ABSTRACT
Abstract:Objective:To determine ocular health status among automobile drivers in Birnin Kebbi.Methods:Structured questionnaire was used to collect data on automobile drivers' socio-demographiccharacteristics; visual conditions and challenges relevant to adequate visual functions. Also conductedwere eye tests including visual acuity; visual field; colour vision; subjective refraction; pen-light eye examination; funduscopy and applanation tonometry results:Forty-two male automobile drivers with a mean age of 41.7 SD 8.7. All had at least 3 years driving experience and thought eye test was at least necessary before driving. However; only 4 (9.5) ever had an eye test to obtain a driving license. Though;39 (92.9) engaged in daylight and night driving; 5 (11.9) had blurred vision to road side objects; one (2.4) had experienced transient visual obscurations driving and one (2.4) wore corrective eyeglasses while driving. None had difficulty recognizing shades of colours. Four had visual acuity worse than 6/12. Ocular conditions among the drivers' eyes include refractive errors 48;pinguecula 37; pterygium 17; glaucoma 4 and cataract 2. The commonest refractive error was presbyopia.Two drivers had glaucoma and 4 were glaucoma suspects. The care given included counselling 6 (8); prescription 11 (28); and referral for eye care 12 (48).Conclusion:Potentially vision impairing eye conditions exist among automobile drivers and pre-licensing eye test is poorly observed. The need to enforce eye test before the issuance and renewal of driving license is underscored
Subject(s)
Automobiles , Eye Diseases , Health Status , Licensure , Mass ScreeningABSTRACT
The objectives of the World Health Organization [WHO] short-term consultancy to the Nurses and Midwives Council of Malawi was to contribute to strengthening the knowledge and skills of examiners responsible for preparation; marking and evaluating examination papers used to test registered and enrolled nurses for entry into practice