Utilization Of Eye Care Services Research Articles

Eye care service utilization and associated factors among adults in Debre Berhan Town, North Shewa, Ethiopia, 2023.

Globally, the utilization of eye care services varies widely, ranging from 18 to 90%. Low utilization of eye care services can lead to delayed detection of vision problems. However, there are limited data on the proportion of eye care service utilization and its associated factors in Ethiopia at the community level. The objective of this study was to determine the proportion of eye care service utilization and its associated factors among adults in Debre Birhan town, North Shewa, Ethiopia. Using a multistage sampling method, a community-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 960 adults in Debre Birhan town from 8 May to 8 June 2023. Binary logistic regression was performed. Variables with a p-value of less than 0.05 were considered significant. A total of 940 study participants participated, resulting in a response rate of 97.9%. The mean age of the participants was 54.67 years (SD ± 8.69). The proportion of good-level eye care service utilization was found to be 32.98% [95% confidence interval (CI): 29.97, 35.99]. Factors positively associated with good-level eye care service utilization included older age [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.58, 95%CI: 1.00, 2.51], higher educational status (AOR = 2.25, 95%CI: 1.25, 4.06), high family monthly income (AOR = 8.70, 95%CI: 4.99,15.18), awareness of regular eye checkups (AOR = 1.77, 95%CI: 1.15, 2.73), a history of eye disease (AOR = 2.57, 95%CI: 1.77,3.74), health insurance (AOR = 1.99, 95% CI: 1.34, 2.95), and history of spectacle use (AOR = 1.94, 95%CI:1.34, 2.80). The study revealed that the proportion of good-level eye care service utilization was low. Older age, higher educational status, high family monthly income, awareness of regular eye checkups, a history of eye disease, health insurance, and history of spectacle use were significantly associated with a good level of eye care service utilization.

Perceived Eye Health-Seeking Behaviour of Residents of Ido Local Government Area, Oyo State Nigeria

Eye disease is a common global health problem that affects both young and old people. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the utilisation of eye care services globally was 18% in 2014, while in Nigeria; the rate of utilisation was reported to be below 25% as against the set target of 90%. This study therefore was aimed at assessing the perceived eye health-seeking behaviour of the residents of Ido Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria. The study adopted a quantitative cross-sectional method among 289 residents of three communities in the Ido Local Government area, Ibadan. A self-administered validated questionnaire was used for data collection. Analysis of data was done using descriptive statistics (frequency, means and standard deviation) and inferential statistics; chi-square test and correlation coefficient which was fixed at p<0.5 level of significance. The result revealed that less than half of the respondents 135 (46.7%) had eye screening in the past, 156 (54%) had eye problems in the past 82(52.6 %) visited hospitals to solve their eye problems and others were involved in self - medication, patronised traditional healers and use over the counter drugs. The chi-square test showed a statistically significant relationship between the age of the participants and their engagement in the eye screening test. In conclusion, less than half of the respondents had eye screening in the past, while a large proportion of those who had eye problems visited non-medical facilities to seek eye care services. This indicates inappropriate eye health-seeking behaviour of the majority of the respondents. In addition, their perceived health-seeking behaviour was influenced by their age. This study recommends that more public health education needs to be done to educate the community on appropriate personal eye care to ensure positive eye health-seeking behaviour.

Prevalence and Pattern of Ocular Diseases among Rural Dwellers in Affa, Enugu State

