Refractive error and visual impairment in primary school children in Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria

Ezinne, Ngozika Esther; Mashige, Khathutshelo Percy

doi:10.4102/aveh.v77i1.455

Cited by 18 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…The prevalence of myopia is highest in our study which is consistent with those reported by Kuma et al in their RE study in private school children in Ghana (Kumah et al, 2013), Naidoo et al in South Africa (Naidoo et al, 2003), Wedner et al in Tanzania (Wedner et al, 2000) and Ngozika et al in Nigeria (Ezinne & Mashige, 2018). This could partly be due to the fact that a non-cycloplegic refraction which reveals less hyperopia and more myopia was used.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Prevalence and distribution of uncorrected refractive error among school children in the Bongo District of Ghana

Asare

Morjaria

2021

Cogent Medicine

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Prevalence and distribution of uncorrected refractive error among school children in the Bongo District of Ghana

Asare

Morjaria

2021

Cogent Medicine

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“…The prevalence of 2.1% was higher than that of the 0.32% prevalence reported by Naidoo et al 24 for a study performed in South Africa. A recent study conducted in Nigeria also found a lower prevalence of 1.3%, 32 possibly a result of the fact that they focused on urban children, whilst this study was conducted on rural schoolgoing children. Urban leaners have access to eye care services, †, V/A of worse than 0.32, but better than 0.50.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 68%

“…23,25,26 Although in South Africa, Wajuihian et al 17 did not find any evidence of an association between RE, gender and age, elsewhere myopia has been associated with gender, in some cases with a higher prevalence in girls than boys 14,15,29 and in others a higher prevalence in boys than girls. 30,31,32 As it is known that parents' level of education is also associated with myopia, children of people with post-matric qualifications have been found to be more myopic than children whose parents only have a high school qualification or lower. 26,27 Refractive error is also associated with VI if it remains uncorrected.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Visual impairment and refractive error amongst school-going children aged 6–18 years in Sekhukhune District (Limpopo, South Africa)

Magakwe

Xulu-Kasaba

Hansraj

2020

Afr. vis. eye health

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Refractive errors, particularly myopia, pose a serious challenge on the individual and society. Hashemi Hassan et al. 5 recently indicated that globally, 11.7% of children are myopic, whilst a further 4.6% and 4.9% have hypermetropia and astigmatism, respectively. 5 Moreover, the prevalence of RE differs from region to region, with the highest prevalence in the Asian populations, where China has a prevalence of 20.6%, 6 followed by India with 10.2%, 7 Saudi Arabia with 18.6% 8 and Vietnam with 19.4%. 9 Several studies conducted in Chile, the United States and Cambodia reveal RE prevalence values of 18.79%, 10 13.1% 11 and 6.5%, 12 respectively. In Africa, Ghana had an RE prevalence value of 3.7%, 13 Nigeria 11.5%, 14 Ethiopia 6.3%, 15 Egypt 2.2% 16 and South Africa 7.1%, as shown in Table 1. 17 The African continent has shown a comparatively low Background: Refractive error (RE) and visual impairment (VI) remain major problems affecting school-going children worldwide. Aim:To determine the prevalence and distribution of VI and RE in school-going children aged 6-18 years. Setting:The study was conducted in Sekhukhune District, Limpopo, South Africa.Methods: A multistage random sampling method was used to select school-going children aged 6-18 years from Grades 1 to 12. A total of 326 learners went through eye examinations, which included visual acuity (VA) measurement using a logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution chart, autorefraction under cycloplegia and ocular health assessment. Results:The prevalence of uncorrected, presenting and best-corrected VA of 0.30 M or worse in the better eye was 12.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.70-15.80), 12.3% (95% CI, 8.70-15.80) and 2.1% (95% CI, 0.60-3.70), respectively. Refractive error accounted for 80% (95% CI, 67.6-92.4) of all causes of VI. Myopia was the most prevalent RE (50.7%; 95% CI, 38.8-62.7), followed by astigmatism (36%; 95% CI, 24.3-47.3) and hypermetropia (13.6%; 95% CI, 5.30-21.6). There was no significant difference in the prevalence of RE and VI between males (50.7%; 95% CI, 38.8-62.7) and females (49.3%; 95% CI, 37.3-61.2). Refractive error and VI were higher amongst children aged 14-18 years: 56.7% (95% CI, 44.9-68.6) and 60% (95% CI, 44.8-75.20), respectively. Conclusion:The prevalence of RE and VI amongst school-going children in Sekhukhune District was high, highlighting the need for school visual screening and strategies to address these conditions in that area.

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“…This was part of a larger study on RE, VI (Refractive Error Study in Children [RESC]) and utilisation of spectacles amongst primary school children in Onitsha, and a detailed methodology has been described elsewhere. 19 In summary, a stratified random cluster sampling procedure was used to select children aged Myopia was defined as RE of at least −0.50 diopter (D), hyperopia as +2.00 D or more and astigmatism as −0.50 D or more using subjective refraction, whilst utilisation of spectacles was defined as wearing spectacles at the time of examination.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Astigmatism and hyperopia were not significantly associated with age and gender (all p-values > 0.05). Details of the results regarding the prevalence and distribution of REs have been discussed in the RESC Study in Onitsha 19.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Spectacle utilisation rate and reasons for non-compliance with wearing of spectacles amongst primary school children in Onitsha, Anambra state, Nigeria

Ezinne

Mashige

Akano

et al. 2020

African Vision and Eye Health

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Results: Of the 97 children with RE, 20 wore their spectacles during the time of study, yielding a spectacle utilisation rate of 20.6%. Eleven (55%) of those wearing spectacles were females, 13 (65%) were myopic and the highest number (50%) of spectacle wearers was in the 8-10 years age category. Age, gender and type of RE were significantly associated with spectacle wear (p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant). The major reasons for non-compliance with spectacles wear were parental disapproval for using spectacles and misconceptions about wearing spectacles. Conclusion:Spectacle utilisation amongst primary school children in Onitsha was low. These findings suggest the need for public awareness about the importance and benefits of wearing spectacles.

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Refractive error and visual impairment in primary school children in Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria

Cited by 18 publications

References 28 publications

Prevalence and distribution of uncorrected refractive error among school children in the Bongo District of Ghana

Prevalence and distribution of uncorrected refractive error among school children in the Bongo District of Ghana

Visual impairment and refractive error amongst school-going children aged 6–18 years in Sekhukhune District (Limpopo, South Africa)

Spectacle utilisation rate and reasons for non-compliance with wearing of spectacles amongst primary school children in Onitsha, Anambra state, Nigeria

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