Factors Associated with Awareness, Attitudes and Practices Regarding Common Eye Diseases in the General Population in a Rural District in Bangladesh: The Bangladesh Population-based Diabetes and Eye Study (BPDES)

Abstract

BackgroundTo assess the awareness, attitudes, and practices associated with common eye diseases and eye care utilization in a rural district of Bangladesh.MethodsData were collected using a multilevel cluster random sampling technique from 3104 adults aged ≥30 years from the Banshgram union with a questionnaire assessing the awareness, attitudes and practice about diabetes and common eye diseases, educational attainment, socio-economic status, and medical history.ResultsParticipants were aged between 30 and 89 years with a mean (SD) age of 51 (12) years and 65% were female. The majority of participants had heard of cataracts (90%), trachoma (86%) and Pterygium (84%), yet only 4% had heard of diabetic retinopathy (DR), 7% of glaucoma and 8% of Age-related macular degeneration (AMD). However, 58% of participants did not know vision loss could be prevented. Factors associated with lower awareness regarding common eye diseases were increasing age, lack of formal schooling, and lower socio-economic status. A lower proportion (57%) of people with no schooling compared to those who had attained at least secondary school certificate education (72%) reported that they knew that vision loss could be prevented (p<0.001). Overall 51% of people had heard of at least six (67%) out of nine items relating to awareness of common eye diseases. This included 41% of participants aged 65 years or older compared to 61% of those aged 30–35 years (p<0.001). Only 4% had an eye check at least once a year and higher education and better SES were associated with higher frequency of eye checks.ConclusionsIn rural Bangladesh awareness of cataract, trachoma and pterygium was good but limited in relation to the potentially blinding conditions of glaucoma, DR, and AMD. The results show a large gap between public awareness and treatment practices about common eye diseases. Public health promotion should be designed to address these knowledge gaps.

Factors Associated with Disability in Rural Bangladesh: Bangladesh Population-Based Diabetes and Eye Study (BPDES)

“…Our finding of a higher prevalence of disability among females than males is consistent with previous studies [3, 31, 32]. This pattern could be explained by a variety of factors, including the fact that females in low income countries are more likely to have poor health and functional disabilities [33], to have low educational attainment and hence making them less knowledgeable about risk factors and management of disease and differential access to care, especially if the care facilities are far away from their residence [11, 34, 35]. In addition, women continue to be victims of physical violence or domestic abuse by their partners, relatives or neighbors and this may have an impact on the prevalence of disability.…”

Factors associated with second-hand smoke awareness in Malaysia

“…Other researchers identified that education level, socioeconomic status and being female are positively associated with an awareness of diabetes and colorectal cancer. 16,17 Similar findings were demonstrated by Islam et al, 18 in examining factors affecting the awareness of eye disease. Given these findings, we expect that demographic factors have a significant impact on awareness of second-hand smoke.…”

“…27 However, previous studies focusing on awareness of diseases found that socioeconomic status is positively associated with level of awareness. [16][17][18]28 It can, thus, be concluded that wealth index and socioeconomic status have different impacts on second-hand smoke awareness.…”

Addressing risk factors, screening, and preventative treatment for diabetic retinopathy in developing countries: a review

“…Four studies assessed awareness of DR (or awareness that diabetes can affect the eye) in the general population (Table ). Awareness was highly variable, ranging from 4% in a study in Bangladesh to 86.2% in Iran . Specific knowledge about the disease was also low, although increased socioeconomic status, education and urban living were associated with increased DR knowledge.…”