Prevalence of color vision deficiency among primary school pupils in Duhok city, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

Abstract

Background and objectives: Color vision deficiency or color blindness is a difficulty in recognizing certain colors. The color vision deficient persons remain unmindful about their condition and only become aware accidentally when tested for color vision. Color vision deficiency may affect job performance in certain careers like drivers, pilots, electrical and electronic engineers, policemen, artists, and medical practitioners. The study aims to detect the color vision deficiency prevalence among the primary school pupils in Duhok city. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among randomely selected two primary school children in Duhok city, Iraq from 1st February 2019 to 1st May 2019. Socio-demographic data was collected by interview using a questionnaire. All participants underwent color vision evaluation using Ishihara’s pseudo isochromatic test 24 plate editions. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 24. Results: Out of 978 pupils, 491 were males (50.21%) and 487 were females (49.79%), color vision deficiency was detected in 55 pupils giving a prevalence of (5.63%); among them, 38 pupils have had deutan defects (3.89%) and 17 had protan defects (1.74%). Color vision deficient pupils were 47 males (9.6%) and 8 females (1.64%). Conclusions: This study found that 5.63% of pupils were color deficient, with male gender predominance. All of the color deficient pupils were unmindful of their condition. Green color deficient pupils (deutans) were more than red color deficient (protans), with zero cases of total color blindness.