Background: The prevalence and pattern of different ocular diseases among rural dwellers vary in different parts of the world. It is usually influenced by a numerous factor, including but not limited to utilization of eye care services, socio-economic status, and level of education. Aim: To identify the most prevalent eye diseases and their pattern of occurrence, among rural dwellers in South East Nigeria, with a view to influence targeted health policies and subsequently, targeted interventions to improve eye health in the region. Methods: The study was a cross sectional study involving patients willing to participate in the study during a one-day free eye outreach organized by the Ophthalmology department, ESUTH Parklane at Affa Community in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu state. A preliminary visit was made one week prior to the health outreach, by some members of the outreach team to mobilize the community, seek their consent and fix a date through their leaders. On the day for the outreach, the objective of the eye screening was explained to the participants in both English and their local language. Subsequently, informed consent was obtained and each subject registered and the bio-data documented. Registered participant had their unaided and aided Visual Acuity (VA) of each eye determined. Then, the anterior and posterior segment was examined. Data collected were recorded using a proforma and later inputted into a computer, cleaned and analysed using SPSS version 21. Results were presented in tables and represented in frequencies percentages. Association between variables were done using t-test and p- value of <0.05 was considered significant. Results: One hundred and sixty-eight participants were screened during the outreach programme/study with mean age of 40+0.5years. There were more females 116 (69.1%) than males 52 (30.9%), giving a female to male ratio of 2:1 and they are predominantly Christians and farmers. The common ocular problems among the participants include cataract 53 (22.6%), refractive error 37 (15.8%), Pterygium 35 (14.9%). Cataract was the most common eye disease among the outreach participants and responsible for 22.6% of all ocular problems. Normal visual acuity was found more in participants < 50 years of age, mild visual impairment occurred more in participants 51-70 years while moderate visual impairment to blindness were seen more in patients >70 years. Conclusion: In this study, the commonest ocular problems among the participants include Cataract, Refractive error, and Pterygium which are reversible causes of visual impairment and blindness. Therefore, health policies and advocacies should be directed towards reducing the burden of these reversible causes of visual impairment and blindness among the rural dwellers which constitute greater proportion of our population.

Experiences of seeking diabetic eye care among patients with diabetes in China: a community-based convergent mixed methods study

ObjectivesThis study aimed to characterize the most updated utilization of eye care services and obtain a holistic understanding of barriers among patients with diabetes in China. Study designThis was a convergent mixed methods study. MethodsA convergent triangulation mixed methods approach was used, with a quantitative cross-sectional survey of patients with diabetes and semistructured interviews involving patients and health workers. Following the conceptual framework of the World Health Organization Determinants of Health Behaviours, multivariate logistic regression for quantitative analysis and thematic analysis for qualitative data were used to examine barriers to seeking eye care among patients with diabetes. Triangulation was used to integrate quantitative and qualitative results. ResultsAmong 1167 surveyed patients who participated in the quantitative component, 29.1% had undergone eye examinations within the last 12 months, and 9.3% had received eye surgery. Awareness that diabetes causes eye diseases (P < 0.001) and knowing laser treatment can treat diabetic retinopathy (DR; P < 0.001) were associated with higher examination rates. In the qualitative component, involving 20 patients and 11 health workers, barriers were identified from individual, social, and cultural environmental factors. Integration of data highlighted the complex interplay of these factors in shaping care-seeking behaviors and the importance of non-economic factors, including patients' information about costs of DR services and cultural environmental factors. ConclusionsDiabetic eye care utilization remains suboptimal in China, emphasizing the impact of cultural and contextual factors. Comprehensive education strategies, along with training for primary health workers and task-shifting, are likely to enhance eye care service utilization in underserved settings.

Cataract surgery workload estimates in Theni district, India

Background/aimsTo estimate the annual cataract surgery workload in Theni district, Tamil Nadu, India based on current utilisation of cataract services, prevalence of blindness and vision impairment (VI), and cataract burden-reduction...

Risk factors affecting the utilization of eye care services evaluated by the CDC's behavior risk factor surveillance system from 2018 to 2021.

When thinking about major health concerns in the U.S. and around the world, eye care ranks lower compared to cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes. However, people do not think about the direct connection between diabetes and eye health. Untreated diabetes can lead to visual impairments such as blindness or difficulty seeing. Studies have found that eye health associated with nutrition, occupational exposure, diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease are some of the known risk factors. This study aimed to identify the potential risk factors that are associated with visual impairment (VI). The data used for this analysis were obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) from 2018 to 2021. We found important characteristics, such as the U.S. region, general health perception, employment status, income status, age, and health insurance source, that are associated with VI. Our study confirmed that the common demographical factors including age, race/ethnicity, the U.S. region, and gender are associated with VI. The study also highlights associations with additional risk factors such as health insurance source, general health perceptions, employment status, and income status. Using this information, we can reach out to communities with large numbers of individuals experiencing vision challenges and help educate them on prevention and treatment protocols, thereby effectively addressing VI and blindness challenges within our communities, neighborhoods, and finally, the broader society.

