Vision health disparities in blindness and visual impairment in Nigeria: A review of the Nigerian National Blindness and Visual Impairment Survey

Obinna F Akano

doi:10.4102/aveh.v76i1.345

Abstract

Purpose: Blindness and visual impairment have become public health problems with prevalence increasing year after year. Nigeria, the most populated country in Africa, is also very diverse in terms of geographical location, ethnicity and culture. This study looks at and considers the vision health disparities in blindness and visual impairment in Nigeria using socio-demographic factors such as gender, geopolitical zones, place of residence and literacy.Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted on PubMed and Google Scholar databases from May 2014 to May 2015. The search included articles from 2001 to May 2015 as well as a review of the Nigerian National Blindness and Visual Impairment Survey.Results: The male dominance culture and lower literacy levels among women in Nigeria have led to a higher prevalence of blindness and visual impairment among women compared to men. In Nigeria, eye diseases that lead to blindness and visual impairment occur more in certain geopolitical zones and ecological regions than others. More Nigerians live in remote rural areas, with little or no access to health care, rather than in urban areas where there are more eye care practitioners and better facilities for care.Conclusion: Differences in gender, geopolitical zones, place of residence and literacy are responsible for existing vision health disparities in blindness and visual impairment in Nigeria.

Highlights

Global estimates of visual impairment (VI) have been on the increase over the years
The purpose of this study is to review the social determinants of health, which are contributing factors, responsible for the vision health disparities in blindness and VI in Nigeria
Knowledge gaps exist in the understanding of visual health disparity in Nigeria, and this study looks to narrow such gaps and hopefully create an awareness on the need for vision health surveillance programmes and initiatives aimed at reducing the burden of VI and blindness in Nigeria

Summary

Introduction

Global estimates of visual impairment (VI) have been on the increase over the years. In 1990, it was estimated that about 148 million people had VI with 38 million blind. Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa with an estimated 2013 mid-year population of about 172 million.[3] The population is projected to increase to nearly 210 million by the year 2025.4 The country is divided into 6 geopolitical zones (GPZ), 36 states and 1 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Abuja.[5] In comparing the country’s population to the rest of the world, Nigeria ranks 8th with over 250 ethnic groups and over 500 indigenous languages.[6] About 63% of the population live in rural areas and adult literacy rate is at 68%.7,8. Oil has been the major source of government revenue since the 1970s and about 68% of the population live below $1.25 per day.[6,9] According to Sightsavers, about 1 million adults are blind in Nigeria and another 3 million are visually impaired while 42 out of every 1000 adults aged 40 and above are blind; the most common cause of VI and blindness in Nigeria is cataract.[10]

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Discussion

Conclusion