Abstract
Self-treatment for eye diseases is very common in most developing countries yet there has been little investigation of such attitudes and practices. In many settings, people do not proceed beyond self-treatment and do not receive care from either traditional healers or Western eye care providers. Visual impairment and blindness can be the result. We conducted population-based survey of use of eye care services and self-treatment in two districts of Malawi. Adults were administered a detailed interview regarding their use of eye care services (Western and traditional as well as self-treatment) and their knowledge and use of traditional eye medicines. Self-treatment was defined as use of either Western or traditional medicines by the individual for their most recent eye condition. Only eye conditions that were considered severe by the study subjects were correlated with treatment options. Interviews were carried out among 800 adults in the study areas. Self-treatment was reported for the last episode of eye disease by 39.8% of the study population. Factors associated with self-treatment included sex, religion and socioeconomic status. Even though 76.8% of the respondents reported treatment from the health center or hospital to be the least expensive option, many opted for self-treatment first. Among those opting for self-treatment 72% used traditional eye medicines. Even among cases that individuals considered to be quite severe (these included cataract, trachoma and conjunctivitis), self-treatment was the option of choice in 22.2% of cases.
Highlights
Global blindness increased from 28 million to 45 million in the two decades between 1975 and 1995. (Johnson and Foster, 2003) Current projections suggest that 76 million people will be blind by 2020 unless specific activities are undertaken to halt the trend (Frick and Foster, 2003)
Blindness was recognized in 1% of the population over 7 years of age (Chirambo et al, 1986). These findings served as the baseline for vitamin A, trachoma, and cataract programmes in the Lower Shire Valley as well as elsewhere in Malawi
Self-treatment is common in rural Malawi; people treat themselves in order to cope with common eye conditions
Summary
Global blindness increased from 28 million to 45 million in the two decades between 1975 and 1995. (Johnson and Foster, 2003) Current projections suggest that 76 million people will be blind by 2020 unless specific activities are undertaken to halt the trend (Frick and Foster, 2003). (Johnson and Foster, 2003) Current projections suggest that 76 million people will be blind by 2020 unless specific activities are undertaken to halt the trend (Frick and Foster, 2003). This problem is most pronounced in developing countries due to increasing life expectancy and population growth. Blindness (defined as
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