Eye care service utilization and associated factors among diabetic patients in Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Introduction'Vision 2020, the Right to Sight', jointly coordinated by the World Health Organization's program for the prevention of blindness and deafness and the international agency for the prevention of blindness, was launched in 1999, however, the initiative faces many challenges to hitting its target. One of the challenges for this is, the absence of comprehensive data regarding eye care service utilization among diabetes mellitus patients in Africa. Therefore, this study was aimed at assessing the prevalence of eye care service utilization and associated factors among adult diabetes mellitus patients in Africa. MethodsThis systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted as per the international preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA) guidelines. Published articles were searched using reputable databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library) and Web searches (Science Direct, African Journals Online, and Google Scholar). Quality appraisal was assessed based on the Joanna Briggs Institute's (JBI) critical appraisal checklist. The extracted data was exported to STATA version 11 (STATA Corp., LLC) for further analysis. Heterogeneity between the results of primary studies was assessed using Cochran's Q chi-square test and quantified with the I2 statistics. Publication bias was assessed by visual inspection of the funnel plot and Egger's regression tests. ResultsThe database search found 26,966 articles. The pooled prevalence of eye care service utilization among diabetic patients in Africa is found to be 40.92 % (95 % CI: 27.14–54.70, P < 0.001). Good knowledge (POR = 3.57, 95 % CI: 2.67–4.76), good attitude (POR = 5.68, 95 % CI: 4.20–7.68), age greater than 65 years old (POR = 7.11, 95 % CI: 3.86–13.10), urban residence (POR = 5.03, 95 % CI: 2.12–11.96), and disease duration greater than 6 years (POR = 3.81, 95 % CI: 2.25–6.45) were factors associated with eye care service utilization. ConclusionThis meta-analysis revealed that a high proportion of people with diabetes failed to use eye care services. Older age, good knowledge, urban residence and longer duration of illness were found to be the contributing factors for the utilization of eye care services in diabetes mellitus patients. Therefore, by considering the negative impact of low eye care service utilization, it is important to improve the habit of regular screening of the eye into routine assessment of diabetes mellitus follow up targeting patients with older age and longer duration of illness to reduce the magnitude of the problem.

Changing trends in barriers to accessing eye care services in rural South India: results from the longitudinal Andhra Pradesh Eye Disease Study III (APEDS III) cohort.

To assess the changing trends in barriers towards accessing eye care in a rural population cohort from Southern India. This is a population-based longitudinal cohort of participants (the Andhra Pradesh Eye Disease study [APEDS]) from three rural regions of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh who were evaluated at baseline (APEDS I; 1996-2000), along with follow-ups at 10 years (APEDS II; 2009-10) and 15 years (APEDS III; 2012-2016). At follow-up, all participants 30 years and above were administered a structured questionnaire on barriers to uptake of eye care services. Of 3810 participants, 1449 had visual impairment (VI). Among them, 1302 noticed a reduction in vision over last five years and 722 sought treatment, a significant improvement from baseline (P < 0.001). Participants were more likely to seek treatment if they were educated (OR = 1.43, 95%CI: 1.07-1.89), had hypertension (OR = 1.36, 95%CI: 1.04-1.77), had VI from causes other than cataract and refractive error (OR = 2.49, 95%CI: 1.56-3.99) and were residents of Adilabad (OR = 2.21; 95%CI: 1.58-3.08) and Mahbubnagar (OR = 3.55; 95%CI: 2.48-5.08) districts. Those with moderate or worse VI were less likely to seek treatment (moderate VI: OR = 0.56; 95%CI: 0.42-0.75, severe VI: OR = 0.34; 95%CI: 0.19-0.57, blindness: OR = 0.38; 95%CI: 0.2-0.73). The most important barriers to uptake of serviceswere, not perceiving loss of vision as a serious problem (25.9%), accepting it an aging process (21.4%) or due to economic reasons (16.0%). Personal and economic elements accounted for considerable amounts of barriers for utilization of eye care services. The uptake of services could be improved by addressing these specific barriers and risk factors for non-compliance.

