Prevalence of Eye and Vision Abnormalities among a Sample of Children up to Five Years Old Who Visit Primary Health Care Centers in Baghdad Alresafa

Abstract

Background : Vision disorders are the fourth most common disability of children and the leading cause of handicapping conditions in childhood. Eye examination and vision assess- ment are vital for the detection of conditions that result in blindness, signify serious systemic diseases which may lead to problems with school performance, or at worst, threaten the child's life. Objectives : 1. To identify the prevalence of vision and eye abnormalities in children up to five years old attending two of primary health care centers in Baghdad Al resafa. 2. To identify some risk factors associated with vision and eye abnormalities in this age group. Result: The prevalence of eye and vision abnormalities is 6.14% (95%CI 4.09% - 9.05%).The prevalence of strabismus 4.4 %, abnormal visual acuity1.5%, nystagmus 0.5%, con- genital glaucoma 0.25%. In this study sample the majority of children with ocular abnormalities were from the second and fifth years of life (p=0.008). The sex was not significantly as - sociated with ocular abnormalities (p=0.512). Prematurity was not significantly associated with eye problems (p>0.05). Low birth weight was significantly associated with eye problems (p=0.003). Family history of congenital glaucoma, eye devia- tion, wearing glasses during childhood, all were significantly associated with eye problems (p=0.001), but family history of nystagmus and cataract was not significant (p>0.05). Positive history of prenatal infection was not significantly associated with eye problems (p=0.273). Needed oxygen therapy on birth was significant (p=0.002). History of seizure, cerebral palsy, and syndromes all were not significant (p>0.05).