Study of Socio-demographic Profile and Cataract Surgical Coverage of Geriatric Cataract Patients in a Rural Field Practice Area of a Municipal Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital in Mumbai, India

Abstract

Introduction: Cataract remains the leading cause of blindness and low vision throughout the world even with advances in the technology and techniques for cataract surgery over the last three decades. The frequency of eye diseases starts increasing around 40 years of age, with an even steeper increase among geriatric population. As cataract is a major cause of avoidable blindness, it is necessary to know its magnitude particularly in rural areas where health resources are limited in order to mobilize the resources. Methods: A cross-sectional community based study was carried out amongst 500 geriatric (>60 yrs) cataract patients in rural field practice area of primary health centre attached to municipal tertiary care teaching hospital in Mumbai during the period of August 2015 to July 2016. A semi-structured interview schedule was prepared comprising of socio-demographic determinants. Data was entered in MS Excel sheet and analysed using percentage and proportions whenever necessary. Results: Out of total 500 study subjects, 213(42.6%) belonged to the age group of 65-69 years, 42(8.4%) belonged to more than 75 years and more than half 256(51.2%) were females. By religion, 354(70.8%) were Hindu followed by 97(19.4%) were Buddhist and 49(9.8%) were Muslim. Majority 365(73.0%) had nuclear family and 228(45.6%) study subjects were illiterate According to socio-economic classification, 368(73.6%) belonged to lower middle class and only 14(2.8%) belonged to upper class. Conclusion: Study concluded that 42.6% participants were in the age group of 65-69 years and more than half were females and 70.8% were Hindu by religion and only 2.8% belonged to the upper socio-economic class. Majority 73.0% had nuclear family and only 3.8% had completed their graduation.