Awareness of and attitude towards glaucoma among an adult rural population of Osun State, Southwest Nigeria
MEAJO-Middle East African Journal of Ophthalmology. 2014; 21 (2): 165-169
in En
| IMEMR
| ID: emr-142136
Responsible library:
EMRO
To obtain baseline data and assess the level of awareness and attitudes towards glaucoma among rural communities of Osun State, Nigeria. This was a community-based study that involved interviews and descriptive cross-sectional analysis. Serial-recruitment was performed of consenting participants who presented at a community-based screening service in March 2011. Socio-demographic data and information about glaucoma were obtained through face-to-face semi-structured questionnaires. The study population comprised 259 respondents [mean age 49.73 +/- 16.6 years; range 18 to 90 years]. There were 159 females [61.4%]. Skilled workers were the most common 130/259 [50.3%] participants. Only 41 [15.8%; 95% CI: 11.4-20.2] participants had ever heard of glaucoma. Sources of information were from visits to an eye clinic for 21/41 [51.2%; 95% CI: 35.9-66.5] participants and 15/41 [36.6%] participants who know someone with glaucoma. Reponses to the causes of glaucoma included 20/41 [48.8%; 33.5-64.1] participant who said 'I don't know' and 24.4% of participants who responded 'curse-from-God'. Responses to questions on treatment included 20/41 [48.8%] participants who responded 'I don't know how it can be treated' and 10/41 [36.6%] said 'medically'. Thirty 30/41 [73.2%] participants would refuse surgery, half of them because 'it cannot cure or reverse the disease' while [26.7%] would refuse out of 'fear'. Only 8/41 [19.5%; 95% CI: 7.4-31.6] would accept surgery for maintenance. Statistically significant predictors of glaucoma awareness were older participants, males and skilled workers [teachers] [P = 0.028, P = 0.018, P = 0.0001, respectively]. The outcomes of study indicate a low level of awareness of glaucoma. Health education at all levels of health and eye care services is required to prevent ocular morbidity and irreversible blindness from glaucoma.
Search on Google
Index:
IMEMR
Main subject:
Rural Population
/
Awareness
/
Attitude
/
Cross-Sectional Studies
/
Surveys and Questionnaires
/
Adult
Type of study:
Observational_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Qualitative_research
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
En
Journal:
Middle East Afr. J. Ophthalmol.
Year:
2014