Eye Care Utilization among Older Subjects with Visual Impairment in Northwest Ethiopia.

To find out the level of eye care service utilization and its determinants among the elderly visually impaired populations while visiting ophthalmic outreach locations in North-Western Ethiopia, 2021. An ophthalmic outreach-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 852 visually impaired older people. Participants were selected by using a systematic random sampling method from January to July 2021. Data were collected by using an interviewer-administered questionnaire and an ocular examination. The collected data were entered into the Epi Info 7, and analyzed using SPSS 20. A binary logistic regression was fitted. A total of 821 participants, with a response rate of 96.5%, were included in the study. The utilization of eye care services within the past two years prior to the study was 21.1% (95 % CI: 18.2-23.9). Having systemic disease (AOR = 3.2, 95% CI: 1.5-7.0), being a spectacle wearer (AOR = 4.5, 95% CI: 2.0-9.4), having visual impairment at distance (AOR = 2.9; 95% CI: 1.5-5.6), being blind (AOR = 2.9; 95% CI: 1.5-5.6), duration of visual impairment 1 year (AOR = 2.5; 95% CI: 1.3-4.9) were all significantly associated. In this study, utilization of eye care services was low. Being visually impaired at distance, being blind, recent onset of visual impairment, being a spectacle wearer, and having systemic disease were all related to the use of eye care services. The commonest barriers to utilization of eye care services were financial scarcity and long distances between eye care facilities.

Ophthalmic services utilisation and associated factors in the Ashanti region, Ghana.

This survey determined the utilisation of eye care services and associated factors among adults in the Ashanti region of Ghana. A population-based cross-sectional descriptive study. Data for this study was collected from 1615 randomly selected individuals in the Ashanti region of Ghana, using a structured, pretested interviewer-guided questionnaire. Information regarding the accessibility and determinants of, and barriers to, eye care services was based on self-reports, using the WHO Eye Care Services Assessment Questionnaire. Inferential analyses were performed using the chi-square test for statistical significance, set at p=0.05. Ashanti Region, Ghana. One thousand six hundred and fifteen randomly selected adults. Public eye care facilities were used by 58.2% of the participants for their last eye exam. Of the participants, 47.0% had travelled less than five kilometres for their last eye exam. Waiting time and service cost were participants' most frequently cited challenges in seeking care. No need felt (40.1%), self-medication (37.7%) and cost (22.2%) were the most frequently mentioned barriers to seeking ophthalmic services. The major challenges encountered in seeking eye care services were waiting time and cost of service. Major barriers to ophthalmic services utilisation were no need felt, self-medication and cost. Factors such as cost, lack of felt need and self-medication, which serve as barriers to utilising eye care services, should be addressed by stake-holders through eye health education and promotion. None declared.

Utilization of eye care services in an underserved community in Enugu State, Nigeria.

To determine the utilization of eye care services in an underserved community in Enugu State, Nigeria. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among adults aged 18 years and older. A structured questionnaire was used to collect information on the utilization of eye care services within the last two years. A total of 500 adults with a mean age of 48 ± 10 years participated in the study, the majority (65.6%) of whom were females. The utilization rate within the last two years was 18% (40/500). Utilization of eye care services was associated with age, religion, occupation, marital status, monthly income, education, family history, and history of ocular disease (all P < 0.05). The major barrier to the utilization of eye care services was cost (30%), distance (22.6%), and bad road infrastructure (15.2%). There is a low rate of eye care service utilization in the Ugbawka community of Enugu State, Nigeria. The cost of eye care services, distance, and bad road infrastructure were the major barriers to the use of eye care services. These suggest the need for the provision of affordable and accessible eye care services in this community to reduce the burden of visual impairment and blindness.

A community-based cross-sectional study of eye care service utilization among the adult population in southern Ethiopia.

