Determinants of Eye Care Utilization in Rural South-eastern Nigeria

Arinze, Obinna C; Eze, Boniface Ikenna; Ude, Nnamdi; Onwubiko, Stella Ngozi; Ezisi, Chinyelu Nkemdilim; Chuka-Okosa, CM

doi:10.1007/s10900-015-0008-2

Cited by 13 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…This is because as most populations age, there is an anticipated proportionate increase in the risk of developing eye diseases [ 29 ]; most of which are caused by chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes [ 5 ]. Similar findings have been observed across several studies [ 7 , 30 – 32 ].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

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Eye care utilization pattern in South Africa: results from SANHANES-1

Akuffo

Sewpaul

Dukhi

et al. 2020

BMC Health Serv Res

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Background: Eye examinations are recommended for all persons throughout life. However, there is disparity in the uptake of eye care services in different populations. Using data from a nationally representative population-based cross-sectional study (the South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, [SANHANES-1]), this paper investigates the utilization of eye care services and its associated factors in South Africa. Methods: Participants aged 15 years and older who participated in interviews and clinical examination were enrolled in the SANHANES from 2011 to 2012. Eye care utilization was assessed from participants' responses to whether they had their eyes examined by a medical professional and when they were last examined. Data were analysed using multiple logistic regression models employing a hierarchical approach to add predisposing (e.g. age, sex), enabling (e.g. health insurance) and need (e.g. hypertension) factors sequentially. Results: The study sampled 3320 participants, with 64.9% being females. 73.4% (95% CI [69.7-76.7]) of participants had never had an eye examination. After statistical adjustment, age groups (compared with 15-29 years: 30-44 years Odds Ratio [OR] = 1.76; 45-59 years OR = 2.13; 60-74 years OR = 2.74; ≥75 years OR = 3.22), ethnicity (compared with African descent: white OR = 4.71; mixed-race OR = 1.87; Indian OR = 7.67), high risk alcohol use (OR = 1.83), wealth index (compared with lowest quintile: third quintile OR = 1.75; fourth quintile OR = 2.23; fifth quintile OR = 2.49), health insurance (OR = 2.19), diabetes (OR = 1.75), high cholesterol (OR = 2.51), having assessed healthcare in the past 5 years (OR = 2.42), and self-reported vision problems (OR = 1.51) were significantly associated with eye care utilization. Conclusion: Almost three-quarters of South Africans sampled were not utilizing eye care services. It is imperative to strengthen current public health measures (including eye health promotion programs) to address the alarmingly low uptake of eye care services as well as the disparities in eye care utilization in South Africa.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…Age, ethnicity, wealth, health insurance, diabetes, and self-reported visual problems were also found to be positively associated with eye care utilization. In Africa, availability, accessibility, and affordability have been found to be barriers to eye care utilization [5][6][7][8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Eye care utilization pattern in South Africa: results from SANHANES-1

Akuffo

Sewpaul

Dukhi

et al. 2020

BMC Health Serv Res

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“…In this study, trained community health workers (CHWs) used validated smartphone-based applications (apps) for hearing screening (hearScreen app; hearX Group, South Africa) [ 21 , 23 , 24 , 26 – 28 , 30 ] and vision screening (Peek Acuity app; peekVision, United Kingdom) [ 15 , 25 ]. In order to overcome loss to follow-up previously shown to affect the outcomes of screening programmes [ 8 , 23 , 24 , 31 ], the study included a community-based first-line follow-up assessment for those who failed screening by also utilizing validated mHealth technology [ 26 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence and characteristics of hearing and vision loss in preschool children from low income South African communities: results of a screening program of 10,390 children

