ABSTRACT
From December 2005 to June 2007, a total screening of all 1418 government primary schools in Khartoum State, Sudan, was performed to estimate ocular problems among children aged 6-15 years. We screened 671,119 children (56.7% males) for significant refractive error and other eye ailments. Ocular problems were found in 20,321 (3.03%) children. The 3 localities with highest ocular pathology were Karary (26.2%), Ummbada (21.0%) and Jabal Awlia (15.7%). The overall prevalence of refractive error was 2.19%. Myopia was found in 10,064 (1.50%) children while 4661 (0.70%) were hyperopic. Other ocular problems included vernal keratoconjunctivitis, vitamin A deficiency, microbial conjunctivitis, strabismus and corneal opacity. Only 288 (0.04%) children were diagnosed with active trachoma: 86.5% of these were from Ummbada locality, on the periphery ofthe State, where transportation facilities are poor and poverty is widespread. Overall, 99% of the eye ailments identified are either treatable or preventable. To reduce these and to achieve the goals of Vision 2020, an effective and efficient school health programme is needed.
Subject(s)
Eye Diseases/epidemiology , Vision Screening , Vitamin A Deficiency/drug therapy , Adolescent , Child , Conjunctivitis/diagnosis , Conjunctivitis/epidemiology , Conjunctivitis/therapy , Eye Diseases/diagnosis , Eye Diseases/rehabilitation , Eye Diseases/therapy , Eyeglasses/supply & distribution , Female , Humans , Male , Myopia/diagnosis , Myopia/epidemiology , Myopia/rehabilitation , Prevalence , Refractive Errors/diagnosis , Refractive Errors/epidemiology , Refractive Errors/rehabilitation , School Health Services/statistics & numerical data , Strabismus/diagnosis , Strabismus/epidemiology , Strabismus/rehabilitation , Sudan/epidemiology , Vision Disorders/diagnosis , Vision Disorders/epidemiology , Vision Disorders/rehabilitation , Vision Screening/methods , Vitamin A Deficiency/complications , Vitamin A Deficiency/diagnosisABSTRACT
From December 2005 to June 2007, a total screening of all 1418 government primary schools in Khartoum State, Sudan, was performed to estimate ocular problems among children aged 6-15 years. We screened 671 119 children [56.7% males] for significant refractive error and other eye ailments. Ocular problems were found in 20 321 [3.03%] children. The 3 localities with highest ocular pathology were Karary [26.2%], Ummbada [21.0%] and Jabal Awlia [15.7%]. The overall prevalence of refractive error was 2.19%. Myopia was found in 10 064 [1.50%] children while 4661 [0.70%] were hyperopic. Other ocular problems included vernal keratoconjunctivitis, vitamin A deficiency, microbial conjunctivitis, strabismus and corneal opacity. Only 288 [0.04%] children were diagnosed with active trachoma: 86.5% of these were from Ummbada locality, on the periphery of the State, where transportation facilities are poor and poverty is widespread. Overall, 99% of the eye ailments identified are either treatable or preventable. To reduce these and to achieve the goals of Vision 2020, an effective and efficient school health programme is needed
