Barriers to utilization of cataract surgical services in Ekiti State, South Western Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the barriers to utilization of cataract surgery in Ekiti State, south western Nigeria. METHODS: A semistructured questionnaire was used to extract relevant data from cataract patients seen during six episodes of free eye screening conducted quarterly across the three senatorial districts of the state for a 15-month period. The questionnaire contains relevant biodata and reasons why the patients did not utilized facilities for routine cataract surgery prior to the screening exercise. The data obtained were coded and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 15. RESULTS: A total of 132 patients were analyzed for the study, The study group comprised 64 males (48.5%) and 68 females (51.5%). Age range 16-95 years with a mean of 64.8 years ± SD 16.5. Forty of them (30.3%) were bilaterally blind, whereas 92 (69.7%) were uniocularly blind from cataract. The most common reason for not utilizing routine cataract surgical services was financial constraint as claimed by 65 (49.2%) of them; other reasons include ignorance 38 (28.8%), medical illness 24 (18.2%), and fear 5 (3.8%). CONCLUSION: Financial constraint is the most common barrier to utilization of routine cataract surgery in Ekiti, State. Ignorance is also a significant factor in our environment.

Millennium Development Goals: an assessment of awareness and perceptions of attainability by health workers in Owo, Nigeria.

AIM: To assess the awareness of the United Nations Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) by some Nigerian health workers and also their perceptions of the attainability of the goals. SUBJECT AND METHODS: Through the means of a structured questionnaire served on 92 consenting health workers selected by stratified sampling technique ,information regarding their bio data, awareness of the millennium development goals (MDGs), the duration and source of the awareness and their perception of attainability of the goals were obtained. The feasibility of attainment of the goals was rated as: very attainable, attainable, and not attainable. RESULTS: All the respondents were by then aware of the MDGs. Most of the respondents (57.6%) became aware within the preceding year, i.e., 2006; while only very few (2.2%) had been aware 6-7 years earlier (2000 and 2001). Some respondents (46.7%) got to know of MDGs through their colleagues while others (32.6%) got to know through the print and electronic media. The remaining others (20.7%) were informed through the sensitization efforts of the government and non-government agencies. The highest degree of optimism for the attainment ofMDGs were displayed largely for health related MDGs; i.e., the goals 4, 5 and 6. CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS: Majority of the respondents were aware of MDGs. Most adjudged the attainment of MDGs feasible. The government and other stake holders should sensitize the populace, strengthen the health system and ensure equitable access to health care.

Eye Care Preferences among Rural Nigerians

This is a cross sectional community based study that determined the eye care seeking dispositions of the adult Nigerians using the inhabitants of Afon a rural community in Kwara State; Nigeria as a case study. A total of three hundred and thirty nine (339) adult inhabitants of the Community were selected using cluster sampling technique. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered on the respondents by the author and three assistants. Most respondents (62.5) resorted to orthodox eye care while a few (8.8) sought traditional eye care. Others (26.3) received no treatment at all while 2.4sought spiritual and other combinations. The preferred mode of eye care was the orthodox care

Ocular morbidity survey in an opthalmically underserved rural area of Nigeria.

This paper describes in some detail a prevalence of blindness study conducted in a rural area of South-Western Nigeria, which is served by a peripheral eye clinic. By a stratified random cluster-sampling procedure, 1975 people in ten villages were selected for ocular examination. Community prevalence rate of ocular morbidity was 3.3% with the highest prevalence in the 51-60 years age group. There was a male-female ratio of 4:3 and the prevalence of ocular morbidity in the 31-50 years age group was most significant, but people in this age group seldom reported at the peripheral eye clinic serving the survey areas. Age-related macular degeneration was found to be prevalent in the community, while few cases were reported at the peripheral eye centre. The information gathered in the survey is being used to plan and improve eye care services from the peripheral eye clinic. Case finding in persons aged 31-50 years and those at risk for age-related macular degeneration has been recommended as part of the programme of the peripheral eye clinic.