Visual impairment, which is related to many eye diseases, is a major public health problem. If detected and treated early, it can be prevented; therefore, regular use of vision services is very important. This study aimed to assess the proportion of utilization of eye care services and associated factors among the rural community population in southern Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study design with a two-stage cluster random sampling technique was conducted to collect data from adults aged 40 years and above using interviewer-administered questionnaires. Kebeles were randomly selected by the lottery method, and systematic random sampling with proportional distribution was used to select the households. An adult individual was randomly selected from a household when there was more than one adult available. A binary logistic regression model was used to establish the association between eye care service utilization and the variables that might affect it. Of the 551 study population, 510 responded to this study, and the response rate was 92.6%. The mean age of the respondents was 52.2 years. The rate of eye care service utilization was 29% (95% confidence interval (0.25, 0.33)). The study shows that older participants, aged 65 and above (adjusted odds ratio: 4.04; 95% confidence interval (2.20, 7.43)), having previous eye problems (adjusted odds ratio: 10.04; 95% confidence interval (5.81, 17.33)), the presence of systemic illness (adjusted odds ratio: 2.52; 95% confidence interval (1.21, 5.21)), and having awareness about regular checkups (adjusted odds ratio: 11.75; 95% confidence interval (6.62, 20.84)) were found to be the predictors of eye care service utilization. In this study, utilization of eye care services was low. Older age, previous eye problems, systemic illness, and awareness about checkups were found to be predictors of eye care service utilization. Hence, there is a need to increase the absorption of existing ophthalmic services and create awareness of the use of ophthalmology services to reduce preventive blindness.

Knowledge of cataracts and eye care utilization among adults aged 50 and above in rural Western China.

Cataracts are highly prevalent in rural China, but patient utilization of eye care services is low. Cataract knowledge is regarded as an important factor in eye care utilization. Few studies, however, have been conducted to measure the level of cataract knowledge and its relationship with eye care utilization among older adults in rural China. Hence, we described cataract knowledge and investigated the relationships between cataract knowledge and eye care utilization among adults (≥50 years) in rural Western China. A large community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from October to December 2020 among adults aged 50 years and older in 73 rural villages in Qingcheng County, Western China. The participants underwent an eye examination at their village clinic to determine whether they had cataracts. Participants also answered a questionnaire about cataracts, eye care utilization status, and sociodemographic characteristics. The collected data underwent descriptive and multiple logistic regression analyses. The eye examinations revealed that 45.15% (675/1,495) of participants had cataracts in at least one eye, yet 90.67% (612/675) were left untreated. The average score achieved by participants about cataract knowledge was 4.91 points (total score was eight points). Correct knowledge about cataracts was positively associated with cataract screening and cataract surgery. Elders with better cataract knowledge were 2.21 times more likely to undergo cataract screening (OR, 2.21; 95% CI, 1.54-3.16) and 5.61 times more likely to undergo cataract surgery (OR, 5.61; 95% CI, 2.87-10.98). More than half had three fundamental misconceptions about how cataracts should be treated, how much they should cost, and when they should be treated. Participants who did not have these misconceptions were more likely to receive cataract screening by 1.21-2.02 times and cataract surgery by 1.76-3.48 times. There are misunderstandings about cataract treatment methods, treatment costs and timing in the sample areas. A better understanding of cataracts was significantly positively associated with cataract screening and cataract surgery. Health education on cataracts and regular eye examinations are needed to improve eye care utilization in rural China.

Eye care seeking behavior among rural adults in South India: Tamil Nadu Rural Eye Examination (TREE) Study Report 1.

To present the eye care seeking behavior among rural adults in South India. This cross-sectional study was conducted between 2019 and 2020 covering three blocks of the Thiruvannamalai district, Tamil Nadu, India. Door-to-door survey was performed to collect demographic information, status of literacy, occupation, and details of previous eye examination. Distance visual acuity was tested for individuals available in the house using a log MAR (logarithm of minimum angle of resonance) chart. Association between demographic details, details of previous eye examination, and status of vision was analyzed using logistic regression. A data of 12,913 individuals were included for the analysis, of which 6460 (50.03%) were females. Of the total individuals, 2007 (15.54%) had undergone an eye examination previously. There were 1639 (28.50%) people who had a vision less than 0.2 log MAR in at least one eye. The odds of reported 'previous eye examination' were more among females [odds ratio (OR) 1.48, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.32-1.66, P < 0.001]; individuals aged above 60 years [OR: 11.46, 95% CI: 9.44-13.91, P < 0.001], between 40 and 60 years [OR: 10.43, 95% CI: 8.85-12.30, P < 0.001], and between 18 and 40 years [OR: 2.48, 95% CI: 2.16-2.84, P < 0.001]; illiterates (OR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.45-2.15, P < 0.001); and farmers (OR: 1.32 95% CI: 1.12-1.55, P = 0.001). The study presents the utilization of eye care among rural South Indian adults. Almost 84.46% of individuals had not undergone any eye examination. Robust measures to promote eye care management would help in effective utilization of eye care services among rural adults.

