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Abstract #78773 Published in IGR 20-1
Awareness of Eye Health and Diseases among the Population of the Hilly Region of Nepal
Shrestha GS; Sigdel R; Shrestha JB; Sharma AK; Shrestha R; Mishra SK; Joshi SNJournal of ophthalmic & vision research 2018; 13: 461-469
PURPOSE: To collect information regarding awareness and knowledge of eye health and diseases among the population of the hilly region of Nepal. METHODS: In a population-based survey, 1834 participants were enrolled in to the study. Field procedures included the development of a survey questionnaire, field orientation, pretesting, and household data collection. Association between knowledge of eye diseases was derived using the Chi-square test and odds ratios with a 95% confidence interval. A value of ≤0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Most participants were 31-40 years old (33.4%), female (51.1%), of upper caste (43.4%), Hindus (83.3%), received secondary level of education (34.4%), and involved in agriculture (48.6%). Awareness of cataract, night blindness, glaucoma, strabismus, and systemic diseases was 74.6%, 53.4%, 17.4%, 70.8%, and 46.5%, respectively. Knowledge regarding these diseases among those aware was 39.1%, 72.2%, 50.9%, and 92.3%, respectively. Awareness of cataract was significantly higher (88.4%) among higher caste groups ( < 0.001; OR, 4.29; 95% CI, 3.34-5.54), followed by business as an occupation (88.2%; = 0.001; OR, 2.65; 95% CI, 1.44-4.9). Awareness of night blindness was significantly higher among students (72.6%; < 0.001; OR, 2.46; 95% CI, 1.65-3.67). CONCLUSION: There was a general lack of awareness and knowledge of common eye diseases. Improved awareness and knowledge are required for the prevention, early treatment, and access to eye care.
B.P. Koirala Lions Centre for Ophthalmic Studies, Institute of Medicine, Maharajgunj Medical Campus, Tribhuvan University, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Full articleClassification:
1.6 Prevention and screening (Part of: 1 General aspects)
15 Miscellaneous