et al. 2022

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Background The majority of children with sensory impairments live in low- and middle-income countries. More studies of hearing and vision impairment prevalence are needed, in order to generate more accurate estimates of trends in sensory impairments. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and describe the characteristics of hearing and vision loss among preschool children (4–7 years) in an underserved South African community following community-based mobile health (mHealth) supported hearing and vision services. Methods A screening program of sensory impairments was undertaken of children attending preschools in the communities of Khayelitsha and Mitchell’s Plain, Cape Town, from September 2017 until June 2019. Hearing and vision screening were done by trained community health workers using mHealth technology. Children who failed hearing and vision screening were seen for follow-up assessments at their preschools. Follow-up assessments were conducted using smartphones that host point-of-care validated and calibrated hearing and vision testing applications (hearTest app, hearX Group, South Africa and PeekAcuity app, Peek Vision, United Kingdom). Descriptive statistical analysis and logistic regression analysis were conducted after extracting data from a secure cloud-based server (mHealth Studio, hearX Group) to Microsoft Excel (2016). Results A total of 10,390 children were screened at 298 preschools over 22 months. Of the children screened, 5.6 and 4.4% of children failed hearing and vision screening respectively. Community-based follow-up hearing tests were done at the preschools on 88.5% (514) of children of whom 240 children (54.2% female) presented with hearing loss. A preschool-based follow-up vision test was done on 400 children (88.1%). A total of 232 children (46.1% female) had a vision impairment, and a further 32 children passed the test but had obvious signs of ocular morbidity. Logistic regression analysis found that age was a significant predictor of vision loss (p < 0.05), but not for hearing loss (p = 0.06). Gender was not a significant predictor of hearing (p = 0.22) or vision loss (p = 0.20). Conclusions Hearing loss is prevalent in at least 22 per 1000 and vision loss in at least 23 per 1000 preschool children in an underserved South African community. Timely identification of sensory losses can be facilitated through community-based hearing and vision services supported by mHealth technology.

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“…In population-based studies in India, [10] Ethiopia, [12] South Africa, [11] and Ghana, [13] the proportion of persons who had never had any form of eye examinations were 72.2%, 58.4%, 73.4% and 67.8% respectively. In population-based studies in south-western and south eastern Nigeria, 81% and 57.6% respectively had never utilized any form of eye care services [22,23].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Practice of Eye Checks among Medical Doctors in South-East Nigeria

Onwuegbuna

Apakama

Amobi

et al. 2021

AIR

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Visual impairment greatly affects one’s quality of life. The number of persons with visual impairment and blindness in the world is on the increase. Eye screening allows for early detection of sight-threatening diseases and timely intervention could be sight-saving. Aim: To determine the practice of eye checks and identify the factors that affect periodic eye checks among medical doctors in south-east Nigeria. Methodology: This study was a descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted among practicing medical doctors in private and public hospitals in Anambra State Nigeria, using a self-administered semi-structured questionnaire. Information obtained from the participants included the sociodemographics data, type and duration of practice, presence of any medical and/or ocular condition, family history of eye diseases, history of use of spectacles, practice of eye check and interval of eye check, factors affecting the practice of eye check, and ways of promoting regular eye check. Data obtained were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 23. Statistical significance was set at p˂0.05. Results: One hundred and eighty-seven practicing medical doctors were interviewed. There were 123 (65.8%) males and 64 (34.2%) females. Their ages ranged from 24 to 80 years, with a mean age of 44.81 ± 12.73 years. The mean duration of professional practice was 18.16 ± 11.9 years. Majority, 124 (66.3%) works in government-owned hospitals. Among the study participants, 93(49.7%) doctors had been diagnosed with different ocular diseases; 99(52.9%) had a family history of ocular problems; 94(50.3%) had used prescription lenses; and 51(27.3%) had medical conditions. One hundred and twelve (59.9%) had undergone at least eye examinations once, of which 54(48.2%) had their last eye examination over 5 years ago. The prevalence of eye check was 59.9% (95%CI: 52.9 – 66.9%). Eye checks were significantly associated with medical practice of over 20 years (P=0.030), working in a private practice (P=0.001), having eye diseases such as cataract (P=0.006), refractive error (P˂0.001), presbyopia (P˂0.001), and use of prescription spectacles (P˂0.001). ‘Belief of not having eye problems’ and ‘No time’ which accounted for 58.7% and 24.0% respectively were the commonest reasons for not regularly having eye examinations. Conclusion: Poor attitude to periodic eye examinations was seen in medical doctors in south east Nigeria.

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Determinants of Eye Care Utilization in Rural South-eastern Nigeria

Cited by 13 publications

References 23 publications

Eye care utilization pattern in South Africa: results from SANHANES-1

Eye care utilization pattern in South Africa: results from SANHANES-1

Prevalence and characteristics of hearing and vision loss in preschool children from low income South African communities: results of a screening program of 10,390 children

Practice of Eye Checks among Medical Doctors in South-East Nigeria

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