Prevalence; Distribution and Determinants of Myopia in Owerri; Nigeria

Background: Uncorrected myopia is a significant cause of visual impairment and avoidable blindness. Incidence of open-angle glaucoma has been shown to occur more often in myopia. This cross-sectional analytical study determined the prevalence; distribution and determinants of myopia in the adult population of Imo State; Nigeria with a view to establish a reference data for research purposes and future intervention in this locality. Materials and Method: A total of 3451 adults living in Owerri consisting of 2606 persons as test group and 845 persons as controls were randomly selected using standard optometric methods including subjective refraction. Results: Refractive error (ametropia) was found in 79.5 study and 76.8 control. Myopia was found in 23.4 study and 19.6 control. Highest prevalence of myopia was observed in females aged 40-49 years. Fifty percent of study and 68.1 of control group had myopia of -0.50DS to -3.00DS while 4.0 and 2.4 of study and control group respectively had myopic astigmatism. In all; 27.7 study and 16.2 control had myopia 5.00DS. The highest degree of myopia found in this study was - 24.00DS. Conclusion: This study provided information on the prevalence; distribution and determinants of myopia in Owerri; Nigeria and the data could be a basis for improved visual health care in the south-eastern sub-region of Nigeria

Astigmatism: Prevalence; Distribution and Determinants in Owerri; Nigeria

Background: Astigmatism impairs focusing ability of the eyes at far and near distances. This causes distortion; blurred vision; eye strain; headache; makes difficult visual tasks such as reading; driving (especially at night); focusing on the classroom board and computer screen. This study determined the prevalence; distribution and determinants of astigmatism in Owerri; Imo State; Nigeria in order to establish a baseline data for the state. Materials and Methods: Three thousand; four hundred and fifty - one adults consisting of 2606 persons as test subjects and 845 persons as controls were randomly selected for the study. Structured - questionnaire was administered to the subjects and thereafter; the visual acuity at far and near including tonometry; ophthalmoscopy; perimetry; retinoscopy and subjective refraction were done. Astigmatic correction was prescribed in the minus cylinder format and astigmatism was defined as a cylindrical error less than -0.50 diopter cylinder in any axis. Astigmatism was classified by axis as with-the-rule (WTR); against-the-rule; and oblique astigmatism. Results: A prevalence of 20.9 and 22.5 of astigmatism was found in the study and control groups respectively. From the astigmatics; 59.4 and 61.1 of females in the study and control groups respectively (especially females aged 40-49) were mostly affected. WTR astigmatism of =1.00DC (P = 0.000) was statistically significant between study and control groups. A higher prevalence of astigmatism was found in subjects domiciled in the rural areas and caused by factors like environmental influences; poor nutrition and irrational first line drug use of chloroquine. Conclusion: To achieve the targets of vision 2020; we recommend periodic visual examination and health education on diet; drug use and safe environmental practises especially for people living in rural areas in low income economy like ours

Certain Red Blood Cell Indices of Maternal and Umbilical Cord Blood in Owerri; Nigeria: A Preliminary Report

BACKGROUND: Umbilical cord blood analysis may give a clue to the state of health of both pregnant mothers and their neonates. However, there is paucity of literature on some of these indices from our area.OBJECTIVES:This present study determined the red blood indices of maternal and umbilical cord blood in Owerri, Nigeria.METHODS:Pregnant mothers aged 18 - 42 years who booked and received antenatal care until vaginal delivery at the antenatal clinics of two tertiary health care centres in Owerri, Nigeria were divided into five age groups I - V. Maternal blood samples were obtained immediately after delivery of the baby. The umbilical blood samples were collected from the umbilical cord of the baby at the end of the second stage of labour. The haemoglobin (Hb) concentration and packed cell volume (PCV) were determined using standard procedures. The mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) was calculated mathematically.RESULTS:The result of the cord blood haemoglobin concentration and packed cell volume were significantly higher than the maternal values (14.22 ± 1.25 g/dl versus 11.20 ± 0.92g/d and 42.6 9± 3.80% versus 33.67 ± 2.71% respectively; (P < 0.0001).However, there was no significant differences between cord blood and maternal mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (33.24 ±0.23% versus 33.29 ± 0.45 % ;P = 0.310). Furthermore, a positive linear Pearson's correlation was observed between the mean Hb and PCV of cord blood and maternal blood (r=1.11 and r=1.15 respectively <0.0001).CONCLUSION:This result provides a baseline data for further studies on establishing a reference value for maternal and umbilical cord packed cell volume and haemoglobin concentration in our locality