tanzania

Kingo

Ndawi²

2009

Tanzania J Hlth Res

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Low vision is a major cause of morbidity and has profound effects on the quality of life for many people as it inhibits/reduces mobility and economical well being of the affected individuals and their families. The objective of the study was to determine the magnitude and causes of low vision among primary school children in Kibaha district in Tanzania. Primary schoolchildren were recruited for the study. The inclusion criterion was individual child with low vision of less than 6/18. Visual examination was used for screening the children to identify those with vision less than 6/18. Snellen's chart was used to measure visual acuity of the children with low vision. A total of 400 (6-17 years) schoolchildren were screened. Thirty-eight (9.5%) had low vision. The prevalence of low vision was statistically higher (N=33; 87%) among 12-17years old than among 6-11 years old (13%) (P<0.05). Of the 38 children with low vision, the prevalence in females (68%) was statistically higher than in males (32%). There were multiples causes of low vision among affected children. Congenital anomalies accounted for the largest proportion (65%) of the causes of low vision. In twenty-three (60%) of the children (12-17 years), low vision was due to retinopathies. Fifty-five percent of the children with refractive error were aged between 6-11 years. Among the cases, 8 (54%) had low vision caused by uncorrected refractive errors while the rest (46%) were due to other types of refractive errors. Two children had corneal scars; one with central and another with whole corneal scar. In conclusion, prevalence of low vision among schoolchildren in Kibaha district is high and increases with age. The main causes are congenital anomalies. There is need for an early detection of the possible causes and appropriate treatment to reduce the condition among schoolchildren. It is therefore important that the district Council Health Management Team establishes school eye screening programme for early detection and treatment. It is equally important to strengthen advocacy programme targeting schoolchildren, teachers and caregivers on the public health importance of low vision.

show abstract

Causes of Severe Visual Impairment and Blindness in Children in Schools for the Blind in Eastern Africa: Changes in the Last 14 Years

Abstract: The major causes of severe visual impairment and blindness overall have not changed appreciably since 1995. There are important differences among countries, however, and using overall estimates for planning may be misleading.

Cited by 30 publications

References 6 publications

Blindness and severe visual impairment in pupils at schools for the blind in Burundi

Blindness and severe visual impairment in pupils at schools for the blind in Burundi

An update on progress and the changing epidemiology of causes of childhood blindness worldwide

Prevalence and causes of low vision among schoolchildren in Kibaha District, Tanzania

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About