The prevalence of self-reported vision difficulty in economically disadvantaged regions of South Africa

Background: Vision impairment, resulting in vision difficulties, is a leading cause of disability, and hence one of the key barriers for people to access education and employment, which may force them into poverty. Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of self reported vision difficulties as an indicator of vision impairment in economically disadvantaged regions in South Africa, and to examine the relationship between self-reported vision difficulties and socio-economic markers of poverty, namely, income, education and health service needs. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in economically disadvantaged districts to collect data from households on poverty and health, including vision difficulty. As visual acuity measurements were not conducted, the researchers used the term vision difficulty as an indicator of vision impairment. Data were collected from 27 districts (74 901 respondents). Logistic regression analysis and chi-square tests were used to determine bivariate relationships between variables and self-reported vision difficulty. Kernel density estimators were used for age, categorised by self-reported and not reported vision difficulty.Results: Prevalence of self-reported vision difficulty was 11.2% (95% CI; 8.7% - 13.7%). More women (12.7%) compared to men (9.5%) self-reported vision difficulty (p 0.01). Self-reported vision difficulty was higher (14.2%) for respondents that do not spend any money. A statistically significant relationship was found between the highest level of education and self-reporting of vision difficulty; as completed highest level of education increased, self-reporting of vision difficulty became lower (p 0.01). A significantly higher prevalence of self-reported vision difficulty was found in respondents who are employed (p 0.01), 17% (95% CI: 12.8% - 21.1%). Conclusion: The evidence from this study suggests associations between socio-economic factors and vision difficulties that have a two-fold relationship (some factors such as education; and access to eye health services are associated with vision difficulty whilst vision difficulty may trap people in their current poverty or deepen their poverty status). The results are thus indicative of the need for further research in South Africa

Age and sex distribution of blindness in Ahoada East Local Government Area; Rivers State; Nigeria

Background: Differences exist in the impact of blindness by age and sex; the overall risk of death being higher for blind males than females. Aim: To describe the age and sex differences among the blind in Ahoada-East Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State; Nigeria. Methods: Age and sex data were analyzed for 24 blind persons seen during a cross-sectional; community-based study of blindness in Ahoada East LGA. A total of 866 subjects were studied and ocular examination included visual acuity; pen torch examination; fundoscopy and applanation tonometry. Ages were estimated from historic events or verified using hospital/immunization cards. Results: Of the 866 subjects examined; there were 400 males and 466 females. Children and adolescents (0-19 years) formed 44.1while those = 60 years old were 16. Of the 24 blind persons; 21 (87.5) were over 60 years while 3 (12.5) were less than 50 years old; the difference in age among the blind was statistically significant (P 0.05). The age-specific prevalence of blindness in the study population increased from 0.6in adolescence to 38.3in those =90 years. The sex specific prevalence of blindness was 4.5for males and 1.3for females. Males were more likely to be blind than females (Relative Risk=3.49; 95CI=1.40-8.72). Conclusion: This study found blindness to be commoner in the older age groups; and the male gender appeared to be an important risk factor. Eye health education must target such vulnerable groups. Males especially should be enlightened on social habits and environmental factors that increase their risk

Prevalence de la cecite et de la baisse de vision en zone rurale de foret au Cameroun en 1992

Une enquete transversale avec echantillonnage en grappes; a permis d'estimer la prevalence instantanee des deficiences visuelles en zone rurale de foret au Cameroun. Le taux de prevalence standardise de la cecite bilaterale est egal a 1;2 pour cent; celui de la baisse de vision bilaterale a 4 pour cent et celui de la cecite unilaterale a 1;8 pour cent. La cataracte senile est la cause principale de deficience visuelle. Les opacites corneennes totales ou centrales sont la deuxieme cause de deficience et concernent 8 pour cent de l'ensemble des deficients. Au vu de ces estimations il semble opportun d'envisager l'elaboration d'un programme national de lutte adequat

Prevention de la cecite chez l'enfant : une methodologie d'evacuation simplifiee

Parmi les causes de cecite rencontrees dans les pays en developpement et precisement au Mali; la xerophtalmie et le trachome affectent plus particulierement les enfants. Leur prise en charge; sur le plan de la sante publique; necessite non seulement la connaissance de la situation epidemiologique initiale; mais aussi celle de son evolution sous l'effet des mesures prises. Ceci implique l'utilisation de methodes d'evacuation qui soient non seulement fiables; mais aussi suffisamment simples et peu couteuses pour pouvoir etre utilisees aussi souvent qu'il faut

Causes of childhood blindness in Southern Ghana - a blind school survey

Examination of 129 inmates of Akropong School for the Blind revealed 80 per cent of them were blind. Corneal scars or phthisis bulbi; cataracts; glaucoma; and chorioretinitis were the major causes of blindness; being responsible for blindness in 43 per cent; 18 per cent; 16 per cent and 12 per cent respectively of children aged 15 years and below. Congenital rubella syndrome is probably more common in Southern Ghana than in the North and this may explain the relatively greater importance of cataracts and glaucoma in childhood blindness in the South compared with the North

Prevalence of blindness and low vision in the Wenchi district; Ghana

A population-based survey of the prevalence of major blinding disorders was conducted in ten villages in the Wenchi district in central Ghana. 1425 people above the age of 30 were screened; using the WHO eye-examination record. In the age group of 30 and older; the prevalence of bilateral blindness (best acuity less than 3/60) was 1.6 per cent and monocular blindness (visual acuity of 3/60 in one eye) was 2.5 per cent. The prevalence of low vision (visual acuity between 6/18 and 3/60) in both eyes was 2.0 per cent and in one eye 2.2 per cent. The causes of bilateral blindness were cataract 65.2 per cent; onchocerciasis 13 per cent; cornea opacity (non-trachomatous) 8.7 per cent; refraction 4.3 per cent and others 8.7 per cent. An estimated 365 people in the Wenchi district require cataract surgery; 142 people glaucoma treatment and 255 people spectacles to correct a refractive error which causes a visual acuity less than 6/18. In the endemic onchocerciasis area near the Black Volta in the north of the district a higher prevalence of blindness (8.1 per cent) and low vision (4.0 per cent) was found. In this area Ivermectin distribution is needed. This survey provides basic data for the establishment of preventive and curative eye-care in the Wenchi district