The Prevalence and Causes of Visual Impairment among Children in Kenya – The Kenya Eye Study

Abstract

Background: Visual impairment is the partial or complete loss of vision in which the presenting visual acuity lie between 6/18-no perceptions of light. In Kenya, little attention has been directed towards children vision and causes of visual impairment. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the prevalence and causes of visual impairment in the children population of Kenya.Methods: This cross-sectional population-based study included 3400 (1800, 52.9% female) randomly selected children with a mean age of 12 ± 2 years (range 5–16 years). Visual acuity was taken using Snellens chart at 6 meters. Anterior and posterior segment was assessed using slit lamp and indirect ophthalmoscope. The World Health Organization definition formed the baseline for calculating the mean prevalence of visual impairment.Results: Visual acuity measurements were available for 3240 (95.3%) participants. The mean prevalence of visual impairment based on pin-hole value was 1.7 ± 0.3% using World Health Organization definition. The prevalence of visual impairment based on presenting visual acuity value was 2.4 ± 0.7% using the World Health Organization definition. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the presence of visual impairment on pin-hole increased significantly with increasing age (odds ratio 1.230, P=.021) and uncorrected refractive error (odds ratio 0.834, P = .032) according to World Health Organization definition. Cases of uncorrected refractive error remained the major cause for presenting visual impairment. Causes of visual impairment due to presenting visual acuity were nystagmus (14%), amblyopia (24%) and uncorrected refractive error (62%).Conclusion: The prevalence of visual impairment in Kenya is associated with age. Uncorrected refractive error remains the major causes of visual impairment.

The Translation of יהוה: Part 2, The Case of Dholuo

“…Nyasaye is the generic term for God that continues to be used by the Luo people, although historians suggest that Nyasaye may have been borrowed from the neighbouring Bantu communities such as the Kisii, Nyole, Kisa, Tiriki, and Idakho (Ogot 1967, 113) . Nyasaye comes from the word sayo “to entreat,” “to plead,” or “to request,” referring to one who has to be entreated.…”

“…Obongo “the only one” is another attribute used in praise of Nyakalaga . For example, Luo folktales and literature for high school and college students present the name of the supreme being as Nyakalaga , and often praise Nyakalaga as Obongo (Ogot 1981, 35; Ogot 1983, 24). Obama and Koyoo (2012, iii–iv), in their book about Barack Obama Sr. (father of the former US president), refer to God with the Luo name Nyakalaga and praise God with the name Obongo and the title Rahuma “whose fame is extensive.” Present-day Dholuo Christian music in African Independent Churches refers to God as Obongo Nyakalaga in praise songs (Akuno 2015, 465).…”

Framework for the provision of information to the visually impaired in academic libraries in compliance with the Marrakesh Treaty

“…The Marrakesh Treaty has come at a time when there are an estimated 224,000 persons who are blind and another 750,000 who are visually impaired (Merab, 2016). Kenya’s 2019 census report shows that the prevalence rate of people with visual challenges is at approximately 1.7%, which translates into about 800,000 people (Muma and Obonyo, 2020).…”