Abstract
IntroductionRefractive error is an important cause of correctable visual impairment in the worldwide with a global distribution of 1.75% to 20.7% among schoolchildren. Teacher’s knowledge about refractive error play an important role in encouraging students to seek treatment that helps in reducing the burden of visual impairment.ObjectiveTo determine knowledge, attitude and associated factors among primary school teachers regarding refractive error in school children in Gondar city.MethodsInstitution based cross-sectional study was conducted on 565 primary school teachers in Gondar city using pretested and structured self-administered questionnaire. For processing and analysis, SPSS version 20 was used and variables which had a P value of <0.05 in the multivariable analysis were considered as statistically significant.ResultA total of 565 study subjects were participated in this study with a mean age of 42.05 ± 12.01 years. Of these study participants 55.9% (95% CI: 51.9, 59.8) had good knowledge and 57.2% (95% CI: 52.9, 61.4) had favorable attitude towards refractive error. History of spectacle use [AOR = 2.13 (95% CI: 1.32, 3.43)], history of eye examination [AOR = 1.67 (95% CI: 1.19, 2.34)], training on eye health [AOR = 1.94 (95% CI; 1.09, 3.43)] and 11–20 years of experience [AOR = 2.53 (95% CI: 1.18, 5.43)] were positively associated with knowledge. Whereas being male [AOR = 2.03 (95% CI: 1.37, 3.01)], older age [AOR = 3.05 (95% CI: 1.07, 8.72)], 31–40 years of experience [AOR = 0.23 (95% CI: 0.07, 0.72)], private school type [AOR = 1.76 (95% CI: 1.06, 2.93)] and 5th -8th teaching category [AOR = 1.54 (95% CI: 1.05, 2.24)] were associated with attitude.ConclusionKnowledge and attitude of study subjects were low which needs training of teachers about the refractive error.
Highlights
Refractive error is an important cause of correctable visual impairment in the worldwide with a global distribution of 1.75% to 20.7% among schoolchildren
Due to the lack of published literature investigating the knowledge and attitude of primary school teachers regarding a refractive error in Ethiopia as well as in the study area, the present
A total of 565 primary school teachers who were working in Gondar city took part in the study with a response rate of 96.3%
Summary
Refractive error is an important cause of correctable visual impairment in the worldwide with a global distribution of 1.75% to 20.7% among schoolchildren. According to world health organization, refractive error is responsible for 42% and 3% of visual impairment and blindness respectively in the world [2]. Undetected and untreated vision problems interfere with the ability to perform to one’s full learning potential and place a greater socioeconomic burden on the society. To lessen this impact, via early detection and referring school children to eye care services by school teachers, exploration of knowledge and attitude in a population is very important [11,12]
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