Vision-Related Quality of Life of Older People in Tehran and their Access and Utilization of Eye Care Services.

Background:Access to and utilization of eye care services may improve vision-related quality of life (VRQoL) of older people. This study aimed to evaluate the VRQoL of older adults and its associations with access to and utilization of eye care services.Methods:This is a community-based cross-sectional survey conducted in Tehran, Iran, on 566 older people in 2018. The NEI-25 VFQ was used to measure the VRQoL. Multilevel Linear Regression analysis used to test the study hypotheses.Results:The average score of the VRQoL was 80 out of 100. About 61% of the participants did not utilize the annual routine eye examination and the mean score of overall access to eye care was 85 out of 115. Having a higher physical, socio-cultural and overall access were significantly associated with higher VRQoL, but those with regular utilization had no better VRQoL status compared to non-users.Conclusion:Access to eye care services showed to be very important in improvement of the VRQoL, whereas higher utilization was not found to be associated with better VRQoL statue of older people, as there might have a reverse causality with using more eye services with higher Visual impairment.

Post-refractive surgery of Israeli Defense Forces recruits in 2005-2018-prevalence, combat unit drop-out rates and utilization of eye-care services.

To assess the number of recruits for military service in the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) who underwent refractive surgery prior to enlistment and examine whether the procedure affected their ability to accomplish combat training. Medical records of IDF recruits. Retrospective analysis of medical records of recruits with ametropia who underwent or did not undergo refractive surgery prior to enlistment. Recruits were categorized into ametropes and recruits who underwent refractive surgery. Fitness and assignment to combat units and completion status of combat training were compared between the two groups. The study included 334,688 (182,969 males, 151,719 females) ametropes of which 5231 (4753 males, 478 females) underwent refractive surgery prior to recruitment. Refractive surgery prevalence increased from 9/1000 ametropes in 2005 to 18.5/1000 ametropes in 2018 (r = 0.912, p < 0.001); 2643 of the operated recruits (50.5%) had their surgery at the age of 17-18. Dropout rates from combat training were significantly lower in the refractive surgery group during the study period (1.68% vs. 6.14%, respectively, p < 0.001). Soldiers in the operated group were more frequently referred to ophthalmologists than those in the ametropes group and less frequently referred to optometrists. The prevalence of refractive surgery in IDF recruits has increased substantially during the last decade with more of them applying to combat units. Refractive surgery opened new possibilities for recruits who were unfit for combat duty prior to surgery and did not appear to impair the chances of successfully completing combat training.

Knowledge attitude and practice on eye care facilities in special education settings in Imo State, Nigeria

Children with special needs are at a higher risk of visual impairment as compared to normal population. Majority of the ocular disorders they suffer, like refractive errors and strabismus, are treatable. This study was aimed to assess the level of utilization of eye care services among children and teens with special needs in selected schools in Imo State, Nigeria. An interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaire prepared was administered to children and adolescents with special needs, attending three special schools in Imo state, Nigeria. Findings from 185 respondents revealed that 43.2% never utilized eye care services, 13.5% had utilized same in the past. Socio-demographic factors identified as barriers to accessing eye care included parental misconceptions, stigmatization, poverty, ignorance, poor state healthcare facility, and physical inaccessibility. This study demonstrated that the rate of utilization of eye care services among the studied population is suboptimal. Children with special needs have little consideration in accessing proper eye care system. Early ophthalmic intervention by an eye care team at the point of enrolment into schools and establishment of ophthalmic units in special schools to provide periodic eye examination and proper management of ocular disorders are thus recommended.

