Factors affecting the accessibility of cataract screening among elderly in Kalasin Province, Thailand

Abstract

Cataract is one of vision loss which commonly occur in elderly which eventually affect the quality of life. Cataract screening and surgery are essential to correct and prevent loss of vision .Vision 2020 Thailand aims to increase the coverage of visual screening (Snellen Visual Acuity) at 80% in people aged 60 years and above. In 2017, less than 65% of elderly in Kalasin Province, attended visual screening at the Health Promoting Hospital and less than 15% in some rural areas. The study aim to factors affecting the accessibility of cataract screening among elderly in Kalasin Province. This cross sectional study was carried out in Kalalsin Province, northeastern region of Thailand. Multi-stage sampling was used to obtain sample size of 438 people who aged 60 years and above. Data were collected, using an interviewed questionnaire. Descriptive statistic and logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the association factors which affect elderly to attend cataract screening. The result had shown only 44.06% of elderly attended cataract screening. Female more likely to take cataract screening than male (OR=2.29, 95%CI = 1.53-3.41). Elderly who lived distance within 1 km from Health Promoting Hospital more likely to attend cataract screening compare to those who live between 1 to 3 km (OR=0.56, 95%CI = 0.35 – 0.90) from the hospital. Elderly who live within 1 km. walked to the hospital while others took vehicle (either private or public transportations) to the hospital. Moreover, elderly who had skills of access to health information and services was associated with cataract screening (OR=2.42, 95%CI = 1.45-4.03). However, there was no evidence shown relationship between travel time and the attendance of cataract screening. In conclusion, skills of access to health information increase a chance for cataract screening in elderly people. Therefore, distance and time of the journey to the hospital were factors for decision making whether they would attend the cataract screening. Those factors are needed to take into account in order to reduce the risk of blindness from cataract in elderly.