Barriers to accessing eye care services among visually impaired populations in rural Andhra Pradesh, South India.
Indian J Ophthalmol
;
2007 Sep-Oct; 55(5): 365-71
Article
in English
| IMSEAR
| ID: sea-72270
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:
To understand the reasons why people in rural south India with visual impairment arising from various ocular diseases do not seek eye care. MATERIALS ANDMETHODS:
A total of 5,573 persons above the age of 15 were interviewed and examined in the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh covering the districts of Adilabad, West Godavari and Mahaboobnagar. A pre-tested structured questionnaire on barriers to eye care was administered by trained field investigators.RESULTS:
Of the eligible subjects, 1234 (22.1%, N=5573)) presented with distant visual acuity < 20/60 or equivalent visual field loss in the better eye. Of these, 898 (72.7%, N=1234) subjects had not sought treatment despite noticing a decrease in vision citing personal, economic and social reasons. The analysis also showed that the odds of seeking treatment was significantly higher for literates [odds ratio (OR) 1.91, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.38 to 2.65], for those who would be defined as blind by visual acuity category (OR 1.35, 95% CI 0.96 to 1.90) and for those with cataract and other causes of visual impairment (OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.11 to 2.03). Barriers to seeking treatment among those who had not sought treatment despite noticing a decrease in vision over the past five years were personal in 52% of the respondents, economic in 37% and social in 21%.CONCLUSION:
Routine planning for eye care services in rural areas of India must address the barriers to eye care perceived by communities to increase the utilization of services.
Full text:
Available
Index:
IMSEAR (South-East Asia)
Main subject:
Rural Population
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Patient Acceptance of Health Care
/
Visual Acuity
/
Odds Ratio
/
Blindness
/
Vision, Low
Type of study:
Etiology study
/
Observational study
/
Prevalence study
/
Qualitative research
/
Risk factors
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
English
Journal:
Indian J Ophthalmol
Year:
2007
Type:
Article
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