Determinants of Eye Care Service Utilization among Peruvian Adults: Evidence from a Nationwide Household Survey

ABSTRACT Purpose: This study analyzes the factors associated with eye care service utilization among Peruvians 50 years of age and older, measured as self-reporting of having undergone examination of visual acuity during the last 12 months. Methods: A secondary analysis of the 2019 Demographic and Family Health Survey (ENDES, for its acronym in Spanish) database was carried out. We estimated the weighted proportion of adults 50 years of age and older that reported having undergone a visual acuity examination in the previous 12 months and the frequency according to the variables of interest. Crude (PR) and adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) of eye care service utilization were constructed using generalized linear models. Results: Approximately 28.8% of Peruvians 50 years of age and older underwent a visual acuity examination in the previous 12 months. Having a higher education (aPR = 1.79; 95% CI: 1.33–2.40), health insurance such as EsSalud (aPR = 1.54; 95% CI: 1.28–1.87), a previous diagnosis of cataracts (aPR = 1.86; 95% CI: 1.67–2.09) and being part of the richest wealth quintile (aPR = 2.36; 95% CI: 1.74–3.20) were associated with greater utilization of eye care services, while living in the jungle was associated with a lower likelihood of utilization of these services. Conclusion: The unequal distribution of health resources within the territory and socioeconomic gaps among the population could explain our findings. Further efforts are needed to fulfill the eye health needs of the Peruvian population.

Barriers to utilization of an eye care facility in a rural community in South-South Nigeria

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to describe the barriers to the utilization of eye care services in a rural community in South-South Nigeria. Material and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study using a multistage sampling technique was conducted. The main outcome measure was self-reported previous consultation of the eye clinic at the community’s Comprehensive Health Centre (CHC) for eye care. Results: The study sample included 200 participants. Only 40 (24.1%) respondents had previously consulted at the eye clinic at the CHC in search of eye care. The principal barriers to eye care services utilization were “Ignorance of the existence 53 (47.3%) and schedule” 37 (33.0%) of the eye clinic at the CHC, and “No felt need” 26 (23.2%). Conclusion: Despite the high prevalence of ocular disorders among the study participants, the utilization of available eye care services was markedly low. The common barriers cited were “Ignorance of the existence and schedule of the eye facility in the community. Improved strategies to improve uptake of services is required.”

Utilization of orthodox eye care services among visually impaired adults in jos north local government area of Plateau State

Background: Evidence shows that poor utilization of available eye care services by potential beneficiaries is a major barrier to reducing the burden of visual impairment (VI) and blindness. Aim: We sought to determine the extent of utilization and barriers to uptake of orthodox eye care services among adults with VI in Jos, the capital of Plateau state, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study using cluster sampling technique was conducted. Twenty-two clusters were chosen: from each cluster, 39 persons recruited for participation were interviewed to obtain demographic data and then examined to determine the visual acuity. Individuals with visual acuity of <6/18 had detailed ocular examination. Information on access to any eye services in the locality was obtained. The data from individual subjects were collated and analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences version 20. Results: The study sample included 858 participants. Of the 160 participants with VI, 92 (57.5%) had sought eye care whereas 68 (42.5%) did not. It was found that utilization of eye services varied across the wards with Tafawa Balewa (100%), Vandapuye (100%), and Jenta Apata (100%) wards having the highest percentage of eye care utilization whereas Kabong (0%) and Mazah (11.1%) had the lowest eye care utilization rate. Factors associated with previous use of eye services were literacy (odds ratio = 1.41, P = 0.10) and blindness (odds ratio = 1.37, P = 0.09). Cost 39 (57.4%), being destined to be visually impaired 13 (19.1%), and old age 7 (10.3%) were found to be the most cited barriers to the use of eye services. Conclusion: The use of eye care services among visually impaired participants was low in this urban local council; this can be enhanced by health education and awareness campaigns. The role of community participation in eye care is important so as to improve the uptake of existing eye services.